Sparta Foods Gauteng, Benoni

To establish and maintain SPARTA as the most sought-after quality red meat supplier in South Africa and to grow our market share abroad. To conduct all the group's activities with the highest ethical values directed at adding value to our product. When we first started farming cattle in the 1960s with some 30 cattle on the farm called Sparta, my wife, Betty and I had a vision of the type of business we wanted to develop. We wanted to introduce new standards into the feeding of cattle and production of quality beef. We also wanted to contribute to our local community and provide opportunities for self-development. The business grew into the Sparta Group of today: a staff count of approximately 1 200, some 50 000 cattle, our own abattoir and a R3 million-per-month contribution to the Free State economy. The abattoir was acquired when it became clear that vertical integration would be essential to growing our company. It is with great pride and gratitude to our people that I can reflect on this achievement. Most important of all, despite its size the business continues to be run on family values and principles. This is what will guide us as we continue to grow. Businesses are ultimately nothing more than the interactions and qualities of the people who make them up. If we continue to treat each other fairly and with dignity, the business will flourish.