The Investment and Trade Initiatives to Moscow, Russia organised by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has produced fruitful results for Stellenbosch Koopmanskloof Wines and promising leads for several others. The ITI was led by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mzwandile Masina from 20-23 June 2016.
Speaking in Moscow after concluding the deal worth millions of rands with a Russian distribution agency, the cheerful Managing Director at Koopmanskloof, Mr Rydal Jeftha said their deal with a Russian company requires Koopmanskloof Wines to start shipping over 60 000 bottles of wines from July 2016. “We are also working on a long strategic partnership of providing half a million bottles by 2020 and give our partners more brands in our portfolio to distribute in the Russian market,” he said.
Jeftha said even though Koopmanskloof was already distributing in one supermarket in Russia, this deal will help the brand to expand and use this opportunity as a stepping stone to be successful in the Russian market.
“We are very excited as our set goal for this market is now coming into fruition and this will mean we can employ more people back at home especially the youth. This is an example of a small black business empowerment enterprise that can give hope to others and instil positivity that it is not all gloom in South Africa,” he added.
Koopmanskloof is made up of four farms in which 120 workers have shares. The holding company is 51% black-owned.