Bühler is the fourth corporation to join the organization, which seeks to help small food manufacturers in developing areas obtain the technical and business expertise needed to grow. Other companies include Cargill, Royal DSM and General Mills.
Good deeds good for business
Corina Aztli, corporate representative for the Bühler group, told FoodProductionDaily that joining PFS fits the company’s goals to improve lives with its products, processes and services. In addition to helping others, she said, the move is good for business.
“Bühler has a deep history and refined culture of commitment,” she said. “Our linking with PFS will enable us to be more intentional in the development of Bühler's CSR's mission and strategies. At its core, it is business helping business improve the food value chain.”
Spreading knowledge
Jeff Dykstra, CEO of PFS, said bringing Bühler on as a corporate partner helps the organization expand its base of knowledge and get closer to its goal of reaching in excess of 500 small food manufacturing companies in Africa.
“PFS’s unique consortium of world-class food companies connecting their employee experts directly with small and growing food companies has the power to improve the whole food sector throughout Africa and beyond,” he said.
Achievements so far
To date, PFs has joined forces with 300 small food firms located in Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi and Ethiopia. The aid effort, according to PFS, has impacted more than 131,000 local smallholder farmers supporting nearly 800,000 family members.
The PFS initiative is fuelled by employee volunteers. The three existing corporate partners have furnished approximately 500 employees who have given more than 40,000 hours of their time on 150 separate projects.
Over the next five years, PFS aims to take on a total of 10 corporate partners. In addition to helping grow the local economies in 12 African nations and better the lives of employees and their families, PFS expects the project will help tens of millions of consumers.