AS the leader of the first franchisee-owned Eskort store in the country, Nkululeko Luthuli celebrates his store’s one-year anniversary with customers and the community.
Luthuli’s inspirational journey starts back in KwaZulu-Natal four years ago with the loss of his meat-processing factory.
In 2018, as news of a company’s listeriosis contamination spread, consumer anxiety and slow demand quickly impacted meat processors across the board. This left Luthuli and his workers unable to produce or sell their products for 10 months, eventually forcing him to close the factory.
During this time, however, Luthuli had joined the South African Meat Processing Association’s (SAMPA) listeriosis crisis management committee, which is where he first met Eskort chief executive officer, Arnold Prinsloo.
“Eskort was already mapping the country for suitable locations for retail stores in underserved communities, so when we heard the sad news about Nkululeko’s factory, we saw potential in him and asked him to lead our first franchise,” says Prinsloo.
“Nkululeko was an ideal candidate. Not only did he have all the skills, knowledge and experience needed to make the store a success, but he has always been passionate about uplifting and giving back to communities – which was exactly in line with our vision for Eskort franchises.”
Working closely with the Eskort team, Luthuli identified a prime site in Protea Glen, Soweto, for his new franchise. Renovations quickly commenced, and in 2021 he opened the doors to his brand-new store in the Sizwe shopping centre.
Luthuli’s business savvy and dedication together with Eskort’s turnkey franchising model, robust marketing support, and a wide variety of affordable pork products proved to be a winning combination, and the retail store was an immediate hit. Twelve months later, Luthuli has built a thriving business that has brought Eskort’s quality pork right to the doorsteps of households and families in the area.
Additionally, his passion for building a better South Africa has seen the store actively involved in several community projects.
“When we first opened the store, we spent some time seeking to better understand the community’s needs and how we could help the various organisations that had approached us,” says Luthuli.
“Right now, we are supporting a few orphanages, schools, and a community policing forum within the area, and we often prepare and donate the food for their events.”
An empowering franchise model
The Protea Glen store exemplifies the positive socioeconomic impact of the company’s franchise model, improving the lives of people in surrounding communities through various corporate social investment (CSI) programmes, whilst stimulating businesses and job creation within underdeveloped markets.
Notably, the Protea Glen butchery directly employs 22 individuals from the area, many of whom live just a 15-minute walk away. Additionally, the store indirectly supports many other local businesses and budding entrepreneurs, creating value throughout various food value chains.
Luthuli explains, that many informal traders frequent his store every day to buy hampers, which they resell in neighbouring communities for a profit. Likewise, many small businesses, informal restaurants and other eateries have also seen exceptional growth since the butchery opened its doors.
“Many buyers have expressed their gratitude to me in the past year, explaining that they no longer have to travel into the city to buy the products they need in bulk. Having an Eskort store in such close proximity has saved them valuable time and money, helping them to increase their profits and grow their businesses.”
Prinsloo adds that the success of Luthuli’s store has served as welcome encouragement for the ongoing roll-out of its franchising strategy, with another 12 sites planned for the next 12 months.
“With over a century in the pork industry, Eskort is proud to support thousands of working women and men across the country. However, there is always more to be done, and we see our franchise platform as yet another building block towards our goal of driving job creation,” he says.
“The Eskort Protea Glen butchery represents the potential of this franchise model, and we plan to open even more stores in Soweto in the near future. This said, its achievements would not have been possible without Nkululeko’s hard work and commitment, and we’re very proud to be a part of his success story.”
