Company Overview

SD Guthrie-International South Africa is a producer of high quality, premium brand edible oils & fats.

SD Guthrie-International South Africa is a wholly owned subsidiary of SD Guthrie Berhad. It is currently SD Guthrie Berhad only African-based downstream operation. Consisting of a Gauteng based refinery in Boksburg and a packing facility in Springs, Gauteng we produce:

Industrial Ingredients
Pastry fats
Industrial Margarines
Shortenings
Frying Oils

Being a specialist in fats and oils manufacturing goes hand in hand with Quality, Food Safety, Sustainability and Responsible sourcing.

In our commitment to excellence, SD Guthrie-International South Africa has adopted and is certified with FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, as well as the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) (Segregated and Mass Balance) supply chain models.

We have also been audited to conform to the SEDEX (Responsible sourcing) Scheme, which is externally certified by independent third-party certification bodies. This demonstrates the robust and effective Integrated Management System in place at SD Guthrie-International South Africa to meet the requirements of regulators, customers and consumers.

Sustainability

As the world´s largest producer of certified sustainable palm oil, SD Guthrie Berhad plays a leading role in the development and promotion of sustainable practices in the palm oil sector. Being a founding member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), SDP seeks to advance the production, procurement and use of sustainable oil palm products.

This includes but is not limited to refining and production of oils and fats, oleochemicals, biodiesel, other palm oil derivatives and renewables as well as the sales and marketing of these products.

SD Guthrie Berhad is involved in the full spectrum of the palm oil value chain, we apply the RSPO Principles & Criteria to ensure that we adhere to environmental best practices, biodiversity conservation, and social protection in areas of our operations; from Upstream in our plantations all the way Downstream to our Specialty refineries. Our operations at SD Guthrie-International South Africa follows on the example set by our parent company, we work closely with our business partners who are as committed to sustainability and social responsibility as we are.

SD Guthrie-International South Africa was the first in South Africa to be RSPO certified for both Mass Balance and Segregated supply chain models. We are also a member of both Sedex and EcoVadis, collaborative platforms for Sustainability and Ethical trading. This ensures that our entire supply chain is managed in a sustainable and ethical way covering the entire lifetime of our products (Farm to Fork/Cradle to Grave) as well as our Operations (Labour, Commercial, Legal, etc.).

Accreditations

FSSC 22000 Boksburg Certificate
FSSC 22000 Springs Certificate
Halaal SD Guthrie-International South Africa Confirmation Letter
Health Certificate of Acceptability

ISO 9001 Certificate
Kosher 1718
SD Guthrie-International South Africa Letter of Engagement 250517
SD Guthrie-International South Africa RSPO Certificate

Our Refinery

Modification of oils and fats at our facility can be achieved using Hydrogenation, Interesterification, Winterisation and Blending..

Our refinery is a state-of-the-art multicomponent and, multiprocessing facility that processes both seed oils (Canola, Sunflower and Linseed) and tropical oils (palm oil and palm oil derivatives; palm kernel oil and palm kernel oil derivatives; and Coconut oil).

Our packing facility can produce packs ranging from 750kg IBCs to 125g bricks, as well as 210L and 20L drums. Our current packing facility handles Margarine, Shortenings, Frying oils and ingredients. With our wide range of processes, products can be tailor made to suit our customers’ specifications and satisfaction. Together with our Integrated Management system, we ensure that all products manufactured from our facility conform to our high standards.

For continuous improvement of our processes, SD Guthrie-International South Africa implements a Lean Six Sigma programme to manage and direct optimisation and improvement exercises under the leadership of 2 Black Belts, this programme runs through our entire business ensuring that every aspect of our operations performs as optimally as possible.

Our History

SD Guthrie-International South Africa has its origins in a co-operation agreement between two companies in the United Kingdom.

1946

When It All Began

John Knight, who owned a soap manufacturing company (John Knight Ltd), and R.S. Hudson of Hudson’s Soaps agreed to form a new marketing company called Hudson & Knight in 1946 to act as a selling agent for the products of both companies to grocers and chemists.

South Africa

In the early 1950’s Unilever operated a number of COD trucks from their operations in Cape Town, Durban and Boksburg. The trucks sold cooking oil (Groundnut oil in 45 gallon drums), white margarines in boxes, bulk detergents in 50lb bags, filled bar soap (Antelope) in 50kg boxes and small tablets of Lux soap (10g) to the non-retail market.

1950's

1964

Unilever Integration

The UK company (Hudson & Knight) is integrated into Unilever. As catering, bakery and industrial markets grew in the 1950’s and 1960’s, Unilever recognised that there is a growing need for a wider and more sophisticated range of products, consequently the decision was made to launch a new company, Hudson & Knight (Proprietary) Limited, in South Africa to cater for these needs.

COD Discontinued / Reckitt Columbus

The COD operations were discontinued in the mid 1980’s due to the growth in number of distributors and wholesalers who could service the market more effectively. The remainder of the market was serviced via a specialized sales and marketing team, delivering through the Unilever warehousing and distribution network and third-party bulk tanker fleet. Unilever purchased Reckitt Columbus (an Industrial Floor cleaning business).

1980’S

1995

H&K Diversified

Hudson and Knight (Pty) Ltd consisted of several very diverse divisions, namely: Floor care, Lever industrial (industrial bottle washing, laundry, dish washing, dairy cleaning, HORECA detergents and cleaning chemicals), Industrial & artisanal bakeries, Bulk fats and oils, Food service.

Golden Hope Berhad

Hudson and Knight (Pty) Ltd is acquired by a Malaysian Plantation company Golden Hope Berhad from UBR (Unilever joint venture between Unilever Bestfoods and Robertson holdings) along with brands like Crispa, Pastrex, Holsum and Mastercraft.

2004

2007

SD Guthrie Berhad

In January 2007 three giant Malaysian companies (Golden Hope, Guthrie and Sime Darby) merge and form an entity named Synergy Drive. In November 2007 it is renamed Sime Darby Berhad and, locally, Hudson and Knight is renamed Sime Darby Hudson and Knight.

SDH&K Packaging operation

Sime Darby Hudson and Knight started its own packing operation in Springs to pack Holsum and Shortening which was previously packed by Unilever.

2011

2017

SD Guthrie Plantation

The demerger of the SD Guthrie Group and subsequent listing of SD Guthrie Plantation (SDP) on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange on 30 November 2017.

SD Guthrie-International South Africa

SD Guthrie-International South Africa Plantation is renamed SD Guthrie-International South Africa and the South African Operation is now known as SD Guthrie-International South Africa.

2019