Famous Brands uses innovation, policies, and natural resource management practices to advance its sustainability journey.
Our sustainability achievements
Famous Brands has fulfilled its commitment to source free‑range eggs for all its operations.
We now generate 981 MWh from own solar plants, and 396 MWh from solar energy supplied by landlords.
Famous Brands’ packaging improvements have resulted in total plastic reduction of 423.8 tonnes per annum.
Our water-saving projects have reduced our water consumption by 11 965 kilolitres per year.
All Famous Brands packaging is 100% recyclable. This is ahead of our 2025 target.
Famous Brands is a signatory to the South Africa Food Loss and Waste Agreement.
The United Nations SDGs
In 2020, we committed to contributing to the SDGs and selected the five most relevant SDGs where we can make the biggest impact. Alongside our five SDGs, we also chose SDG targets. In 2023, we integrated these targets with Famous Brands’ specific sustainability KPIs and began reporting against these KPIs.
Goal | SDG target |
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. |
Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life. Famous Brands opportunities
Performance in 2024We achieved our targets for female representation at junior (48.3%), middle (47.25%), and senior management (38%) levels. We currently have 36.36% female directors on our Board, which is in line with our target. Female employees are encouraged to participate in our internal development programmes. These programmes equip employees with the necessary tools to advance their career development. The female participation rate in these programmes is 49%, slightly ahead of our target of 47%. |
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. |
Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. Target 8.6: By 2030, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. Famous Brands opportunities
Performance in 2024All Famous Brands’ employees are remunerated according to their role in line with the market. An equal work for equal pay review is completed annually. Famous Brands promotes the hiring and promotion of disabled people, aiming to achieve a 3% representation within our workforce. In 2024, we achieved a 4.53% representation. We have initiatives, including the YES Programme, to increase the absorption of unemployed people into our organisation. To support South Africa’s economic development, we:
Read more in our transformation report. |
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation. |
Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action following their respective capabilities. Famous Brands opportunity
Performance in 2024We completed two new solar installations in 2024, which will reduce our emissions by 1 920 CO2e tonnes per annum. Read more in our environmental report. |
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. |
Target 12.1: Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries. Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. Famous Brands opportunities
Performance in 2024We implemented energy-saving practices and reduced our waste, while eliminating single-use plastics. Read more in our environmental report. |
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. |
Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. Famous Brands opportunities
Performance in 2024Due to the prolonged impact of load shedding, our diesel usage for generator consumption increased by 395 kilolitres. Water consumption remains a key concern, and we implemented measures to reduce water consumption and recycle water. In 2024, our water consumption for Supply Chain increased from 381 849 kilolitres to 393 612 kilolitres. This is largely due to increased production volumes at Lamberts Bay Foods. However, on a per case basis, our water usage decreased. |
Changes to the SDGs
In August 2023, we commissioned a consultancy with in-depth sustainability experience to review our selected five SDGs and reaffirm whether these were the most appropriate for our business. While we noted improvements against the SDG targets and our sustainability KPIs each year, we recognised that some of the SDGs and KPIs were not fully aligned with our business. Drawing on their industry knowledge of sustainability frameworks, the review process involved interviews and workshops with Famous Brands executives.
The review proposed that Famous Brands adopt three additional SDGs and remove two SDGs. In addition, SDGs will be categorised as primary or secondary goals. The primary goals refer to those SDGs that are strongly aligned with the Group’s core business and vision, while the secondary goals are related to our skills development, socio-economic development and CSI activities. These are important activities that we embrace as a good corporate citizen but are not related to core business activities.
In May 2024, the Social and Ethics Committee approved the revised SDG selection, SDG targets and Famous Brands’ sustainability KPIs. For our current SDGs that have been reaffirmed as the correct selection, SDG targets and KPIs remain similar with some new metrics introduced.
We will report on our performance against these targets and KPIs in the 2025 IAR. We have developed a new ESG Framework incorporating the new SDGs, which is supported by an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) for measuring, monitoring, and reporting against the framework.
Plastic waste reduction and recycling initiatives
At Famous Brands, we monitor plastic use across our operations and continue to introduce eco-friendly solutions. We adapt brand packaging materials to align with best practices and continuously seeks to reduce our reliance on plastic.
In 2019, Famous Brands introduced a packaging initiative to provide better, more environmentally friendly packaging across the brands. Over the last few years, these improvements have seen Famous Brands reduce plastic consumption by 423.8 tonnes per year. The improvements implemented in 2024 include:
- Black plastic stirrers have been replaced with birchwood stirrers across our stores. The wooden stirrers are recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.
- Steers restaurants have removed the polyethene terephthalate (PET) plastic cups used for their milkshakes and swirls and replaced them with a polyethene-lined paper cup.
- Mugg & Bean discontinued the PET insert used in the previous large take away boxes and replaced it with a polylactic acid-lined cardboard box. This will reduce plastic use by 15 tonnes per annum.
- The new plastic PET still and sparkling water bottles from TRUBEV have reduced plastic weight from 21.5g to 19.8g, resulting in a plastic reduction of six tonnes per annum.
- Wimpy removed the plastic PET cold cup lid and replaced it with a polyethene-lined paper lid for use with straws.
- Mugg & Bean introduced a moulded fibre bagasse1 lid for hot beverages. The lid is recyclable, biodegradable and compostable. Mugg & Bean currently uses 80% PET plastics and 20% moulded fibre bagasse. This will reduce Mugg & Bean’s plastic consumption by 4.8 tonnes per annum.
- The Mugg & Bean cappuccino cookie polypropylene bag was replaced with a brown paper bag. The latter is recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.
1 | Bagasse is a packaging material made from the dry pulpy fibrous material that remains after crushing sugarcane or sorghum stalks. |
Our impact in numbers
Sauce sachets reduced in weight from 12g to 8g. Based on historical sales, this will reduce our plastic consumption by 18 tonnes per annum.
Replacing black plastic stirrers with wooden stirrers will reduce plastic by 20 tonnes per annum.
All 2024 projects will help reduce our total plastic consumption by an additional 125.9 tonnes per annum
Once all Mugg & Bean stores use 100% moulded fibre bagasse sip lids, the brand’s plastic consumption will be reduced by 24.2 tonnes per year.
Single use plastic cutlery has also been removed and replaced with birchwood knives, forks and spoons. This change will result in a plastic reduction of 126 tonnes per annum
Future focus areas for 2025
The following combined projects will reduce Famous Brand’s total plastic consumption by 137.7 tonnes annually:
- Famous Brands will replace current polystyrene hot lids with a moulded fibre bagasse sip lid for all brands.
- Mugg & Bean will trial a bagasse-domed lid to replace the current polystyrene-domed lid and a paper cold cup in place of the PET plastic cup.
- Steers will replace the current PET grill box with an eco‑friendly solution.
- Debonairs Pizza is trialling an eco-friendly solution to the current PET flop stopper. Should the trial be successful, the plastic flop stopper will be discontinued, and a polylactic acid-lined board flop stopper will be implemented. The replacement flop stopper is recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.
Extended Producer Responsibility
The Section 18 Extended Producer Responsibility regulations were introduced by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in May 2021 as part of the Waste Act. These regulations aim to ensure that producers take greater responsibility for the lifecycle of their products.
This includes ensuring that waste is managed correctly through recycling and circular economy activities.
Famous Brands has registered with several producer responsibility organisations that manage the Extended Producer Responsibility schemes for various packaging schemes. We are 100% compliant with the Extended Producer Responsibility regulations as legislated by the department.
South Africa Food Loss and Waste Agreement
Famous Brands has been a core signatory to the South Africa Food Loss and Waste Agreement since 2021. This agreement was developed by the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. As a signatory, our commitments include the following:
- Contribute to achieving the SDG target 12.3: “By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses”.
- Adopt the food utilisation hierarchy, which prioritises increased food utilisation and waste reduction, redistributing edible, nutritious surplus food for human consumption and creating secondary markets for surplus food while considering food safety.
- Confidentially report our annual quantities of food waste and quantities diverted to food surplus redistribution, according to the agreed reporting protocol.
In November 2023, Famous Brands began testing a new online data-capturing tool. This tool will capture data, making submissions more accurate, concise and efficient. This will assist with monitoring and managing food waste. Our efforts are focused on the following:
- We aim to reduce food waste in our Manufacturing division by 50% by 2030.
- Identifying food loss and waste arising from our operations and isolating the underlying causes.
- Ensuring that food safety is maintained at every level.
- Supporting our non-profit partner SA Harvest to redistribute edible surplus food to those in need.
We have a strong partnership with the charitable organisation SA Harvest, whose mission is to end hunger in South Africa. This relationship began during the COVID-19 pandemic when Famous Brands management worked closely with the organisation to redistribute stock that our hibernated operations could not use. We continue to work with them and other non-profit organisations to distribute food close to its expiry date. This not only helps to reduce food waste but positively impacts vulnerable communities.
Our food philosophy
We create food that is good for our customers, employees, franchise partners, local communities and the environment. We believe in FOOD with thought and menu choices that consider wellness, sustainability and community aspects.
We acknowledge the need to regularly assess our FOOD philosophy practices to see if they align with best practices. This means we will:
- Frequently review and update our goals and timeframes.
- Assess and respond to emerging health and wellness trends, sustainability and our communities.
- Consider our stakeholders’ evolving interests and expectations.
- Be accountable for our actions.
Responsible sourcing
Famous Brands only procures from reputable suppliers that have undergone our stringent vetting process. Most suppliers have service level agreements outlining expected quality and service standards, and we schedule site visits to ensure that suppliers continue to uphold our standards.
Local sourcing
We have placed significant emphasis on purchasing from local suppliers. Today, approximately 88% of food products purchased are from local suppliers.
Seafood
All our seafood is sustainably sourced. We only purchase seafood from well-managed populations, where these species can handle current fishing pressure or are farmed in a manner that does not harm the environment.
Cage-free eggs
All our brands only use cage-free eggs in their recipes.
Read more about our local beef project in our transformation report.
Enabling better food choices
When creating our menus, we consider the Department of Health’s objectives of lowering obesity and promoting healthy living. Our brands’ menus accommodate dietary needs, food allergies, intolerances, and lifestyle preferences.
Our Leading Brands’ menus have “Better for You” options, including vegetarian and vegan options. Our sugar-free sodas are priced lower than regular sodas. Steers allows customers to swap bottled water for sweetened beverages. Fishaways promotes a variety of “Healthier for you” meals under 500 calories. Our bun and sauce recipes exclude eggs, which makes them allergen and vegan-friendly. Our TruFruit juice range was reformulated to reduce sugar below the sugar-tax threshold.
All Leading Brands have full kilojoule counts on their menus, while full nutritional guidelines, including allergens, are on our Leading Brands’ websites. Customers have indicated that having kilojoule counts available is helpful and guides their decision making.
In 2023, draft amendments were made to Regulation 146 relating to the Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs. The proposed regulations aim to create more transparency in the labelling of foodstuffs. The outcome of this will impact Famous Brands’ retail products.