Pieter Hanekom to replace Rhodes Food Group CEO of 22 years

Based in Groot Drakenstein in the Western Cape, RFG's growing portfolio of brands include the flagship Rhodes brand, Bull Brand, Bisto and Pakco, which are complemented by private label product ranges packed for major South African and international retailers.

Hanekom, 56, is currently the group’s deputy CEO and will be promoted to CEO on 1 October 2021. He joined RFG in 2015 as managing director of long life beverages and was promoted to his current position in July 2020.

Steering business through acquisitions and listings

Henderson will continue to serve on the board in a non-executive capacity from 1 October 2021.

RFG chairperson Dr Yvonne Muthien commented on Henderson's departure: “Bruce has led the group with distinction, overseeing the expansion from a single brand fruit business into a diversified, multi-brand food producer owning a portfolio of market-leading brands and a world-class production base.

"During this time the group has concluded multiple acquisitions and expanded into several new product categories and geographic markets. Bruce led the listing on the JSE in 2014 which was a pivotal point in the group’s history,” she said.

RFG's product range includes canned fruit, jam, vegetable and meat products, bottled salads, fruit juices, fruit purees and concentrates, dry-packed foods, fresh and frozen ready meals, pastry-based products and dairy products. The company has a production base comprising 14 manufacturing facilities across South Africa and a fruit processing facility in Eswatini.

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Hanekom has more than three decades experience in the food industry, including 20 years at Pioneer Foods where he was managing director of Ceres Fruit Juices and head of the Ceres Beverage Company.

“Pieter has been a member of the RFG executive committee since 2015. He led the group’s successful entry into the fruit juice market and subsequent growth in this highly competitive category. He has been integrally involved in the development of the strategy and the expansion of the long life foods business and we congratulate him on his well-deserved appointment as CEO,” said Muthien.