RCL Foods edges closer to spinning off poultry business

Source: Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

RCL, whose brands include Selati sugar, Ouma rusks and Yum Yum peanut butter, says it is restructuring its portfolio to deliver sustainable earnings. The chicken business is one of the biggest poultry producers in South Africa, processing 4.1 million chickens a week.

The separation of Rainbow Chicken Limited, announced in March, will be carried out by distributing shares to RCL shareholders on a one-for-one basis. The new entity will be listed on the JSE on June 29, RCL said in a statement.

Rainbow’s revenue increased 11% to R7.29bn ($391.97m) in the six months to December 2023. Its underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 365% to R287m due to a better agricultural performance, improved volumes and margins, and sound cost control.