MBABANE - South African food giant Tiger Brands has warned that escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, could force it to raise food prices.
This is a development that may have direct implications for consumers in Eswatini, where many of Tiger Brands’household brands dominate local supermarket shelves.
The warning comes as the manufacturer of popular products such as All Gold, KOO, Jungle Oats, Albany bread and Tastic rice released its financial results for the six months ended March 31, 2026.
While the company reported strong growth during the first half of the year, executives cautioned that the second half could prove significantly more challenging as global supply chain disruptions and rising input costs begin to intensify. For Eswatini consumers, the announcement is particularly relevant given the country’s heavy reliance on imported food products from South Africa.
Tiger Brands remains one of the largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturers on the continent and maintains a strong presence in the kingdom through its longstanding partnership with Logico Unlimited, which handles much of the company’s distribution, warehousing and local market supply operations.
The company’s extensive portfolio of staple foods and household products has become deeply embedded in the spending patterns of many emaSwati households. Products such as KOO canned foods, All Gold tomato sauce, Jungle Oats and Tastic rice are regarded as everyday essentials by many local consumers.
As a result, any significant price adjustments by Tiger Brands could eventually filter through to retail shelves across Eswatini, adding further pressure on household budgets already facing rising living costs. Tiger Brands announced that its revenue increased to R17.9 billion during the six-month period, supported primarily by volume growth of 2.6 per cent despite price deflation of 1.3 per cent.
Chief Executive Officer Tjaart Kruger said the company had delivered a resilient performance despite difficult trading conditions.
“We achieved these results against the backdrop of ongoing macroeconomic volatility, continued pressure on consumer spending and a highly competitive environment,” he said.
However, Kruger acknowledged that conditions were becoming increasingly uncertain as geopolitical risks continued to mount globally.
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Tiger Brands CEO Tjaart Kruger. (Courtesy pic)