When the factory gates in Ashton reopened on 1 October 2025, it wasn't just another business transaction. It was the sound of renewed hope for a town, a community, and an industry that refused to fade.

After years of uncertainty, Langeberg Foods (Pty) Ltd officially took over operations of the iconic fruit-processing factory from Tiger Brands, securing the livelihoods of over 150 local fruit growers.

The deal, structured and enabled by Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB)'s Agri Finance Team, is more than just a financial transaction. It is a lifeline – one that ensures a sustainable future for South Africa's agricultural heartland and the communities who depend on it.

A partnership rooted in purpose

For the people of Ashton, the fruit factory has always been more than an employer; it's the heartbeat of the town. When uncertainty about its future loomed, anxiety rippled through the community – among growers, seasonal workers, and families who have built their lives around the rhythms of harvest and production.

'Transactions like this go far beyond balance sheets,' says Zhann Meyer, Head of Agricultural Finance at Nedbank CIB. 'They're about protecting the fabric of rural economies and ensuring that the people who grow our food continue to thrive in a changing world.'

The acquisition brings together an impressive consortium: the Norwegian development finance institution Norfund, the Ashton Fruit Producers Agricultural Co-operative (AFPAC), representing over 100 commercial fruit producers across the Western Cape, and the Langeberg Community Trust.

This collaborative model, blending international development capital, local producer ownership, and community benefit, sets a blueprint for inclusive growth in South Africa's agriculture sector.

Structuring solutions for a sustainable future

Deals like these don't happen by accident. They require deep expertise, creative structuring, and a shared commitment to long-term impact.

'Nedbank CIB focuses on structuring solutions to address the imperatives facing the continent and to deliver for our clients,' explains Izélle Laubscher, Principal in Agricultural Finance at Nedbank CIB. 'In this transaction, we needed to design facilities that gave the business the liquidity it needed to operate smoothly while enabling a transition to sustainable, community-based ownership. It's about balancing immediate needs with long-term resilience.'

In an increasingly commoditised global credit market, where margins are tightening and liquidity is constrained, Nedbank CIB continues to differentiate itself through its structuring expertise, risk management, and ability to deliver across instruments, from blended finance structures to debt capital markets and project finance.

This approach recently earned the bank recognition as one of Africa's leading Corporate and Investment Banks, acknowledged for its innovation and ability to craft solutions that go beyond traditional lending.

Catalysts for change in agriculture

For Boitshoko Mongalo, Associate Principal in Agricultural Finance at Nedbank CIB, the significance of this deal extends far beyond the factory walls.

'The agriculture sector sits at the intersection of food security, climate resilience, and social impact,' she says. 'When we structure transactions like these, we're not just financing production – we're financing livelihoods, ecosystems, and the future of sustainable food production in South Africa.'

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the South African economy, yet it's also among the sectors most vulnerable to global shocks, from volatile export markets to climate pressures. Partnerships like the one driving Langeberg Foods are essential to ensuring stability and long-term competitiveness.

For the town of Ashton, this stability means more than economic continuity. It means  children can stay in school, small businesses can continue to trade, and a proud agricultural community can keep its roots in the soil that sustains it.

The channel and the catalyst

At Nedbank CIB, the philosophy is simple: finance is not just capital; it's connection.

By mobilising both local and international funding sources, Nedbank CIB continues to act as the channel and the catalyst, connecting capital to impact and vision to delivery.

'Success in African finance today depends on imagination,' says Meyer. 'It's about understanding that every facility we structure and every deal we close has human consequences. When we get it right, we don't just fund businesses, but help entire communities move forward.'

A story of renewal and responsibility

The Langeberg Foods transaction captures what is possible when partnership, purpose, and expertise converge. It protects jobs, strengthens South Africa's food security, supports sustainable farming practices, and builds a model for community upliftment that others can follow.

For Nedbank CIB, it's another step in shaping a sustainable future – one where finance serves as a force for good, connecting people, capital, and opportunity in ways that truly matter.

As the sun sets over the Langeberg mountains, the factory lights in Ashton glow once again – a quiet signal that hope, like harvest, returns in seasons. And that with the right partners, South Africa's agricultural heart will keep beating strong.