Left to right: Gerbrand Nijman, Schalk van Eeden, Richard Hattersley at Mardouw.
Global technology leader, Verder Group is marking its commitment to environmental and social responsibility and has chosen the multi-award winning Mardouw Olive Estate to plant, for each of its employees around the world, a massive 2000 olive trees at the estate.
A ceremony to mark the occasion, held recently at the Mardouw Olive Estate, was attended by Cape Town Executive Mayor, Schalk van Eeden, Richard Hattersley, MD Of Verder Scientific SA, Nina Verder representing the Verder family, and Mardouw Executive Chairman, Gerbrand Nijman.
In describing how this gesture helps to enable progress, Richard Hattersley said: “This signifies our commitment to sustainability and our belief in the power of collective action for the greater good. In partnership with Mardouw Olive Estate, one of South Africa’s premier producers of quality extra virgin olive oil, this project symbolizes our dedication to reducing our ecological footprint. And we have planted more than 2000 trees here at Mardouw because we are always expanding, and we will soon have more than 2000 employees.”
Mardouw’s Gerbrand Nijman says the trees will contribute to a better environment: “We will take pride in taking good care of these trees – which will of course contribute to making more of our award-winning extra virgin olive oil. As South Africa’s most decorated olive oil brand, our high standards of high quality have been – like Verder Group’s – recognised around the world as evidenced by our platinum and gold awards not only in South Africa but also in Europe, USA, and South America. It will be our honour to nurture these trees.”
SA Olive Industry Association CEO, Wendy Petersen is delighted by the news and says: “The planting of new olive trees is a fantastic initiative with numerous long-term benefits for our industry. There is a worldwide demand for excellent olive oils and table olives, and meeting this demand through increased production can be highly lucrative. Beyond the economic benefits, planting olive trees is crucial for sustainability and environmental stewardship. This initiative has significant social implications, particularly in terms of job creation. The process of planting, cultivating, and harvesting olives provides numerous employment opportunities. This is a wonderful turnkey solution, offering a comprehensive approach to long-term sustainability.”
About Verder Group
The Verder Group is global technology leader in special niche markets with own presence in approximately 25 countries. The Verder Group also has presence in South Africa with a company providing leading-edge research and quality control equipment and one providing advanced hygienic and industrial pumping solutions. The Verder Group and its companies has, over the past few decades through its value-adding innovations, been fuelling the Group’s success and the success of its customers. Verder operates a network of more than 80 organizations worldwide, providing sales support and technical service, and ensuring customer proximity, which is vital for offering ideal solutions and for establishing and maintaining long-term trustful partnerships. Currently the Verder Group employs approximately 2,000 people, who work in over 50 sales offices and 20 manufacturing sites around the globe. Together they contribute to total revenues of more than €450 million.
About Mardouw
Mardouw is a 1,000-hectare estate, situated on the R60 between Ashton and Swellendam. The estate has 50,000 olive trees, producing superior quality Extra Virgin Olive Oils. For two consecutive years, it has received the most awards at the South African Olive Awards and won platinum and gold awards in international olive oil competitions in Europe, the USA, and South America.
About SA Olive
SA Olive is an association representing the common interests of the South African olive industry and is committed to supporting a healthy future, i.e. ensuring a healthy future for its members, healthy growth and development for the industry and a healthy lifestyle for all South Africans.
Always look out for the SA Olive CTC seal on a bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). This is a seal of confidence and it’s the guarantee that the producer is ‘committed to compliance’ in quality olive oil production. It confirms that the EVOO is 100% locally (South African) produced and is authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
