09 Jul 2026 Tiger Brands locks in 100% local oranges for Oros — a win for SA agriculture
Tiger Brands has doubled down on local procurement, securing 100% of the oranges used in Oros from South African growers for the second year running.…
In a citrus sector shaped by export pressure, global shortages and disease‑related disruptions, this move is more than a supply‑chain tweak — it’s a strategic shift that strengthens domestic agriculture and stabilises rural economies.
Confirming that all oranges for Oros were sourced locally during the 2025 and 2026 citrus seasons, it marks a significant turnaround from years when up to 35% of its requirements had to be imported due to constrained domestic supply.
Global citrus shortages — driven by citrus greening disease in major producing countries such as Brazil and strong international demand for South African fruit — had previously limited availability for local processors.
Tiger Brands is South Africa’s largest user of orange concentrate, procuring around 45,000 metric tonnes of oranges each year — roughly 275 million oranges — to produce Oros.
The fruit is processed into 3.5 million litres of concentrate used at the company’s Roodekop facility in Germiston. It produces between 75 000 and 100 000 litres of Oros concentrate every week, aiming for a monthly production rate of 400 000 litres.
MD of Snacks, Treats and Beverages, Shamiel Randeree, says the shift to full local sourcing is a deliberate long‑term commitment to strengthening South Africa’s agricultural value chain.
“By sourcing 100% of our orange requirements from local growers, we are reinforcing our commitment to local procurement, providing farmers with stable domestic demand, and strengthening SA’s agricultural value chain while reducing reliance on imports,” he said.
Stability, investment and resilience for growers
For growers, Tiger Brands’ dependable domestic demand provides a counterbalance to SA’s export‑heavy citrus industry. While international markets remain lucrative, having a consistent local buyer reduces uncertainty and supports long‑term planning and investment.
Tiger Brands reports that stable procurement has enabled farmers to invest in water infrastructure and renewable energy projects – investments that strengthen the long‑term sustainability of citrus operations.
Randeree emphasises that these partnerships “extend beyond commercial agreements” and contribute to the resilience of South Africa’s broader food system .
A strategic fit for Tiger Brands — and for Oros
The move aligns with Tiger Brands’ broader strategy to increase local procurement and build more resilient domestic supply chains while reducing dependence on imported agricultural products.
Oros is one of Tiger Brands’ ten priority brands earmarked for future growth, and the company believes that local sourcing strengthens the brand’s connection with SA consumers.
Randeree notes that Oros’ reliance on local citrus reinforces its identity as a trusted household favourite deeply tied to SA communities and growers.
On a broader note, in a world of fragile supply chains, this kind of local‑first procurement is becoming a competitive advantage — not just a corporate responsibility gesture.
Source: IOL, Tiger Brands
Interesting OROS background
While the orange flavour is the most iconic and most popular variant of Oros, the brand’s first product in 1899 was actually lemon juice.
The lemon beverage was called “Lemos” and was invented by Charles Brookes to supply the burgeoning Johannesburg mining sector.
However, Brookes’ Lemos proved unpopular, with customers demanding a more pleasant orange flavour.
Brookes obliged and created the iconic Oros Original Orange Squash, which catapulted the brand into a household name.
Oros, as a name, has strange origins, with it being an abbreviation of the Egyptian god of light, Horus. This is the ancient Egyptian equivalent of Apollo.
In the latter half of the 20th century, Oros would grow in popularity through its famous television adverts with the Oros Man.
These adverts feature the mascot being accompanied by the famous jingle, “Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh-Oros”. This cemented the brand as a staple in any house in South Africa.
The company also experimented with new flavours, with it now offering mango, naartjie, guava, and fruit cocktail alongside the original orange.
Oros’ growth was turbocharged in 2007 when it was bought by Tiger Brands, which was steadily becoming the largest food producer in South Africa.
This created a formidable beverage division, which includes Rose’s cordials and Energage. Tiger Brands owns other iconic brands, such as Jungle, Black Cat, and All Gold.
More recently, Tiger Brands has invested heavily in modernising Oros to keep pace with changing consumer demand and make its operations more efficient.
In particular, it has focused on creating ready-to-drink variants of its concentrate in 350ml and 500ml bottles.
The Oros juice box was launched in December 2023 to capitalise on this trend and specifically targeted at the school-children market.
Source: DailyInvestor