Soufflet Malt breaks ground on US$118M malting facility next to Heineken brewery in Midvaal
Soufflet Malt’s Midvaal investment aims to localise malt production, support farmers, and cut emissions in South Africa’s brewing sector.
SOUTH AFRICA – Global maltster Soufflet Malt has broken ground on a R2 billion (US$117.92M) malting facility in Midvaal, Gauteng, marking one of the most significant recent investments in South Africa’s brewing and agricultural value chain.
Soufflet Malt, which operates 40 malting plants across 20 countries and produces about 3.7 million tonnes of malt annually, said the new malthouse will strengthen local supply chains and reduce reliance on imported malt.
The project follows the signing of a commercial partnership in March 2025 between Soufflet Malt and HEINEKEN Beverages to supply malt for HEINEKEN’s South African brewing operations.
Strategically located next to HEINEKEN Beverages’ Sedibeng Brewery near Johannesburg, the Midvaal facility will have an annual production capacity of approximately 100,000 tonnes of malt.
Once fully operational, it is expected to source 100% of its barley from South African farmers.
The Sedibeng Brewery produces several of HEINEKEN’s flagship brands, including Heineken, Amstel Lager, Sol and Windhoek. Soufflet Malt said co-locating malt production alongside the brewery is a key step in strengthening local integration and improving supply security.
Construction of the facility is expected to continue through 2026, with commissioning planned for mid-2027. Once operational, the project is expected to create 55 permanent jobs, support hundreds of farmers, and generate between 200 and 300 indirect jobs across agriculture, logistics and related services.
Soufflet Malt said the Midvaal malthouse will be the most technologically advanced in South Africa. Designed with sustainability at its core, the facility will produce around 50% fewer emissions than the industry average through the use of trigeneration technology.
Its proximity to the Sedibeng Brewery will also allow malt to be transferred directly via conveyors, significantly reducing transport-related emissions and operating costs.
“This project is a strong vote of confidence in South Africa’s agricultural sector and will strengthen South Africa’s brewing value chain,” said Jorge Solis, chief executive officer of Soufflet Malt. “By investing in local industrial capacity and working closely with farmers, we are building a resilient, sustainable locally integrated malt supply chain that will support long-term agricultural and industrial development in the region.”
The facility is underpinned by agronomy programmes designed to support both commercial and emerging farmers through training, mentoring and commercial assistance to improve yields and quality.
Since 2018, Soufflet Malt and HEINEKEN Beverages have worked with farmers to establish a robust local barley supply. Emerging farmers will also gain access to funding for agricultural equipment through a partnership involving HEINEKEN Beverages and the Industrial Development Corporation.
“This malthouse is a clear demonstration of our Brew a Better World ambitions in action in South Africa,” said HEINEKEN Beverages managing director Jordi Borrut.
“By sourcing barley locally and producing malt alongside our brewery, we reduce imports, lower transport emissions and build a more resilient, lower-carbon supply chain.”
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
