Get to know SASKO: An inside look at PepsiCo’s bread brand

In South Africa, few things are as familiar or as comforting as a loaf of bread. Whether it’s sliced thick for a lunchbox sarmie, (the local slang for a homemade sandwich), or served as a tasty side at a Sunday braai, (also known as a barbeque), or toasted golden for breakfast before work and school, it’s an enduring part of the nation’s culture.

For nearly a century, SASKO has been at the heart of that tradition — feeding families, strengthening communities, and shaping the future of food alongside PepsiCo South Africa. PepsiCo’s acquisition of Pioneer Foods five years ago welcomed SASKO into a global family of iconic brands like Lay’s, Doritos, and Pepsi. Since then, the partnership has expanded SASKO’s influence, honoring every step of the bread-making journey — from soil and farm to mill, bakery, and truck — until it becomes a slice on a plate.

More than a loaf

Bread is woven into South Africa’s cultural and economic fabric. It’s affordable, accessible — and for many, it’s their go-to source of daily energy. SASKO sits at the center of the country’s love of loaves. Across 13 bakeries and five flour mills nationwide, SASKO makes an average of nearly two million loaves a day nationwide and more than 600 million loaves of bread every year, accounting for 1 in every 4 sold in the country.

From classic white loaves to seeded, whole wheat and low-GI options, SASKO has options for every household and lifestyle, which is crucial as South Africans consume an average of 37 loaves per person each year.

But behind each SASKO loaf is something deeper: “SASKO is built on trust, and trust is built on visibility, consistency and care,” says Cornel Vermeulen, General Manager of Bakeries at PepsiCo South Africa. “Our teams here aren’t just producing bread — they’re delivering dignity, nourishment and national pride.”

Tradition meets innovation

There’s something special about seeing bread being made: the warmth, the hum of machinery, the smell of freshly baked loaves rising from the ovens. At SASKO’s Shakaskraal bakery in KwaZulu-Natal, that magic comes to life with modern innovation.

Spanning nearly 28,000 square meters, the facility is one of the most advanced in the region and runs partly on renewable energy thanks to a biomass boiler fueled by wood, part of the company’s PepsiCo Positive (pep+) ambition to increase its use of renewable energy.

The bakery’s 6,000-plus employees do more than churn out the country’s most popular breads; they continue the brand’s legacy. Their expertise ensures that every loaf, from supermarkets in Soweto to corner shops in Cape Town, meets the same high standards. And with 1,300 delivery trucks traveling more than two million miles each month to bring bread to every corner of the country, SASKO’s reach is as wide as its roots are deep.

Purpose in every slice

The SASKO story doesn’t end when loaves leave the oven. The brand is also giving back to the community through the SASKO Siyasizana ‘Play Better’ initiative. This initiative is helping to build safe play spaces to support early childhood development — reaching over 1 million children nationwide and supporting 1,000 schools to create a place for children to learn, laugh and grow.

The mission is to improve the lives of 5 million children by 2030 though better access to quality play areas. During a recent visit to one of the schools, the PepsiCo and SASKO teams saw that mission come to life. Kids played freely, and their laughter was a reminder of the brighter future SASKO is helping to build.

Honoring tradition with teamwork

Whether it’s the grain farmers who grow the wheat, the bakers who knead the dough or the drivers who deliver fresh loaves daily, every hand in the process plays a part in something bigger. “This is what leading with purpose looks like,” says Vilosha Soni, PepsiCo South Africa’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Our goal is to be South Africa’s most trusted food and beverage company, and we know trust is built by showing, not just saying.”