“Informative”: Mzansi Stunned as Marketing Specialist Reveals SA Products Made by Same Companies

• Marketing specialist Hamzeh Majiet shared a video on Instagram revealing that several popular South African brands share the same manufacturers
• Majiet named Woolworths, Parmalat, Pick n Pay, Fairfield Dairies, Ina Paarman’s and Spur as examples of brands linked behind the scenes
• South Africans online pushed back, questioning whether sharing a factory means sharing the same quality

A marketing specialist has stirred up a lively debate among South African shoppers after revealing that some of the country’s most trusted grocery brands are produced by the very same manufacturers.

Hamzeh Majiet posted the video on Instagram on 7 August 2026, claiming that what consumers see on the label does not always tell the full story of where their food actually comes from.

In the clip, Majiet explained that Woolworths’ salted butter is produced by the same company behind Parmalat’s salted butter. He also said that both Woolworths and Pick n Pay’s low-fat strawberry yoghurt come from the same facility that produces Fairfield Dairies’ version of the same product.

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One of the more surprising claims was that the salad dressing served at Spur restaurants is made by Ina Paarman’s, the same brand behind its own blue cheese salad dressing range.

Behind the label in South Africa

The practice of private label manufacturing, where a single factory produces goods for multiple brands at different price points or specifications, is common across the global food industry. In South Africa, major retailers like Woolworths and Pick n Pay often contract established manufacturers to produce their house-brand ranges alongside the manufacturer’s own products.

Majiet said he is compiling what he describes as South Africa’s first private label manufacturer list, a free resource for consumers wanting to know who produces what across the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

Watch the video that sparked the debate:

Mzansi weighs in on the factory debate

The revelation got South Africans talking, with many questioning what “same manufacturer” actually means for the product in your trolley:

@twinafrica2 said:

“Quality is not the same. Woolworths pays extra for better quality than what the original brand makes.”

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@58zay asked:

“So why does the yoghurt from Woolworths taste better?”

@gee_macozoma added:

“Woolies is a bit stricter on their specs even if done in the same company as another brand.”

Source: Briefly News