Corporate ProfileHistory
Pioneer Foods was formed in 1997 through the merger of Bokomo and Sasko, two long-established companies that built leadership positions in their respective markets in South Africa. Both Bokomo and Sasko were founded as farmers’ co-operatives, the former for milling and the latter for selling wheat, but evolved into consumer-orientated organisations with large manufacturing, product and customer bases. They independently converted into companies during 1996.
| 1920 | The Co-operative milling business, "De Boeren Ko-operatieve Molen Maatschappij Beperkt" - BOKOMO - was formed. Bokomo was closely associated with the formation of Die Suid-Afrikaanse Ko-operatiewe Graanmaatskappy Beperk - SASKO. |
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| 1930 | SASKO was registered as a central Co-operative Wheat Selling Organisation. |
| 1936 | SASKO began milling wheat and expanded into bakeries. |
| 1942 | BOKOMO co-operated with SASKO in acquiring a long-established milling business, forming a central wheat selling organisation known as SASKO-BOKOMO. |
| 1948 | The SASKO-BOKOMO alliance was dissolved with each company going back to milling and selling its own products independently. BOKOMO decided to enter into the breakfast food business and acquired Weet-Bix and Pioneer Oats, both Cape based food manufacturers.. |
| 1997 | Pioneer Foods was formed with the merger of SASKO and BOKOMO, creating a significant player in the South African food sector. |
