Founded in 2021 and based in Cape Town, FrenchBlend South Africa turns market entry strategies into operational reality. We don't write reports — we launch businesses, negotiate with retailers, source suppliers, and manage the ground-level complexities that make or break expansion into Southern African markets. Working alongside our operations in Asia and Japan, we bring cross-continental expertise to the practical realities of the South African market.

+15

years

international experience across Southern Africa

3

active sectors

food & beverages, consumer goods, hospitality

End2End

execution

including distribution partners, retailers and production facilities

OUR CORE EXPERTISES

Operations

Operational excellence across South Africa.

From Johannesburg to Cape Town, FrenchBlend supervises brand execution with precision and local insight.We ensure performance and consistency from launch to long-term operations.

Distribution

Connecting brands with the right markets.

FrenchBlend develops strategic distribution networks across South Africa — helping brands grow visibility, reach and sales sustainably.

Production

Producing locally, performing globally.

FrenchBlend develops and supervises local production adapted to each market — ensuring quality, consistency, and operational resilience.

Olivier Gallard

Founder & Managing Partner

OUR CORE VALUES

Market entry isn't about the strategy deck — it's about execution. Finding reliable suppliers, negotiating fair terms, and launching operations that actually work. That's where most companies fail, and where we deliver."

OUR CORE SKILLS

Market Entry

We don’t just enter markets

— we make them work.

While others stop at strategy decks, we build the structure that delivers: teams, partners, and performance on the ground.

Across South Africa, FrenchBlend turns market potential into real, measurable traction.

Premium

Branding means nothing without results.

We help premium brands expand internationally without losing their soul — aligning image, execution, and sales.

Our teams work directly with retailers, distributors, and craftsmen to make excellence perform in every market.

Operation Agility

The difference is in how fast we move.

Markets change overnight — we adjust, realign, and execute before others finish their reports.

With FrenchBlend, agility isn’t a buzzword, it’s an operating method built into every project.

OUR PUBLICATIONS

Risk and Resilience: How Premium Brands Can Operate in South Africa >

Insight

South Africa's USD 3-5 billion premium food market is growing at 12-15% annually, driven by sophisticated urban consumers with a taste for European gastronomy. But success requires navigating infrastructure challenges, climate adaptation, and complex consumer economics. This comprehensive study provides European brands with data-driven frameworks, operational strategies, and a proven roadmap for profitable market entry into Africa's most sophisticated food market.

Premium Food & Lifestyle in South Africa: A Growing Appetite for European Gastronomy >

South Africa's premium food market is booming at 12-15% annually—double the overall rate—as affluent consumers embrace European gastronomy. But success demands more than exports: climate adaptation, cold chain challenges, and economic pressures require strategic local production and hands-on expertise. This study reveals how European brands can capture sustainable share in Africa's most sophisticated food market.

Insight

Insight

Middle-Class Expansion in South Africa: Strategic Implications for Premium Brands >

South Africa's middle class—3.4 million strong with R400 billion spending power—devotes 63% of income to debt servicing. This paradox of "struggling but thriving" demands a fundamental rethinking of premium brand strategy: from European exclusivity to inclusive premium, from separation to connection, from status to recognition.

Insight

South Africa's Retail Revolution: The R100 Billion Township Opportunity >

South Africa's townships—21 million consumers, R100 billion economy, <15% formal retail penetration—represent the country's last high-growth retail frontier. This study reveals how operators achieve 21-27% IRR (vs 12-15% suburban) through energy-independent micro-stores, informal integration, and velocity economics.

Cape Town

1 Dock Road, The Pavilion

V&A Waterfront 8001

Cape Town, South Africa

Telephone: +27 (021) 140 3593

Email: info@frenchblend.co.za

OUR OFFICE

Contact FrenchBlend