Zilon Trading
| Business Location: | Rural area - Farms |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Branch: | uMgungundlovu |
| Business Start Date: | |
| Busniess Type: | Company |
Business Dynamics and Challenges
Business Activities:
1. Manufacturing of Industrial Packaging Materials
2. Refurbishment of Second-hand Bulk Bags
3. Distribution and Supply
4. Custom Packaging Solutions
5. Sustainable Sourcing and Production
Challenges/Needs:
1. Limited access to new and formal market
2. Constraints on scaling operations to match production capacity
3. Lack of visibility and recognition within large supply chains
4. Difficulty positioning the business for corporate procurement opportunities
5. Absence of structured support for formal proposal development and market engagement
Intervention Insights and Results
Intervention Details:
1. Business Proposal Development: Comprehensive business proposals were prepared and submitted to De Heus Animal Nutrition and Hulamin, both potential buyers of bulk bags
2. Strategic Market Facilitation: Zilon was connected with potential clients, improving their access to formal procurement processes
3. Client-Ready Documentation: Proposals included tailored product offerings, value propositions, and alignment with ESD programme goals
4. Growth Monitoring & Support: Improvement assessments were conducted to track business growth in turnover, employment, and production output
2. Strategic Market Facilitation: Zilon was connected with potential clients, improving their access to formal procurement processes
3. Client-Ready Documentation: Proposals included tailored product offerings, value propositions, and alignment with ESD programme goals
4. Growth Monitoring & Support: Improvement assessments were conducted to track business growth in turnover, employment, and production output
Outcome Details:
1. Revenue Growth: Turnover increased from R397,345 to R426,159.15, reflecting a gain of R28,814.15, primarily due to the acquisition of new clients, including Hullet.
2. Profitability: Net profit improved from R247,241 to R262,147.87, indicating effective cost control and margin management.
3. Employment Growth: Staff numbers increased from 12 to 14, contributing to local job creation and internal capacity building.
4. Market Access: Successfully engaged corporate prospects like De Heus Animal Nutrition and Hulamin through professionally crafted proposals, positioning the business for formal procurement opportunities.
5. Infrastructure Expansion: The business has commenced the construction of an additional manufacturing structure to accommodate increased production demand and operational scale-up—demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term growth and investment in physical infrastructure.
2. Profitability: Net profit improved from R247,241 to R262,147.87, indicating effective cost control and margin management.
3. Employment Growth: Staff numbers increased from 12 to 14, contributing to local job creation and internal capacity building.
4. Market Access: Successfully engaged corporate prospects like De Heus Animal Nutrition and Hulamin through professionally crafted proposals, positioning the business for formal procurement opportunities.
5. Infrastructure Expansion: The business has commenced the construction of an additional manufacturing structure to accommodate increased production demand and operational scale-up—demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term growth and investment in physical infrastructure.
Client Feedback
Client Comments:
The support we’ve received from SEDFA has been exceptional. We were assisted every step of the way; from identifying market opportunities to preparing and submitting high-quality proposals.
— Rashmee Ramdeen, Zilon Trading
— Rashmee Ramdeen, Zilon Trading
