The forum was established three years ago with the vision to provide local tuck shop owners and entrepreneurs who are organised and empowered with leadership and representation in government and other structures.
In past years foreign nationals started opening tuck shops in every street in the community, making it difficult for locals to compete against their low prices.
This prompted the organisation to take a stand and try to regulate the business.
Tuck shops have always been a main business in townships and are still relevant, especially given the unemployment rate in the country.
President of GNEEF, Sandile Moepe explains that tuck shop owners also want to expand as small-scale businesses to be able to manufacture and supply merchandise that is made within the community.
“We have three bakeries in our community that supply bread to our tuck shops as members of the organisation.
“Now we want to grow so we make more goods in the comfort of our community, which will not only benefit us as entrepreneurs but also create employment for our youth,” says Moepe.
Members also touched on the fact that getting funding to grow their businesses still proves to be a challenge and, moreover, for people who want to start their own businesses.
Speaking on challenges, members raised numerous issues facing them, one being illegal merchandise sold at lower prices, the sprouting of malls and complexes in townships and funding to grow their business.
GNEEF wants to have its very own depot where members will be able to get all their merchandise from one place, which will see prices to purchase stock decreasing, meaning businesses will make a more reasonable profit.
