RAINBOW News

Rainbow Chicken champions heart health with new Farmer Brown Nourish range

From Potential to Participation: Closing the Access Gap in Rural Poultry

Pholosho Monnapule – Rainbow Export Manager

South Africa continues to face two pressing challenges: youth unemployment and food security.

While the country’s agricultural sector holds significant opportunity, many young people in rural communities cannot gain entry because the systems that enable participation are uneven.

Rainbow believes poultry uniquely sits at the intersection of solving both these endemic problems.

As the most widely consumed and affordable source of protein, it plays a critical role in feeding the nation, but its importance has the potential to go beyond mere production. There is a hereto untapped opportunity to create sustainable economic participation at scale.

Realising this potential; however, will require a shift in focus.

Growth in poultry cannot be viewed through production alone. It depends on the strength of the full value chain, from input supply and skills development, to efficient production and reliable market access.

Because the agricultural system is fragmented, many small-scale and emerging farmers face practical barriers such as:

  • high input costs
  • lack of technical skills and ongoing support
  • exclusion from consistent markets

Closing this access gap requires deliberate, coordinated action across the value chain, because true potential is only unlocked when everyone gets to participate equally.

That’s why Rainbow’s focus is on strengthening the systems that enable participation.

This includes improving access to key inputs through initiatives such as Rainbow Day Old Chicks, where depots are being established closer to rural farming communities. By reducing the distance between farmers and essential inputs, we are helping to improve planning, reduce cost pressures, and support more efficient production.

Simultaneously, continued investment in skills development and farmer engagement remains critical to building long-term capability within the sector. We believe that sustainable growth is not achieved through celebrating single, isolated successes, instead it is built by enabling many producers to participate and succeed within a connected, equitable system.

To unlock the full potential of rural poultry production, we must vigilantly:

  1. Strengthen the value chain
  2. Lower barriers to entry
  3. Enable participation at scale

In doing so, poultry can continue to play a meaningful role, not only in nourishing the nation, but in building more resilient rural economies, stabilising food security, and allowing young people the opportunity to realise their potential.

Rainbow Chicken, the company behind South Africa’s much-loved Simply Chicken and Rainbow brands, is making health the hero of the plate. In recognition of Heart Awareness Month, Rainbow has launched the new Farmer Brown Nourish range – a first-of-its-kind freezer-to-fryer offering proudly endorsed by the Heart & Stroke Foundation of South Africa.

Rainbow Women's Day

For over 60 years, Rainbow Chicken has delivered on its proudly South African promise to “nourish the nation.” With Farmer Brown Nourish, that promise is reimagined for today’s families: meals that combine great taste and everyday convenience with care for long-term well-being.

“And when nourishing a nation means everybody, every heartbeat, every home, we take that responsibility to heart,” says Nhlakanipho Ngubane, brand manager at Rainbow. “Nourish is about more than food on the table; it’s about fuelling well-being and ensuring that healthier choices are within reach for all South Africans.”

Tackling a national health priority

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease and stroke, is responsible for nearly one in five (18%) of all deaths among adults in South Africa.
High blood pressure (hypertension) affects one in three South African adults (33.3%), dramatically increasing the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, kidney disease, and strokes.

Worryingly, 68% of women and 31% of men in South Africa are overweight or obese, placing them at greater risk of CVD and related conditions.

Against this backdrop, hypertension and heart disease remain urgent health challenges. With its low sodium content, Farmer Brown Nourish provides a heart-smart option that makes healthy eating simple and satisfying. As a source of lean protein, it also supports balanced nutrition and helps families enjoy everyday meals that are both wholesome and delicious.

Farmer Brown redefining nourishment

In a category often saturated with processed shortcuts, Nourish delivers strips and steaklets made from 100% full-muscle chicken – never processed – and delicately coated with real ingredients. Variants include Wholegrain, Lightly Dusted, and Sourdough, each crafted to satisfy discerning tastes while supporting better living.

  • 100% full-muscle chicken, never processed
  • Made with real ingredients in three delicious variants
  • Low sodium content to support heart-conscious lifestyles

Raising the standard for inclusive nourishment

Farmer Brown Nourish sets a new benchmark for health without ever compromising on taste. More than a product innovation, it represents a bold step toward inclusive nourishment, ensuring that even those managing heart-related conditions can enjoy meals that are safe, satisfying, and full of flavour.

Ngubane added, “We are redefining nourishment, expanding it beyond hunger to encompass well-being, prevention, and access.”

With transparent innovation and a clear sense of purpose, Rainbow reinforces its role as a brand with conscience, firmly committed to the health and well-being of the nation.

The Farmer Brown Nourish range is now available nationwide at leading retailers, making heart-smart choices more accessible than ever.

Related Posts

Meals that matter: Rainbow Rustenburg feeding futures

Meals that matter: Rainbow Rustenburg feeding futures

As one of the region’s largest employers and a long-standing neighbour to local schools, Rainbow Rustenburg has embedded a culture of giving back into its community. This commitment extends into the lives of thousands of learners, strengthening education, food security, and community well-being through practical, lasting support.

Reflections from Anuga 2025: What Rainbow Chicken learned at Anuga 2025

Reflections from Anuga 2025: What Rainbow Chicken learned at Anuga 2025

A team from Rainbow Chicken, including Tarryn Fowler (marketing director), Claire Mundell (technical director), Thashia Achari (research and development technical manager), and Neil Harris (category strategy manager), attended Anuga 2025 in Cologne, one of the world’s largest and most influential food and beverage trade fairs.

Rainbow Chicken: Hand in hand, we nourish the nation

Rainbow Chicken: Hand in hand, we nourish the nation

Rainbow Chicken Ltd, South Africa’s second largest poultry producer, is proud to reaffirm its support for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) by championing the 2025 World Food Day campaign under the global theme: ‘Hand in hand for better foods and a better future’.

Rainbow Chicken puts South African Gogos on Centre Stage

Rainbow Chicken puts South African Gogos on Centre Stage

Rainbow Chicken’s latest content series, Gogo vs Gogo, features a series of cook-offs between South African grandmothers, aka Gogos, who showcase their signature chicken recipes and share the stories, traditions, and wisdom passed down through generations.