Ryan Swano
With a combined experience of 74 years in business, father-and-son duo Malcolm & Ricardo Green established La RicMal Wines, in 2007 on a mission to set new benchmarks within the then almost 350 years old South African Wine Industry.
CEO Malcolm Green has never been one to do things in half measures. From the outset the approach of La RicMal Wines was that they would not simply wait on “transformation opportunities” in the wine industry.
La RicMal Wines would place themselves at the forefront of transformation starting off with recognising the Fundamental Human Rights of everyone, through their business dealings, and from their employees all the way through the wine value chain to the wine lover drinking La RicMal Wines.
Transformation Requires A Long-Term Vision
When speaking to La RicMal Wines CEO, Malcom Green, it becomes abundantly clear that he is passionate about the South African Wine Industry.
“There needs to be a long-term vision that starts off with capacity building tied to a willingness to do for self. There needs to be a desire to break through barriers and expand into new unexplored territories.”
La RicMal, a Black-owned Wine Brand, see themselves as having a responsibility to be at the forefront of Fostering Transformation of the Wine Industry. According to CEO Malcolm Green, their point of departure is not to simply look at guidelines and regulations, but to start with ensuring that they Uphold the Human Rights Enshrined in Our South African Constitution.
Sustainability of Transformation
One of the most basic of those human rights is to engage in economic activity in order to pursue a livelihood and to contribute to their own development.
“You cannot speak of transformation if you are not transforming yourself and the lives of your employees. We are not simply giving people jobs. We have a responsibility to Create Sustainable Employment.”
One of the most important ways to Create Sustainable Employment is to ensure that your business consistently grows while it also continually breaks new ground in the industry.
Over the past 18 years La RicMal Wines has consistently posted year-on-year growth, making it one of the Top 5 Biggest Black-Owned Wine Production companies. La RicMal supplies wines to Africa’s biggest retailers, and also constantly strives to strengthen its position in the international wine trade beyond Africa, through forrays into wine market expos as competitive as ProWein Germany, as tough to enter as France, or as surprising as Russia.
La RicMal Wines does this through maintaining the highest of quality standards, which is proven through La RicMal consistently achieving national and international awards.
“La RicMal aims to be at the forefront through Adding Value to the Wine Industry” says CEO Malcom Green, “and therefore we also regularly participate in Agri-Processing and Agricultural Trade Shows locally and internationally.
Expanding into Unexplored Territory
“We entered the wine retail market at its highest end in a manner that has never been done before and this led to the opening of our La RicMal Wine Boutique at Cape Town International Airport in February 2024, a first for a South African Airport, and now also the new Wine Emporium at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, which is set to follow soon.”
This strategy places La RicMal in the position as Ambassadors of the South African Wine Tourism Industry, by having La RicMal Wine Emporium at major International Tourist Entry Point, The Cruise Terminal Makers Landing V&A Waterfront, increasing employment and economic development in the wine industry.
Transforming How Wine is Consumed
“When people are more knowledgeable about wine and obtain a better understanding of wine, they tend to become more conscious of how they consume wine.”
In that regard La RicMal has created The Ultimate South African Wine Value Kit in 2020 as a unique first in the South African Wine Industry. The South African Government has hailed it as an invaluable tool in educating people about wine, particularly with its four booklets written in four of South Africa’s most spoken language.
The Importance of Strategic Partnerships
Through strategic partnerships and their ground-breaking and innovative introduction of new ways to grow their brand, La RicMal Wines also ensures that they remain at the forefront of The South African Wine Industry.
“On this Human Rights Day, we want to thank our amazing retail partners who stock our wines, our suppliers and service providers who help ensure that our business runs smoothly, our associates within the industry and outside of it, and of course the wine lovers who drink our wines.”
WATCH La RicMal Wines Growth and Transformation
Our Human Rights enshrined in our South African constitution has been hard-fought for and it places a responsibility on all industries and on individual businesses to ensure that we foster the advancement of those Human Rights.
“The La RicMal team is grateful to all of you whose support has contributed to the many milestones that La RicMal Wines has reached over the past 18 years as a wine producer, as well as our expansion into the high-end wine retail market through our La RicMal Wine Boutique at Cape Town International Airport and the New La RicMal Wine Emporium at Makers Landing V&A Waterfront”
Happy Human Rights Day.
