Woolworths Enterprise Development
Woolworths Enterprise Development is a esd grant from Woolworths Enterprise Development for growth, established businesses across South Africa. You cannot apply for this programme directly. Woolworths Enterprise Development is a support layer for businesses that already supply Woolworths. You must first meet the Woolworths product and ethical-sourcing standards and be trading on the Woolworths supplier base, even on a very small scale, before you can be considered. A business with no product listed at Woolworths cannot enter, no matter how strong its documents or B-BBEE credentials are. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Before you apply: entry requirement
You cannot apply for this programme directly. Woolworths Enterprise Development is a support layer for businesses that already supply Woolworths. You must first meet the Woolworths product and ethical-sourcing standards and be trading on the Woolworths supplier base, even on a very small scale, before you can be considered. A business with no product listed at Woolworths cannot enter, no matter how strong its documents or B-BBEE credentials are.
The route in is set out under Application Process below.
Overview
Entry is only open to businesses that already supply Woolworths. This is enterprise and supplier development for existing Woolworths suppliers, not a front door for new applicants: you have to get a product onto the Woolworths supplier base first, even at very small scale. Once you are in, support includes low-interest loans, advances on first orders, 7-day payment terms and 3 to 5 years of development support, with a strong focus on black-owned MSMEs and on women and rural suppliers. Support is bespoke and no funding amounts are published.
Programme details last verified on 15 August 2026.
Full Description
Woolworths Enterprise Development supports emerging black-owned businesses that are already inside the Woolworths supply chain, as primary or secondary suppliers. Support is built around an individual needs analysis and typically includes shorter (7-day) payment terms to ease cash flow, advances against first orders, low-interest finance through the enterprise development loan fund, and 3 to 5 years of mentorship and development support. Woolworths reports roughly 47 SMMEs in the programme at a time, across food, fashion, beauty, homeware and services. The programme is a retention and growth mechanism for suppliers Woolworths has already chosen, so the decisive step for any business is the supplier route, not the funding route. If you do not yet supply Woolworths, your work is to become listable: get the product, quality, compliance and ethical-sourcing standards in place so that a Woolworths buying team can take you on. Enterprise development only becomes available afterwards.
Eligibility Criteria
Application Process
There is no public application form for this programme and no Woolworths website accepts enterprise development applications online. Woolworths selects suppliers against its product, quality and ethical-sourcing standards rather than running an open call, and enterprise development support follows from that supplier relationship. Step 1: get listed as a Woolworths supplier. Read the WHL Supplier Code of Business Principles, which sets the standards a supplier is held to, and prepare your product, food-safety or quality certification, and labour and environmental compliance against it. Step 2: approach the Woolworths buying or category team for your product area. Woolworths Holdings general enquiries is +27 21 407 9111. Step 3: enterprise development support is arranged through Woolworths once you are trading as a supplier. Note that supplierportal.woolworths.co.za is a login-only portal for suppliers already under contract and does not accept new-supplier registrations, so it is not an application route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for Woolworths Enterprise Development directly?
You cannot apply for this programme directly. Woolworths Enterprise Development is a support layer for businesses that already supply Woolworths. You must first meet the Woolworths product and ethical-sourcing standards and be trading on the Woolworths supplier base, even on a very small scale, before you can be considered. A business with no product listed at Woolworths cannot enter, no matter how strong its documents or B-BBEE credentials are.
Who qualifies for Woolworths Enterprise Development?
You cannot apply for this programme directly. Woolworths Enterprise Development is a support layer for businesses that already supply Woolworths. You must first meet the Woolworths product and ethical-sourcing standards and be trading on the Woolworths supplier base, even on a very small scale, before you can be considered. A business with no product listed at Woolworths cannot enter, no matter how strong its documents or B-BBEE credentials are. Woolworths Enterprise Development targets growth, established businesses across South Africa.
When is the deadline for Woolworths Enterprise Development?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
How do I apply for Woolworths Enterprise Development?
There is no public application form for this programme and no Woolworths website accepts enterprise development applications online. Woolworths selects suppliers against its product, quality and ethical-sourcing standards rather than running an open call, and enterprise development support follows from that supplier relationship. Step 1: get listed as a Woolworths supplier. Read the WHL Supplier Code of Business Principles, which sets the standards a supplier is held to, and prepare your product, food-safety or quality certification, and labour and environmental compliance against it. Step 2: approach the Woolworths buying or category team for your product area. Woolworths Holdings general enquiries is +27 21 407 9111. Step 3: enterprise development support is arranged through Woolworths once you are trading as a supplier. Note that supplierportal.woolworths.co.za is a login-only portal for suppliers already under contract and does not accept new-supplier registrations, so it is not an application route.
Prepare Your Application
Increase your chances of success with these preparation resources.
Provider Guide
Learn about Woolworths Enterprise Development's application process
Document Checklist
Requirements and deadlines
Download Templates
Business plan, cash flow, projections
Legal Framework
Relevant legislation and compliance
Compliance Check
Verify your CIPC, SARS, B-BBEE status
Get Expert Help
Find a funding specialist