Natfoods expedites Harare, Byo projects

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

Victoria Falls Stock Exchange listed food processing giant, National Foods Limited, (Natfoods) is expediting the setting up of new state-of-the art processing plants in Harare and Bulawayo as the company moves to localise manufacture of products that were previously imported.

Speaking at the company’s listing ceremony at the VFEX that week, board member Godfrey Gwainda said the move would significantly reduce import costs.

“Firstly many of the investments will see the localised manufacture of products that were previously imported,” Gwainda said.

He added: “In line with the import substitution drive under the National Development Strategy 1, the company will invest in a new pasta plant at our Stirling Road plant in Harare. This will be the first large-scale pasta line in the country and seeks to cater to the needs of our consumers who are increasingly looking for a wider variety of food options.

A biscuit plant, again at our Stirling Road site in Harare and another import substitution initiative will produce a wide range of quality biscuits, extending our offering from the current basic Iris biscuit range to a broader range of biscuit products such as cookies and creams.”

Gwainda said Natfoods will spend about US$30m  in the projects which will also include a “new and much more efficient Flour mill which will be installed in Bulawayo, to replace existing equipment with a state-of-the-art flour mill supplied by the Buhler company from Switzerland.”

“A breakfast cereal plant in Harare will see the production of a range of instant breakfast cereals as well as corn flakes, bran flakes and whole grain flakes. These products were released to the market late in 2022 and so far, have been very well received by consumers,” he said.

The company also upgraded its Aspindale Stockfeeds plant, to improve efficiency and product handling which ultimately will benefit livestock farmers.

“The increased capacity and raw material demand will result in increased support to our local farmers.

“Finally increased industrialisation will see job creation, not only at National Foods but in ancillary industries as well,” Gwainda said.

Natfoods is heavily involved in the support of both contract and corporate farming initiatives in the country.

The company has invested US$12m into contract farming.

Some of Natfoods products include Red Seal roller meal, Gloria flour, Mahatma rice, National Foods Stockfeeds, to name a few, that have become a part of every Zimbabwean household throughout the century.

In recent years, the company has added to its portfolio snacks, biscuits and breakfast cereal categories through the Zapnax, King, Popticorn and Pearlenta Nutri-Active brands.