The manufacture and packaging of food items are probably one of the most obvious business ideas which one can think of. With that being said, the fast-moving consumer goods industry is capital intensive and very competitive but it also happens to offer great rewards to the businesses which come out on top. Some of the biggest and most visible corporate success stories which Zimbabwe has to offer are in the food manufacturing sector. Without further ado, here is a list celebrating the top food manufacturing companies in Zimbabwe. The companies on this list are on it because of (i) their sheer size, (ii) they are household names or (iii) a combination of both.

Nestle

Nestle Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd is one of the companies which operate under Nestle East and Southern Africa Region Limited (ESAR) Limited. Nestle (ESAR) Limited is, in turn, a subsidiary of Nestle SA, a Swiss multinational company which happens to be the largest food company in the world. The company has a factory in Southerton, Harare which supplies products to the local market and also exports to neighbouring Zambia and Malawi. Some of the company’s most familiar brands in Zimbabwe are Cremora, Nescafe and Cerevita.

Lobels Biscuits and Sweets

The Bulawayo based company is the largest biscuit manufacturer in the country. The company was started in 1946 when Messrs B and W Lobels baked bread on the first automated bread line in the country. By 1954 the company had diversified into biscuit production. In 2002 the company discontinued bread production when it installed a world-class sweet manufacturing facility and hence adopted its present name.

Arenel

Arenel Private Limited is a foods and beverages manufacturer which sells and distributes its products in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa and other countries. The company is a leading manufacturer of sweets, biscuits, chocolates, salad creams, mayonnaise, corn snacks and beverages. The company started in manufacturing hard-boiled sweets in Bulawayo in the 1940s. During the 60s the company entered the biscuit market with the purchase of Crown Biscuits.

Cairns

Cairns Foods is a food and beverage manufacturing company. All the company’s products are produced locally in its manufacturing plants in Harare, Mutare and Marondera. The company, formerly known as Cairns Holdings, started as a motorcar distribution company in the 1920s. It experienced rapid growth after the 1970s following the acquisition of several large companies during that time. Some of its products and brands which you may be familiar with are its line of snacks such as Spuds, Thingz, and Chompkins. Its culinary range of brands includes Cashel Valley, Madras, Sun Jam and Willards.

Schweppes

Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited is a Coca-Cola Company subsidiary which manufactures and distributes non-carbonated beverages under license from the Coca-Cola Company. The company has manufacturing plants in both Harare and Bulawayo. Some of its most familiar brand names are Mazoe, Fruitade, Minute Maid, Bonaqua and also Schweppes.

The company started out in 1930 when Spa Foods, operating from a small soft drink factory in Bulawayo, developed the first recipe for Mazoe Orange Crush. Following the merger of Spa Foods with Schweppes International, the resulting entity called Schweppes Central Africa Limited was listed on the Stock Exchange.

Dairibord

Dairibord is a milk and dairy products producer. The company was the State’s Dairy Marketing Board until it was privatized in 1997. The company has seven factories in Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Gweru, Kadoma, Mutare and Chipinge. It also owns Lyons Zimbabwe, a manufacturer of beverages, ice creams, condiments, sauces and spreads. The biscuit maker M.E Charhons is also owned by Dairibord. The company also holds a majority stake in Dairibord Malawi.

Dendairy

Dendairy is a producer of milk and dairy products. The company was established in 2004 after the founders identified that the local dairy product market appeared to be severely lagging behind world standards. In addition to this, many imported dairy products were also finding their way onto Zimbabwean store shelves. By 2017 the company was exporting its products to neighbouring countries.

Probrands

Probrands is a Ruwa based food manufacturing and packaging company which offers a wide variety of consumer goods. The company was founded in 2007 after the founders noted the then prevalent shortage of basic commodities on supermarket shelves. The company was established to seize the opportunity by meeting the urgent and growing demand for everyday products by local consumers. The company’s product range currently includes rice, seasonings, maize meal, pasta, kapenta, popcorn, canned products, milk powder, candles and detergents.

National foods

National Foods Holdings Ltd is Zimbabwe’s largest food manufacturer. It produces a wide range of foods which include mealie meal, flour, cooking oil, rice, salt, biscuits, pasta, baked beans, popcorn etc. The company also produces a full range of animal feed products. Some of the company’s more familiar brands include Gloria, Red Seal, Pearlenta, Zimgold and Better Buy. National Foods was formed in 1975 after the merger of Palte-Harris and the Rhodesian Milling Company.