- Flour mill to be commissioned in Bulawayo while Cereal plant in Harare
- The Group registered 24% overall volumes growth
- Growth was recorded in all business units
- Maize volumes surged by 25% ahead of prior year
Harare - Zimbabwe’s listed largest food producer, National Foods is set to commission the Bulawayo Flour Mill in 2022, while the Harare Breakfast Cereal Plant is scheduled to be completed by the second quarter of the same year. These are the Group’s two major capital developments which are underway.
The Bulawayo Flour Mill is expected to boost flour volumes, which soared by 24% during the first quarter ended 30 September 2021.
Meanwhile, the Group has recorded volumes growth of 24% across all business units to 143 000 metric tonnes during the period ahead of the same quater last year, buoyed by increased consumer demand.
Of this, stockfeed volumes increased by 29% compared to 2020 as demand for poultry feed continued to remain firm, notably from small scale producers while maize volumes increased by 25% compared to the same period last year.
“This was an encouraging outcome as demand is normally muted following a good harvest, and reflects the impact that imports had on demand last year,” the Group said regarding to maize volumes growth in a statement accompanying the trading update.
Demand for Pearlenta Nutri Active instant porridge continued to increase, with volumes growing by 75% compared to last year.
The Group said its newly established Down-packed unit, which houses the rice, salt, sugar beans and popcorn categories, volumes continued on an upward trajectory on increasing by 59% when compared to 2020 during the same quarter.
During the period under review, snacks demand registered an up-tick of 81% with the biscuits category increasing by 16% as the plant ran at maximum capacity.
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