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In his acceptance speech after his company was bestowed the prestigious Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Lifetime Achievement Award, Jasbro Foods Pvt Ltd sales and marketing manager Mr Ishmael Jassat said it was in the opportunity of a budding and blossoming Zimbabwe that Jasbro Foods was born.
He said a legacy is not what we leave for people, but what we leave in people.
“Let me tell you a little story about two little mice. Two little mice fell into a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and subsequently he drowned. The second mouse, wouldn’t quit. He struggled so hard kicking and swimming that eventually he churned that cream into butter and he walked out. Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse, the next generation, the younger brother.
“To put it simply, this little story is a humble reminder that if you want to be successful in your pursuits, you must never give up. You may feel like there is no way out with the ever changing tides of the current economic climate, but if you keep on working hard, the end in sight will eventually come,” said Mr Jassat.
He said hard work pays and those who keep at it would reap handsome rewards.
“Keep working hard, I promise it will be worth it! Over 43 years ago two brothers fell into the cream of opportunity of a newly independent Zimbabwe, that cream of opportunity would require these two civil servants at the time to keep swimming or drown in the sea of an already developed predominantly white business community at the time.
“They became these two little mice and they knew they would have to keep kicking and swimming if they would want to walk out, little did they know they would one day leave behind a household name in the City of Kings and a legacy for the next generation to uphold,” said Mr Jassat.
He said his company continues its relentless labour of love in bringing quality food products to the beautiful people of Zimbabwe.
“Proudly Zimbabwean has come to mean something else to us, something very close to the heart, something unforgettable. For it was in the opportunity of this budding and blossoming landscape that Jasbro Foods was born. I am truly obliged for this great honour and recognition given by the management and the Board of Directors of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for their recognition of the legacy of the great men I am here to represent, who are the true recipients of this prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Mr Jassat.
He continued: It is indeed a privilege and an honour to stand before you representing the titans of yesteryear who solidified the foundation of this household brand, Jasbro Foods. In the great words of Isaac Newton, ‘If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.’ What giants they were and remain.”
Jasbro Foods is a food processing pre-packaging and manufacturing factory and wholesaler. The company also imports and exports grain and fish products.
“We deal primarily in an assortment of rices of which we have over 18 different types in our selection, fine salt and coarse salt, sugar beans, peanuts, nyimo/indlubu, butter beans, popcorn, kapenta, Soya chunks, spaghetti, macaroni, kapenta and mopani worms. We manufacture corn crax and corn curls as well as jas cools commonly known as super cools as part of our diverse range,” said Mr Jassat.
Jasbro Foods was established in 1980 by the two founding Jassat brothers, the late Abraham Sonny Jassat and Rashid Jassat. As time went on, the other Jassat brothers joined the now family business; the late Salie Jassat, the late Moosa Jassat, Ishmael Jassat and their nephew Mohomed Lambat would form those at the helm in the years that followed.
“At one stage, we boasted a work force of almost 300 employees, today we’re fluctuating between 75 to 100 employees. We supply food and grain products throughout Zimbabwe and export to neighbouring countries. If you had your first packet of Maputi in the 80s and 90s, we brought it to you. Today Jasbro Foods is a household brand; some know it for rice, some for matemba, some for beans and so on.
“We are humbled by the grace of God to have survived the volatile economic climate that has blown our way from time to time and endeavour to continue our relentless labour of love in bringing quality food products to the beautiful people of Zimbabwe and the region. We assure you at all times of only the finest quality food products for our developing and growing nation,” said Mr Jassat.
Online Reporter