Online Reporter
Kudzanai Sharara in Algiers, Algeria
Local dairy producer Kefalos is making a strategic push to expand its footprint across Africa, with the company, known for its traditional dairy offerings, showcasing a new range of ambient products at the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 in Algiers, Algeria.
The IATF, an extensive showcase bankrolled by Afreximbank, has attracted over 35 000 visitors and more than 2 000 exhibitors, including 25 Zimbabwean firms exhibiting at the Zimbabwe Pavilion.
The event is a significant platform for African businesses to connect and negotiate deals, with this year’s edition expected to generate over $44 billion in transactions.
According to Kefalos’s head of marketing Pam Tairoodza, the decision to diversify was driven by a desire to overcome common challenges in the African market.
“We have traditionally been making traditional dairy products like milk, cheese, yoghurt, and ice cream,” she explained. “These all need a cold chain and refrigeration. We’ve seen that there are some electricity challenges that we sometimes face, and refrigeration isn’t endemic all across the country.”
In response, Kefalos has developed a range of ambient drinks and a new dairy snack that can withstand conditions without refrigeration. “This is a brand new category in the dairy industry,” Ms Tairoodza noted, adding that since their launch last year, “the demand for them is growing.”
Kefalos already has a significant presence in the Southern African region.
However, their objective at IATF 2025 is to build on this success and venture into new territories.
“The whole of Africa is expected to be here,” Ms Tairoodza said. “We’re looking to expand into East, West, and possibly even Northern Africa.” The company is leveraging the fair to increase brand awareness and secure new partnerships.
The initial response has been positive, with “a lot of interest” in Kefalos’s products, particularly for their quality and as a “healthy solution to nutrition.”
The IATF is providing Zimbabwean firms with a valuable opportunity to connect with businesses from across the continent and beyond, according to economist Gladys Mutsopotsi, who is attending IATF2025 as a buyer.
She said the event puts the fair “on a global market space and you can do business with people in Africa and also outside Africa.”
Kefalos is a well-established, home-grown brand providing a diverse range of high-quality dairy products to Zimbabwe and the Southern African region.
The company has a history of introducing new and innovative products, such as smooth yoghurts and luxury ice cream, to meet local and international standards.
Kefalos is actively exporting its products to countries like Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Botswana, showcasing its regional reach.
It is recognised in the Food Business Africa Top 100 and has won awards for its products, particularly its mozzarella and premium ice cream.
The company has invested in a 600 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar plant, demonstrating a commitment to renewable energy and business continuity, which is a significant step for a manufacturing operation.
