adminthat is taking place in Manicaland Province.
The rice packaging plant, which was established at a cost of US$700 000, will enable the company to take advantage of Mutare’s proximity to Mozambique and the Mozambican port of Beira, through
which National Foods brings in its rice originating from Asia.
Establishing a dedicated rice packaging facility in Mutare has also increased the firm’s packaging capacity in line with the increased demand for rice nationwide.
The increased demand for rice seems to have come about as a result of the decrease in both the price of rice and the rise in the purchasing power of individuals.
National Foods is the market leader when it comes to selling rice.
Recently, the firm introduced stronger, more durable and attractive polyester packaging for its Mahatma rice, one of its premier Thai rice brands.
Other National Foods rice brands include Red Seal rice, also a Thai rice, and Mama Africa rice. It also sells Malawi rice and Better Buy rice, a value for money brand.
Prior to commissioning its Mutare rice packaging plant, the company’s rice was packaged in Harare.
Now all National Foods rice is being packaged in Mutare.
The new development is one of a number of expansion projects National Foods has undertaken in recent months, one of the most recent being the establishment of a depot in Beitbridge, on the border with South Africa.
The establishment of the rice packaging plant in Mutare will ensure easy delivery for NatFoods to depots in Mutare and Chipinge and other parts of the country.
Where maize meal, which is one of the major foods that National Foods produces, used to be the sole staple food for many people, many more people are now also regularly eating rice as well.
The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed firm contends its various rice brands cater for a variety of tastes and incomes.
“Rice is no longer the luxury that it used to be,” a National Foods spokesperson explained. In the past it tended to be seen as for the affluent only or was reserved for important occasions. It is now becoming part of an everyday meal for more and more families,” said the spokesperson.
“With our pricing we see it becoming a staple food, second only to sadza,” said the agro-processing company.
NatFoods is also interested in being part of the economic growth-taking place in Manicaland, largely as a result of the diamond mining now taking place there. This played a part in its decision to establish the rice packaging plant in Mutare.
Online Reporter