Online Reporter
Coline Dzavakwa
Food and drink processor, Nestlé Zimbabwe, is this Wednesday set to commission a new roller dryer which complements a series of three roller dryers that are already part of the company’s cereals manufacturing plant.
A roller dryer machine is an industrial machine that uses heated rollers to dry materials by applying pressure and heat, removing moisture. It’s commonly used in food processing and other industries to dry various substances, including liquid or paste-like materials, and can be used for drying tuberous and bulbous crops.
The commissioning, which will be presided over by the Minister of Industry and Commerce Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu, is part of the company’s plant expansion project that targets to increase production significantly, and the fourth roller dryer has seen Nestlé Zimbabwe invest US$7 million. Nestlé Zimbabwe Corporate Communications officer, Ms Tavia Matikiti, said this will ensure that the company is able to meet local demand and support its export requirements in the region and abroad.
“Nestlé Zimbabwe is among local manufacturers that are investing heavily in Zimbabwe’s economic growth and vision of becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030. “The new roller dryer is expected to increase capacity to manufacture cereals by over 35 percent. Nestlé Zimbabwe boasts of manufacturing the popular Cerevita cereal that has become a strong breakfast brand, while our journey of growth and development has seen us contribute to employment creation,” she said.
She said currently, their average monthly output was 730 tonnes; however, with the introduction of the fourth roller dryer, it will enhance their cereal production capacity by 35 percent. Ms Matikiti said this advancement not only streamlines supply chain efficiency but also enables them to respond more swiftly to market demands, ensuring reliable supply to both local and export markets.
“This investment aligns seamlessly with Zimbabwe’s Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan, reinforcing national priorities such as food security, skills development, and economic empowerment. Crucially, the investment employs not only within our operations but throughout the entire value chain, from farming logistics, packaging to maintenance,” she added.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has been working closely with the private sector to make sure the economy grows stronger. Through the Zimbabwe Reconstruction and Growth Plan, the Ministry has held a series of engagements, and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) have been inked with the private sector players and the industry to set the momentum for inclusive industrialisation.
