ZAMBIA – Trade Kings Group, Zambia’s leading manufacturer of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, has revealed plans of investing US$10m in new milk powder spray processing plant.

The plant is expected to have a processing capacity of 500,000 litres of milk per day, thereby providing market for both dairy farmers and cooperatives, reports ZNBC.

Other than supporting dairy farmers, establishment of the facility is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to more than 3,000 Zambians.

This came to light when Fisheries and Livestock Minister Makozo Chikote, Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo and Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga visited Trade King’s manufacturing plant in Lusaka.

Mr. Chikote expressed the ministry’s support to the company, which is in line with governments’ agenda of promoting value addition and empowerment of local producers.

He said government is working on policies and interventions that will protect the local milk farmers and the private sector to ensure challenges facing the dairy industry are addressed.

The planned investment follows closely to Trade Kings’ commissioning of a new milk processing plant at its subsidiary, Dairy Gold Limited.

The new factory has been put under production of full cream fresh milk product under the brand name Dairy Gold, drawing its strength from the corporate identity which has been long known for producing dairy and traditional drinks commonly known as ‘Maheu’.

Through Dairy Gold, Trade Kings continuously avails innovative, quality and affordable dairy products to meet the demands of the local consumer with widely known products such as Twin Cos Maxi Moo, Shake N Sip Fruity Milk, Twin Cows Full Cream Milk, Milkit Milkshake, Cream-It Coffee and Tea Creamer, among others.

The company’s investment in milk powder production is timely as currently the country is reliant on imports from neighbouring countries to meet demand.

Late last year, Uganda flagged off the first consignment of 50 tonnes of powdered milk destined for Zambia.

This was courtesy of a trade agreement entered between the Zambian Coca-Cola Beverages Limited and Uganda’s leading dairy processor Pearl Dairies.

According to reports the Coca-Cola unit has made an order of 700 metric tonnes of powdered milk each year from Pearl Dairies.

The Lato brand maker has invested in a state-of-the-art processing plant with the capacity to process 800,000 litres of milk every day making it a key player in the region.

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