ZAMBIA – Zambeef Products Plc, the largest integrated cold chain food products and agribusiness company in Zambia kicks off its silver jubilee celebration as it marks its 25th anniversary of operation since 1994.

Over the last 25 years Zambeef has grown from a small butchery in Kabwata to becoming the most successful cold chain food processing and retailing in the region.

The food processing giant is involved in the primary production, processing, distribution and retailing of beef, chicken, pork, milk, eggs, dairy products, fish, flour and stockfeed, throughout Zambia and the surrounding region, as well as Nigeria and Ghana.

Having 206 retail outlets throughout Zambia and West Africa, it supplies 38 Shoprite butcheries in Zambia, 25 in Nigeria and 6 butcheries in Ghana.

Zambeef employs 7,555 people with a total of K420.8 million paid in remuneration and benefits in the last year.

During the celebrations, the food processing and retailing giant’s staff were the centre of attention as founders Dr Carl Irwin and Francis Grogan thanked them for their hard work, dedication and support.

In his speech, Zambeef Chief Executive Officer Mr Grogan narrated the retail giant’s humble beginnings and thanked all staff for the role they have played in making Zambeef the largest vertically integrated food company in Zambia.

“To achieve the vision we had for Zambeef would have not been possible without the commitment and hard work from every single employee. The key to our success is every single one of our employees and I would like to thank you very much,” said Mr Grogan.

Dr Irwin reflected on Zambeef’s culture of teamwork, hard work, integrity, passion and dedication, to which he attributed the company’s success. He also encouraged the new management team to continue the organisation’s principles and culture.

“Zambeef has had a great impact on many lives in our country. Not only have we created over 7,500 jobs, we also contribute to poverty alleviation through all the small and emerging farmers we deal with in every part of the country.”

“We have also played a big role in food security of Zambia. As food production becomes a problem across the world due to climate change in Zambia, we are fortunate that we are able to produce our own food,” he said.

Deputy Managing director and CEO Designate Walter Roodt said: “Most businesses don’t survive 25 years. If you see the energy and passion channelled correctly, as it has been for all employees, that really is something that galvanises and that is why this is a strong family, not just employees and people working together.”

To support its beef business, it owns five beef abattoirs and three feedlots located throughout Zambia, with a capacity to slaughter 100,000 cattle a year.

It is also one of the largest chickens and egg producers in Zambia, producing 16.9 million-day-old chicks a year and processing 12.8 million kgs of chickens in 2018.

It is one of the largest piggeries, pig abattoirs and pork processing plants in Zambia, with 9.9 million kgs produced during the year, while its dairy processes around 19.3 million litres of milk a year.

The Group is also one of the largest cereal row cropping operations in Zambia, with approximately 7,787 hectares of row crops under irrigation which are planted twice a year, and a further 8,694 hectares of rainfed/dry-land crops available for planting each year.

Zambeef brands include Novatek, Zambeef, Zamchick, Zamchick Egg, Zamchick Inns, Zamflour, Zam Milk, Zamsip, Zamleather Limited and Zamshu