{"id":829344,"date":"2025-06-25T10:46:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T08:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=829344"},"modified":"2025-06-25T10:47:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T08:47:29","slug":"nestle-invests-r124-million-to-boost-southern-african-cereal-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/industry-news\/829344\/nestle-invests-r124-million-to-boost-southern-african-cereal-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Nestl\u00e9 invests R124 million to boost Southern African cereal production"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nestl\u00e9 has announced a $7 million (R124 million) investment to expand its cereal manufacturing facility in Harare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will reinforce Zimbabwe\u2019s role as a strategic hub for breakfast cereal production in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This upgrade, which includes the installation of a fourth roller dryer for Nestl\u00e9 CEREVITA, will increase the factory\u2019s production capacity by over 35% and enable greater supply to both domestic and export markets, including Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investment forms part of Nestl\u00e9\u2019s long-term Africa for Africa strategy, which champions local manufacturing, sourcing, and talent development to build more self-reliant food systems across the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis investment is a clear proof point of our Africa for Africa strategy in action,\u201d said Nicole Roos, Managing Director and Chairperson of Nestl\u00e9 East and Southern Africa Region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt reflects how we are embedding our Virtuous Circle model – sourcing from local farmers, investing in local talent, manufacturing locally, and exporting regionally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cZimbabwe is not just a market; it is a valued contributor to a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food system for Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nestl\u00e9 Zimbabwe<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nestl\u00e9 Zimbabwe has operated for over 60 years and is a major contributor to the local economy, employing over 400 people directly and indirectly, and supporting more than 350 local suppliers and smallholder farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new investment will not only enhance production and export capacity but also advance Zimbabwe\u2019s Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 by promoting industrialisation, employment, and food security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Industry and Commerce Hon. N.M. Ndhlovu, praised Nestl\u00e9\u2019s role in revitalising Zimbabwe\u2019s manufacturing sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis momentous occasion signifies yet another milestone in Nestle\u2019s journey of resilience, growth and development in Zimbabwe,\u201d said Ndhlovu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not merely an addition to their impressive infrastructure, but a testament to the company’s enduring commitment to Zimbabwe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khaled Ramadan, Managing Director of Nestl\u00e9 East Africa, highlighted the broader regional benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur brands, like CEREVITA, are trusted by families across Southern Africa,\u201d said Ramadan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith this expansion, we are better equipped to meet rising demand while contributing to stronger local economies, sustainable agriculture, and improved livelihoods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A world-class facility<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nestl\u00e9\u2019s Harare factory is one of the few cereal manufacturing facilities of its kind in the region and a cornerstone of its $40 million (R710 million) investment programme to scale cereal and coffee production across Eastern and Southern Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The factory\u2019s recent recognition as First Runner-Up for Manufacturing Exporter of the Year 2025 by the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce further reflects its impact on trade and economic development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to manufacturing, Nestl\u00e9 continues to play a key role in youth empowerment and capability building through its graduate trainee and technical training programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its approach to sustainability includes local sourcing, water and energy efficiency, and a commitment to responsible waste management through initiatives like its industrial water treatment plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latest investment reaffirms Nestl\u00e9\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> long-term vision for Zimbabwe – one rooted in shared prosperity, regional integration, and the creation of a more resilient, inclusive food ecosystem across Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nestl\u00e9\u2019s strategic upgrade cements Zimbabwe as a regional cereal hub for Eastern and Southern Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":829348,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10459],"tags":[6579],"class_list":["post-829344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-news","tag-nestle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=829344"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":829357,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829344\/revisions\/829357"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/829348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=829344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=829344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=829344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}