National Foods establishes US$6.5M automated flour mill in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
The plant will increase daily wheat milling capacity from 200 tonnes to 300 tonnes and achieve a notable 90% capacity utilization.
ZIMBABWE – National Foods Limited, a leading agri-industrial company in Zimbabwe, has established a new US$6.5 million fully automated flour milling plant in Bulawayo.
The facility, which took two years to complete and has been operational for about 18 months, marks a key milestone in its strategy to modernise and expand its agro-processing capabilities.
The plant will increase daily wheat milling capacity from 200 tonnes to 300 tonnes and achieve a notable 90% capacity utilization, a significant leap compared to Zimbabwe’s current industry average of 52%.
The investment is part of a broader capital injection of US$30 million by National Foods since 2022 into high-tech milling infrastructure, including replacing its 72-year-old mill and upgrading its Harare operations.
The new Bulawayo plant, equipped with an 11,000-tonne wheat silo (enough for approximately 36 to 40 days of milling), is part of the company’s commitment to increasing production efficiency while aligning with global best practices in food safety and automation.
Speaking during a tour of the facility by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce ahead of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, Mr Ngqabutho Moyo, National Foods Southern Region Operations Executive, highlighted the plant’s efficiency gains.
“The plant is fully automated, which has significantly improved our output and reduced human contact, thereby lowering the risk of contamination. We run it 24 hours depending on market demand,” said Moyo.
The Ministry praised the investment as a strong indicator of business confidence in Zimbabwe’s industrial sector.
Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, the Permanent Secretary, added that National Foods’ investment demonstrates a positive outlook for the economy.
“Moving from 200 to 300 tonnes a day and operating at 90% capacity is a remarkable achievement and far above the national average.”
Dr Wushe added that such developments are in line with the government’s industrialisation roadmap, which emphasises retooling and the adoption of advanced technologies. He also stressed the importance of aligning the country’s tertiary education system with industry needs.
“We are working with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education to ensure that the workforce is equipped with the technical skills required to operate modern machinery,” he said.
Celebrating 103 years of operation in Zimbabwe, National Foods remains a cornerstone of the country’s agro-industrial landscape. With a product portfolio that includes human and livestock feed, the company continues to play a vital role in household food security while driving industrial transformation.
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