National Foods lauded for home-grown products

PUBLIC Service minister Paul Mavima, pictured, has praised Zimbabwe’s larges milling company — Na- tional Foods Limited (NFL) — for raising the profile of home-grown products and services for the past century.

Speaking at an event to mark the milling com-pany’s centenary, Mavima lauded the compan for making many competitive products in addition to participating in a number of community-based development initiatives which have benefitted under-privileged people across the country.

“As a country, we have all benefited in one way or the other through the hard work of NFL. Since 1920, NFL has been a strong advocate of raising the profile of home-grown products and services,” Mavima said, adding that the miller was the firm that launched the “buy home products” campaign in the 1920s before it was later transformed to “Buy Zimbabwe”.

The company produces a broad range of basic foods including maize meal, flour, cooking oil, rice, salt, snacks, biscuits, pasta, sugar beans, baked beans, popcorn, as well as soap and a full range of
animal feeds.

Mavima praised the giant milling company’s robust corporate social investment plan which has
benefitted schools, orphanages, special needs groups, vulnerable women and children, churches and
wildlife.

NFL are also the main sponsors of the Zimbabwe national netball team — the Gems.

“NFL donated 60 metric tonnes of various products including Red Seal super roller meal, Gloria self-raising flour, Red Seal salt and Red Seal jam towards Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani. NFL staff also collected 32 bags of clothes and shoes that helped to sustain the immediate and basic needs of the affected families.

“NFL also provided assistance towards the cholera and typhoid support efforts. In addition, support has been provided for Covid-19 initiatives by donating food hampers through various support organisations,” Mavima said, before mentioning several other projects the company took part in, including supporting the Zimbabwe senior netball team and local farmers.

To mark its centenary, NFL recently donated food hampers worth US$50 000 to 100 charities as part of
its centenary celebrations.

The company’s chief executive officer Michael Lashbrook, said as the country’s largest food manu-
facturer, the firm has prioritised its corporate social responsibilities since its formation in 1920.

“Our CSI thrust is to improve the livelihood of the communities in which we operate and to this end
we support activities across the country,” Lashbrook said.