Published: 21 January 2014

Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed grain processor, National Foods, yesterday reopened its Mutare Maize mill to complement operations at the Harare and Bulawayo plants in order to meet increased demand.

The mill, which has been inactive for the past six years, has been under care and maintenance.

National Foods chief executive Jeremy Brooke said the reopening of the mill would help meet the growing demand for Red Seal roller meal and Pearlenta and also create employment for Mutare residents.

"We are delighted to get the mills running again in Mutare. We are hopeful that there will be sufficient crop planted in the Mutare area to enable the mill to continue running and never have to close again," he said.

Brooke said the company had secured maize from Mozambique that would be milled in Mutare to help ensure there was adequate roller meal and Pearlenta between now and the harvesting of locally produced maize.

He said Zambia had resumed maize sales to Zimbabwe, which would also help ensure there was adequate food prior to the harvest.

"Every available square inch of the country should be used for planting so that we can guarantee our own food security as a nation and the food security of our own people," he said.

He said the company had been continuously retooling, re-equipping and rehabilitating its plants and equipment.

In December last year, NatFoods said it would invest over $30 million in the rehabilitation of its flour mills as part of strategies to boost capacity and unlock shareholder value.

- bh24

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