Our Story

Founded by Carl Irwin and Francis Grogan, Zambeef Products Plc was incorporated in June 1994 with limited capital, employing 60 staff, slaughtering 180 cattle per month in a small, rented abattoir, delivering meat in a Land Rover and selling meat through two rented butcheries.

South Africa’s Shoprite entered the Zambian market opening its first supermarket on Cairo Road in Lusaka. Zambeef was asked to operate Shoprite’s in-store butcheries in the country. The partnership with Shoprite enabled our company to grow rapidly by expanding our retail outlets to meet consumer demand.

Acquired Huntley Farm, the heart of Zambeef, located in the Chisamba District.

Established Kalundu Dairy Farm for subsidiary Zammilk.

In February, Zambeef Products Plc was listed on the Lusaka Stock Exchange.

Acquired Sinazongwe Farm located in the southern Zambezi valley of Zambia.

We set up operations in Nigeria and Ghana on the back of our partnership with Shoprite.

Master Pork became a wholly owned subsidiary of Zambeef Products Plc on 1 January. In February, the acquisition of Chiawa Farm, in the southern Zambezi valley of Zambia, added another 960 hectares under irrigation to Zambeef’s farming operations. This year also saw our company carry out the first equity capital raise on the Lusaka Stock Exchange, acquire Zamanita soya crushing and refining plant and establish Novatek Animal Feeds.

Zampalm incorporated following our acquisition of Zamanita Limited.

Commissioned the Lusaka stockfeed plant in March.

In June, Zambeef Products Plc successfully concluded a dual listing on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange and the rights issue in Zambia. The aim of the listing was to raise capital for the acquisition of Nampamba, Chambatata and Kampemba Farms together known as Mpongwe Farm, in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia.

The Banker magazine recognised Zambeef Products Plc’s US$ 55 million listing in London and rights issue in Zambia as 2012’s ‘Deal of the Year’ in Africa for equities. The magazine noted that the company’s initial public offering (IPO) on London’s Alternative Investments Market in June 2011 was significant, as it marked the first international listing for a Zambian company and was one of the few overseas African IPOs from outside the natural resources sector.

Established Zamhatch in a joint venture with Rainbow Chicken, a South African processor and marketer of chicken.

Placement of the first broiler parent stock at Zambeef’s Zamhatch enterprise in Mpongwe in April. Built the Novatek Mpongwe mill.

In September, Zambeef Products Plc completed the acquisition of Zam Chick Limited. Subsequently, CDC Group Plc, now known as British International Investment, invested US$ 65 million into Zambeef Products Plc. This enabled us to grow the business, in particular the cold chain food processing businesses as well as expand distribution and retailing within Zambia and adjoining markets.

The Mpongwe Farm stockfeed plant was commissioned in August. We also completed the expansion of Kalundu Dairy Farm with the construction of a rotary milking parlour, giving us the capacity to milk up to 2,500 cows a day.

Disposal of 90% of Zampalm Ltd to Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia Ltd for US$ 16 million.

Completed the sale of Sinazongwe Farm for US$ 10 million to Chenguang Biotech Agri-Dev Zambia Limited.

Unveiled a US$ 100 million expansion plan that will double Mpongwe Farm’s crop production while adding associated value and capacity to our stockfeed, meat processing and retailing operations.

Started the restructuring of the Zambeef group to eliminate unnecessary complexities and duplications of business processes.