Industry

Zimbabwe's flour industry players

Zimbabwe's flour milling industry is dominated by a small number of large companies whose brands are household names. GMAZ members produce approximately 98% of the country's flour.

National Foods Holdings Limited

Miller

Zimbabwe's largest food manufacturer, established in 1920. Produces Gloria Flour, Red Seal flour, and Better Buy flour across mills in Harare and Bulawayo.

Established
1920
Ownership
Innscor Africa (37.73%), Tiger Brands (37.45%), Workers Trust (9.85%), public
Listed
Zimbabwe Stock Exchange
Key brands
Gloria, Red Seal, Better Buy
Bulawayo plant capacity
300 tonnes/day (90% utilisation)
Silo capacity
11,000 tonnes (Bulawayo)
Capital investment since 2022
US$30 million

The Gloria brand, launched in 1920, is Zimbabwe's most recognised flour brand and celebrated its centenary in 2020. The range includes Self-Raising, Cake, Self Raising Cake, All-Purpose, High Fibre Wheat, Super White Bread, Standard, and Biscuit flour.

Blue Ribbon Foods

Miller

A member of the Bakhresa Group of Tanzania, Blue Ribbon Foods is a major flour producer with its plant on George Drive, Msasa, Harare.

Established
Originally Blue Ribbon Industries; acquired by Bakhresa Group 2013
Ownership
Bakhresa Group (Tanzania)
Location
No. 4 George Drive, Msasa, Harare
Key brands
Blue Ribbon Flour, Bakers Pride
Milling capacity
600 tonnes of wheat per day
Regional footprint
Also operates in Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Seychelles

Blue Ribbon Foods also produces Ngwerewere and Chibataura mealie meal, Amandla, Nutresco Maheu, and Aroma Noodles.

Champion Foods

Miller

Zimbabwe's third-largest milling operation, commissioned in 2024. Privately owned, producing flour and stockfeed.

Commissioned
2024
Ownership
Privately held (Douglas Kwande and Patrick Mnangagwa)
Products
Flour and stockfeed
Significance
Third-largest milling plant in Zimbabwe

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ)

Industry Body

The apex representative body for local large, medium, and small-scale grain milling companies in Zimbabwe.

Role
Advocacy, coordination, wheat procurement, industry representation
Chairman
Tafadzwa Musarara
Member coverage
Approximately 98% of Zimbabwe's flour production
Key function
Coordinates wheat imports and distribution across member millers

GMAZ lobbies for consistent foreign currency allocation for wheat imports and represents the milling industry in policy discussions with government.

Other millers

A number of smaller GMAZ members were historically active, including Victoria Foods (CFI Holdings), Uni Foods, Wheat Star, Power Foods, Falcon Foods, Oriental Milling, Manyame Milling, Alphagrain, Central Millers, and others. The industry has consolidated significantly over the years and the larger players now dominate capacity.