National Foods

Our History

National Foods has a long history stretching back to the early part of the last century, when two families, the Palte family and the Harris family, started separate businesses, which eventually came together as one. Joseph Palte started his company, J. Palte & Co in 1908 in Bulawayo, where he traded as Miller and Merchants. When he died in 1934, his son, Jack, took over the business. He expanded it and in 1952, Tiger Oats became major shareholders.

Meanwhile in 1915 Mark Harris established Mark Harris Manufacturing in what was then Salisbury, using the trade name Atlas. In 1920 he sold his shares to the British South Africa Company (now Anglo American Corporation). In the same year C. Harris & Co., which was later renamed Harris Brothers, was established in Bulawayo. It was then that the brand name Red Seal was born. The Gloria brand name was also launched at this time.

In 1924 Mark Harris Manufacturing was renamed Rhodesian Milling and Manufacturing Company. In 1956 the Rhodesian Milling and Manufacturing Company purchased Harris Brothers. However, the Red Seal brand was taken over by Harris Maize Milling and Produce Company, a company founded the same year by three sons of C. Harris, the founder of Harris Brothers. In 1964 Harris Maize Milling and Produce Company merged with J. Palte & Co. to form Palte Harris. In 1970 Palte Harris went public as Palte Harris Industrial Holdings. In 1975 the Rhodesian Milling and Manufacturing Company merged with Palte Harris to form National Foods, bringing together the Gloria and Red Seal Brands.

National Foods has grown to become one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of food products in Zimbabwe and the Southern African region. Innscor acquired shareholding in National Foods in 2003 and today holds a 37.82% share with Tiger Brands holding a 37.45% share.

Sustainability In Our Business

During 2018, National Foods made a strategic decision to adopt sustainability reporting to provide a broader picture of the business to its stakeholders. The strategy follows the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards which require the Group to identify, measure and disclose to its internal and external stakeholders, the economic, environmental and social impacts and opportunities arising from its business activities. The strategy will transform the way the Group has been engaging and communicating with its stakeholders.

The sustainability strategy will optimise and focus sustainable decisions across the Group and transform the Group’s business model. It is the Group’s intention to create value in the community and to operate in a sustainable manner in response to climate change and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) imperatives.

Stakeholders and Relationships

The Group believes that sustainable relationships are critical for long term value creation and business success. Our stakeholders play a significant role in the value chain of the Group and as such are considered as a significant part of our business model. Our stakeholders and the relationships we have built over decades continue to inform how we manage corporate risk, enterprise risk and business development risk. The Group continues to build sustainable relations with stakeholders and business partners to ensure enduring success and competitiveness in the market. The Group continues to enhance shared values with stakeholders and business partners in a spirit of inclusivity and responsiveness to foster strong relational capital and trust for the Group.

Corporate Social Responsibility

The Group supports and assists vulnerable groups and the disadvantaged among our stakeholders and the greater community through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program. Our CSR objective is to invest in the communities where we operate by enhancing lives, improving well-being, and building lasting emotional capital. NFL engages in proactive initiatives which have a positive impact to the socio-economic well-being of communities and through activities geared towards the preservation and long term sustainability of the environment. The Group is also involved in various livestock and wildlife initiatives around the country.

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GLORIA
Gloria flour was launched in 1920 and has become Zimbabwe’s most revered flour brand. Gloria Self-Raising Flour, in its distinctive blue and gold packaging, is the country’s best-selling prepacked flour. Our other variants – Gloria Self Raising Cake Flour, Gloria Cake Flour, Gloria All-Purpose Flour, and Gloria High Fibre are growing in popularity. Bakeries throughout the country use Gloria Super White Bread Flour, Gloria Standard Flour, Gloria Cake Flour, and Gloria Biscuit Flour in the production of bread and confectionery. Gloria is the Bakers choice, Trusted since 1920.

RED SEAL
Has been part of every meal for more than a century. Red Seal has expanded steadily and is currently available in more than 5 distinct product categories. Not only do our top-notch goods offer a variety of wholesome and satisfying daily meal options, but they also provide high-quality ingredients suitable for the entire family!
The Red Seal range includes Super Roller Meal, Multi-Grain Roller Meal, Self Raising Flour, White Rice, Iodised Table Salt, Sugar Beans, Popcorn and Precooked dog meal for your pets.
Red Seal- A part of every meal.

MAHATMA
Zimbabwe’s most cherished rice brand was established in the early 1970’s. Only Mahatma has been trusted for generations to cook perfect and taste good all the time. Mahatma continues to offer rice connoisseurs the best quality rice in the country through its iconic variants of Basmati, Jasmine, Brown and Elegant White Rice. Mahatma Rice, Cooks Perfectly, Tastes Delicious!

STOCKFEEDS
National Foods Stockfeeds is the most well-respected brand in the country having been in the business for over fifty years. This brand caters for poultry, beef, pigs, dairy, horses, dogs, fish amongst many others. There is a feed for every animal. There is significant research and development invested in the brand to ensure that we are always at the front end of nutritional advancements. This is the number 1 feed for every breed in Zimbabwe. Farmers know, with National Foods Stockfeeds, they stand to Gain by Maximising their Yields.

BETTER BUY
Established in 2008, Better Buy has become a household brand for relevant and wholesome meal options. The brand boasts of a wide product portfolio with Better buy maize meal, Better Buy Pasta range, Better Buy Parboiled rice, Better Buy self raising flour and Better Buy Soya delights. Better buy offers a range of products where quality meets affordability and is a must buy.

KING
King, the leading soft snacks brand in Zimbabwe, has experienced remarkable growth. The brand has expanded its product line to include King Kurls, King Rings, and King Pops, offering a variety of enticing flavors that captivate the market. The snacks business also carries a diverse range of ready-to-eat snacks sold under the popular brands Allegros (premium soft snacks) and ZapNax (hard snacks).

With the fast-paced and always-on-the-go lifestyle of today, National Foods' snacks range aims to satisfy the snack cravings of its customers. Whether you seek immediate indulgence or a snack to tide you over until the next meal, the extensive snack collection from National Foods is designed to cater to your needs.

NUTRI ACTIVE
Nutri Active, a brand launched in 2019 with Nutri Smart Instant Porridge, expanded its product range in 2022 after commissioning phase 2 of the Buhler Value Max extrusion plant. The expansion included the introduction of Nutri Krunch cereal flakes, Nutri Pops rice-based cereal, and the relaunch of Nutri Boost instant cereal. The brand's dedication to providing high-quality, nutritious products has contributed to its success in the healthier food industry.