COLCOM

With its origins dating back 80 years, Colcom Foods Limited is a long-established household brand name in Zimbabwe, synonymous with a reputation for a very wide range of delicious, hygienically prepared quality processed pork and meat products for differing market requirements. The quality chain incorporates strict Government veterinary standards and controls, as well as the comprehensive standards of the Zimbabwe Quality Assured Pork Scheme (ZQAP), from on-farm pig production through to its factory facilities and distribution.

Colcom Foods Limited operated as a Co-operative until 1993 when Colcom Holdings Ltd was formed and successfully floated on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. Funds raised from this flotation and a subsequent Rights Issue were used to refurbish and upgrade existing factory facilities and for the development of new wholesale and retail outlets.

Five years later, in line with international trends, Colcom vertically integrated its operations in a world-class state-of-the-art pig production unit, Triple C Pigs. This achieves some of the best results in the world in quality output and feed conversion ratios, supplying Colcom Foods Limited with most of its requirements. The remainder is bought from third party growers.

In late 2001 Colcom Foods Limited acquired the Danmeats brand (incorporating the Oscars brand) and subsequently invested in a major new, modern Cold Store at the Danmeats site in Ruwa. In 2003 Colcom Foods Limited established Associated Meat Packers (AMP), which subsequently became a joint venture, principally to process and market beef. AMP caters for a wide variety of customers as well as its own retail butchery outlets and other Colcom Shops. AMP has also initiated Texas Meats retail butchery outlets, for both beef and chicken.

Colcom Foods Limited also entered an associate venture in Zimbabwe with the Freddy Hirsch group. The venture manufactured and supplied natural and synthetic sausage casings as well as equipment and ingredients for the meat industry. In 2019, Colcom Foods Limited however divested its interest in Freddy Hirsch.

During 2018, Innscor Africa Limited acquired all the minority interests in Colcom Holdings Limited such that it became a wholly owned subsidiary. Colcom Holdings Limited has since de-listed from the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. It in turn conducts its core operations in Colcom Foods Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary.

In 2019, due to a restructuring exercise, Colcom Foods Limited unbundled AMP from its structure. AMP remains part of Innscor Africa Limited group of companies.

2020 – 2021 saw Colcom introducing a robust e-Commerce platform. This was developed to service both local customers as well as those living abroad who would like to treat their families in Zimbabwe. The Colcom Shop at Coventry Road also expanded and opened a Colcom Express Shop within the same complex. The purpose of the Express Shop is to cater for bulk and wholesale customers, and primarily acts to decongest the main shop during peak trading periods.

In recent years Colcom Foods Limited embarked on a substantial phased programme to upgrade its technologies and equipment, install new machinery for new products, refurbish its refrigeration systems and packing line. At the same time, the group has evolved to meet changing market demands and customer preferences, to support these initiatives marketing and sales activities have been aggressively used to promote and support the brands and products across all market segments.

In 2022 a rebranding and refurbishment of our flagship Colcom Shop at Coventry Road was completed; this included a modern refrigerated product display and an extended butchery section. The increased space in the Colcom Shop butchery allowed for an expanded array of fresh pork offerings, as well as an opportunity to showcase pork with the intention of increasing consumption per capita. In the same year, the Colcom Farm Shop was opened at Triple C Farm in Norton to cater to the surrounding community and motorists along the highway.

In 2023 having been established in 1943, Colcom achieved its 80th Anniversary, marking a remarkable milestone for the business.

In line with the notable milestone, after an extensive and detailed process, Colcom attained FSSC 22000 certification for its abattoir, making it the first and only FSSC 22000 certified pork abattoir in the country. Compliance with the requirements of the FSSC 22000 standard demonstrates Colcom’s commitment to food safety, quality and continual improvement, assuring our consumers that our pork is handled according to recognized global food safety standards.

The increase the brands footprint and more adequately serve its customers the Colcom Ruwa Shop was opened at the end of 2023 to bring the total number of Colcom Shops to six, namely Colcom Coventry Rd, Express Shop Coventry Rd, Mutare Shop & Depot, Colcom Farm Shop Norton, Colcom Shop Ruwa and Colcom Shop Mbare.