IRVINE'S CSR
Strategic Approach
Irvine’s Zimbabwe reinforces its commitment to excellence through strategic investments in people, modern facilities, and global best practices, ensuring top-quality products that earn customer trust.
Irvine’s Zimbabwe places sustainable corporate social responsibility at the heart of its mission to change lives by producing affordable protein and growing businesses. The business supports the communities through various activities. Below is a summary of the CSR activities rolled out in the financial year ending 30 June 2024.
Harare South Feeding programme
The business implemented the Harare South Farm (HSF) feeding programme, with the goal of enhancing the nutritional status of employees’ children who are left at the play centre while their parents are at work. The scheme fed approximately 80 children between 1 and 4 years and eases the burden of looking for childminders on team members as well as reducing the burden of using extra money for providing kids with lunch boxes. The programme also helped parents have peace of mind while at work.
Employee Wellness
Globally employee wellness programmes have become a critical part of employee welfare, and the company supported various sporting activities for its employees to ensure they had a balance between work and leisure.
Irvine’s netball team
Irvine’s Queens Netball has been in existence for the past 25 years and is still fulfilling the benefits to all club members.
Athletics Team
Irvine’s athletics club currently has over 90 active members. The club took part in athletics events such as the Simbisa Roger Backley Half marathon and Tanganda Half marathon. The Athletics Club is open to all employees.
Health and safety trainings and awareness
Maintaining the highest health and wellness standard remains a top priority in the business. An average of 12 training sessions were held a month were held during the year and around 500 team members attended. The business is working towards zero accidents. Total recorded accidents have been steadily declining with 83 total accidents being recorded in the year 2022, 48 as of 2023, and with the current year recording only 22.
Celebrating the World Egg Day
Irvine’s joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Egg Day on Friday October 13, 2023 and used the day to support Harare Children's Home with table eggs and frozen chicken, in line with the company’s drive to change lives in Zimbabwe, and to increase access to affordable protein.
World egg day, a global event celebrated on the second Friday of October every year, is a day set aside to raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of eggs and their importance in the daily diet.
People worldwide celebrated the power of the egg and all its nutritional and environmental benefits. This year’s World Egg Day was celebrated under the theme, ‘Eggs for A Healthy Future’.
Irvine’s weekly donations to the community (Standing orders)
The company has been assisting charity organisations, orphanages, childcare centres and other needy institutions. These include Jairos Jiri, the Danhiko Project, Emerald Hill Children’s Home, Athol Evans, Harare Senior Citizens Club, Waterfalls Trust, Beezer Organisation, Fairways home and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Waterfalls Dog Section.
During the year, Irvine’s supported 13 organisations with weekly product donations as listed below:-
Disease Prevention
As the largest and only fully integrated poultry company in the country, Irvine’s has implemented robust biosecurity measures to safeguard the nation against potential disease outbreaks. The company operates a world class veterinary center manned by a team of qualified vets. The company conducted over 200 free postmortems for day-old chick customers throughout the year, providing them with advice on disease management.
Irvine’s, in conjunction with the Department of Veterinary Services, conducted annual vaccinations of small-scale farmer’s birds around Derbyshire and Lanark farms, and surrounding all eight contract breeder farms, and all 27 contract broiler grower farms in order to protect their birds against the devastating Newcastle disease, which is typically problematic in small-scale flocks and can then transmit to Irvine’s.
Employee Welfare
On average, the company employed 1 784 people in F2024, with 34% of them being female. The company provided accommodation for 744 (38%) employees at the Derbyshire and HSF villages, catering to a total of 2 347 individuals, including employees and their immediate families.
The company also runs two primary schools, providing high-quality education to both the children of its employees and those from the surrounding areas. A total of 755 students attended both schools.
Irvine’s continued to support health of team members through its two clinics manned by state registered nurses with a company Doctor visiting each clinic three times a week. Each month, the clinics provide care to an average of 700 team members and their dependents. The clinics are well equipped and have adequate medical supplies for minor emergencies. Both clinics offer free treatment to their employees.
Over 400 Women get Broiler Management Training in Bulawayo
Irvine’s is heavily involved in community social responsibilities (CSR) initiatives including training of local farmers, youth and women in poultry farming to scale up rural development. Every year, Irvine’s targets 20 000 people to train in modern poultry production.
Irvine’s Grower Shop Launch
Irvine’s Opens Grower Shop and Training Centre: Empowering Farmers for Success
Irvine’s Zimbabwe one-stop Grower’s Shop and Training Centre was officially opened by the Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs in the Office of the President, Eng. Tafadzwa Muguti, on April 5, 2024.
Located at the Derbyshire Farm in Waterfalls, along the new Chitungwiza road after the Mbudzi roundabout, this state-of-the-art facility equips farmers with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to thrive in today’s competitive market.
The Grower’s Shop offers a wide range of premium agricultural supplies, from cutting-edge equipment to high-quality feed, ensuring that farmers have access to the best resources available. Additionally, the Training Centre is used for seminars, and hands-on training sessions conducted by industry experts, equipping farmers with the skills needed to maximise their yields and profitability.
Irvine’s understands the vital role that farmers play in sustaining communities and feeding the world. By launching the Grower Shop and Training Centre, the company is reaffirming its commitment to supporting farmers and fostering agricultural innovation.
