Sustainability Highlights

KEY SUSTAINABILITY SUCCESSES WITHIN THE GROUP

The following are the key sustainability highlights that occurred in the Group’s businesses during F2024:

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National Foods - Kelly Mbewe (Food & Safety Officer)
& Shylet Ncube (Miller-Maize Bulawayo)

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Profarmer Hub store - Gweru

  • Support for local farmers

    Profeeds and Nutrimaster continued to provide agri-solutions for all its customers, servicing commercial and small-scale farmers, by providing training, agricultural and technical support to their customers as well as providing a “one-stop shop” in the areas they service. This increases local economy transactions and ultimately encouraged local growth. In F2024, Profeeds worked with approx. 230 000 small-scale farmers across Zimbabwe and a total of 6 656 small farmers received free training on livestock management. Additionally, more than 2 200 small scale farmers were specifically trained in fish farming.

  • The A Life A Day (ALAD) Youth Layers Project

    A Life A Day is a collaborative initiative between The Community Foundation of the Western Region of Zimbabwe (WRF) and the National Foods Stockfeeds Division. In October 2023 National Foods partnered with the Foundation in a programme dubbed “A Life A Day” – ALAD. The ALAD programme aims to empower youth in rural Zimbabwe to develop sustainable livelihoods through enterprise development. The layers project aims to empower young people in rural Matabeleland South and North Provinces, by providing them with the resources and training to run small-scale livestock enterprises. To date the programme has trained and supported over 1 500 young people in rural communities in Matabeleland North and South.

  • ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Certification – Probrands

    A number of the IAL Group businesses are certified or are working towards being certified for the International Management System Standards (MSS) of ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management). This involved surveillance audits followed by unannounced audits.

    • Prodairy is certified for ISO 22000.
    • The AMP Factory and the Colcom Abattoir are both certified for the Food Safety Management System FSSC 22000 Version 6.
    • National Foods’ Baby Food range was certified for ISO 22000 and in F2024 the scope for the certification increased and now includes the whole Cereal, Culinary & Baby Food range of products. The surveillance audit was passed in F24Q1 with the first unannounced audit passed in F24Q4 – the second such audit is due to take place in F25Q1.
    • Probrands had its first audit in December 2022. The management team was trained in ISO 22000 Development and Implementation during F2024 and the next step is for an internal audit to take place in mid-F2025 with a third party audit due to be carried out after June 2025.

  • BRCGS for Packaging Materials upgrade from AA to AA* rating - Natpak

    Natpak’s three divisions have been certified to Global Standard (BRCGS) for Packaging Materials in 2022. BRCGS is a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked certification which gives customers assurance on product safety, quality, authenticity and legality. As a result of the audit that took place during F2023, Natpak’s certification was upgraded from B to AA rating. As a result of an unannounced audit in F2024 Natpak was further upgraded to a commendable AA* rating.

  • SMETA and SGP certified – Natpak

    Natpak’s Flexibles division became SMETA certified which is a prerequisite requirement for trading with Nestlé. SMETA is a social compliance audit focusing on safety, health, environmental management, human rights and ethics. Natpak’s Rigids division has renewed its Coca-Cola supplier requirement: SGP (Supplier Guiding Principles) certification.

  • Automated Factories – Baker’s Inn

    Baker’s Inn’s automated Bulawayo plant became fully operational in F2024, reaching its full capacity. The automated process has reduced the volume of waste generated at the factory and in the market.

    The new plant uses energy efficient boilers and ovens, reducing its resource consumption and air emissions. Its coolers use a closed loop system which reduces the amount of water used.

  • Solar Power – Profeeds

    In F2024, 33 Profarmer shops had solar installed bringing solar to 52 out of Profeeds’ 57 stores with a total installed solar capacity of 233 KW.

  • Electric forklifts

    Electric forklifts improve the air quality in the work environment and are more efficient to use. Seven electric forklifts are in use at Natpak, three at National Foods and two at Profeeds. National Foods are also using one LPG forklift.

  • Zero waste philosophy

    The Group’s zero waste philosophy resulted in 10.73% of the Group’s waste ending at landfill. Through the use of its cyclonic boilers in Harare and Bulawayo, National Foods incinerate waste to produce the steam required for processing stockfeed products. While recovering energy, the process also ensures that the air emissions are kept within its current green band, as set in its emissions permit. During F2024, a total of 1 467 tonnes of non-recyclable waste was sent to the boilers.

  • Recycling initiatives

    Natpak and Alpha Packaging continued with their impactful recycling processes.

    • At Natpak, 1 052 tonnes of plastic waste were recycled,  either internally through Natpak Recycling or via external partners. Internally, the waste was processed into pellets for producing black sheeting and bin bags with surplus sold to third parties for use in manufacturing household utensils.
    • Alpha Packaging continued to produce egg trays from  100% waste paper. A total of 873 tonnes of recycled paper was used for the egg tray production in F2024.

  • Contract Grower Programme – Irvine’s  Zimbabwe

    Irvine’s continued its outgrower programme with 31 independent farmers who supply its processing plant with 100% of birds for slaughter.

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IAL & Providence - Post Crano-facial patient surgery review

  • Parirenyatwa Hospital Children’s Trust:

    Mbuya Nehanda Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care Unit (iKMC) In January 2024, Prodairy partnered with the Parirenyatwa Hospital Children’s Trust for the rehabilitation of the Mbuya Nehanda Immediate Kangaroo Mother Care Unit (iKMC), through the investment into equipment and general maintenance needs of the neo-natal unit. The unit provides neo-natal care for babies born in the hospital as well as babies referred to the unit from around Zimbabwe.

  • United Student Achievers Programme (USAP)

    IAL made a contribution of USD 996 000 towards the construction of a student accommodation block as well as science laboratories at the USAP Community School Campus in Marondera. The USAP Community School is a residential non-profit A’ level school that educates academically-talented but economically-disadvantaged students from across Zimbabwe, allowing them to excel at the world’s top universities and return home to build society. It seeks to educate bright and determined Zimbabwean students who would otherwise not have access to a quality education.

  • Bread Loaf Donations

    In F2024 Baker’s Inn donated nearly 400 000 loaves to various beneficiaries throughout the country. 37% of the loaves were donated to children’s homes and orphanages while 34% were donated to prisons.

  • LIFE Feeding Programme  

    In F2024 Prodairy has committed to improving access to nutritious dairy products for the most vulnerable entities. Through partnerships with feeding partners such as Mobi Kitchen, Prodairy launched the feeding programme on a pilot basis in the Epworth, Gunhill Squatter Camp and Goromonzi areas. In these areas the programme was launched to primary schools and ECD (Early Childhood Development) centres with the aim of feeding over 5 000 children a month. Each child is given nutritious Life UHT Milk, paired with a traditional Zimbabwean milk-based-porridge (maize meal, milk, peanut butter and sugar).

  •  School Education – Irvine’s & Colcom

    Irvine’s and Colcom provided access to education for employees’ families and local communities through the primary schools located on their farms or by transporting the children to schools within its local area.

  • Women’s Projects  

    The Group continued to support groups that empower women in their local communities. Irvine’s launched its first workshop with the Council of Churches in Africa during which over 400 women in Bulawayo were trained in broiler management. Through the Baker’s Inn container retail outlets with third party vendors, 156 containers have been set up throughout the country and 31% are now managed by women. This is part of Baker’s Inn’s women’s empowerment programme.