Shoprite, Hungry Lion split

SHOPRITE Holdings Group will by the end of this year split from its subsidiary, Hungry Lion Zambia, as it has managed to expand its footprints across the country

This means that Hungry Lion Zambia will compete in the market as stand-alone chain.

Hungry Lion has continued to expanding its footprint in Zambia with outlets being setup along the line of rail, says Shoprite General Manager-Zambia, Charles Bota, said in an interview.

Mr Bota said Shoprite Holdings Group had been working on making the Hungry Lion Zambia into a separate entity.

The transition had already been effected in South Africa, where the restaurant was operating as separate entity.

“Hungry Lion was a subsidiary of Shoprite but now Hungry Lion has split up and has gone into its own arrangement with now 100 per cent shareholding. In South Africa they have split up completely as separate entity.

“In Zambia Hungry Lion is about to leave the Shoprite Group by the end of this year. They will be on their own,” Mr Bota explained.

Meanwhile, Mr Bota said that Shoprite currently had lots of local products on its shelves.

He said Shoprite only export 12 percent of its products from South Africa and beyond, with 47 percent locally sourced.

“What I mean by directly locally source is you make in your backyard or manufacturing plant and it comes straight to us,” Mr Bota said.

He said the balance which was around 42 percent was imported goods, which was imported by Zambian firms or agents.

Shoprite, he said, was sourcing 88 percent of vegetables from the local farmers.

He said about 12 percent of vegetables were being imported because some of the vegetables could not be found in Zambia or they were out of season.

"On the fruit section, the situation was much different because of the climatic condition, where certain fruits could not be grown here. Shoprite imports 50 per cent and source another 50 per cent locally. As a result of COVID-19 we are looking at more and more local products," Mr Bota said.

He said Shoprite had been engaging with Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Zambia Development Agency, Zambia National Farmers Union and Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry to reach out to local suppliers.