Yeast production to go up
THE country’s sole yeast manufacturing company Lesaffre Zimbabwe formally Anchor Yeast, is set to double its production towards the end of the year and increase its foothold on the export market after it started upgrading its manufacturing plant.
Speaking during a briefing with Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday in Gweru, Lesaffre Zimbabwe general manager Mr Leguerre Bernard said the company had injected $20 million into the project and will next year avail another $20 million.
He said Lesaffre was set to double its production this year which will see the company starting to export dry and fresh yeast to Zambia, Malawi, South Africa and Mozambique by October. Mr Bernard said the company will soon increase its workforce from 110 to 170.
“We started operating last year after taking over Anchor Yeast, we have invested $20 million this year and we will inject another 20 million next year. We are working on increasing production and we are looking forward to starting exporting yeast to Zambia, Malawi, South Africa and Mozambique the beginning of October. We also want to increase our workforce and grow the plant three times the size of the current one,” he said.
Mr Bernard said the company however, was facing challenges of water supply which he said could affect production and the increase of price of molasses by Tongaat Hulett by 40 percent. Molasses is a major component in the production of yeast.
“Last week, Tongaat Hulett increased the prices of molasses by 40 percent. We also have water supply challenges,” he said.
Vice-President Mnangagwa however, responded insisting that Government will protect the viable companies and will put Tongaat Hulett to task for opting to export molasses at the expense of local firms.
He said the Ministry of Industry and Commerce should forthwith reprimand Tongaat Hulett and bring them to book. VP Mnangagwa said Tongaat Hulett has always dragged its feet when it comes to complementing Government in reviving the economy.
“Tongaat Hulett has always given us problems. I am with Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa and we will put them to task. They should be exporting excess molasses after supplying local industries that are in need of their by-product,” he said.
French Investor Lesaffre Yeast Corporation, which controls 60 percent of the world market, acquired a controlling stake in Anchor Yeast. They have 60 percent. Its products are sold in more than 180 countries.
The Zimbabwean plant is the only plant in Southern Africa. Lesaffre will also be taking over the South African market as well as the conduit of supplying other new products provided by the French manufacturing company.