Pasta plant to be opened in Bulawayo

Cairns, the agro-processing firm, currently under judiciary management, plans to revive its Bulawayo pasta producing plant before year-end, subject to availability of investment funds, a senior company official said last week.

Cairns acting chief executive, Jeremiah Kwenda said the company used to produce pasta (macaroni and spaghetti) in Bulawayo, but closed down the factory due to viability concerns.

"The only major town where we are not operating currently is Bulawayo. We were producing pasta there (macaroni, spaghetti) but the equipment was so old we could not compete.

"We are being beaten even by producers from Mozambique. We must build the equipment, our intensions is to go back in to pasta production in Bulawayo particularly, once we recapitalise.

"We don't want to forget Bulawayo as a region, I know at government levels, it is an issue of concern," said Kwenda.

Cairns require about $8,2m recapitalisation funds to acquire new machinery as well as to refurbish existing plant machinery country wide.

"For the whole group we are talking of about $7,2 million of recapitalisation, in addition, to that we are looking at about another $1m for further plant refurbishment of plant and machinery that is currently under use.

"Our chocolate and sweets manufacturing plant in Southerton is very old and need urgent replacement or repairs.

"There have been a few things to tweak here and there but otherwise we will be safe with that amount. With that we hope to reclaim our spot as the biggest food processor in the country," said Kwenda.

Kwenda was speaking after Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha toured and commissioned the company's new snacks plant in Ardbennie.

Currently, the firm produces snacks and groceries at the Ardbennie plant, fruits and vegetables canning at the Mutare plant, wines and water at the Marondera plant and sweets and chocolates at the Southerton plant.