On 23rd September 2021, ZAM held the Chain Stores Mini Expo which was held concurrently with the Chain stores Local Content Conference. The main objective of the Expo was to showcase high quality locally produced goods and services to potential consumers and supermarket chain stores (for purposes of integration). The Conference was graced and officiated by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry – Hon. Chipoka Mulenga, MP. The Minister was attending ZAM events for the first time and he was delighted that Zambian goods were making headways and were being stocked in local chainstores.
The first session of the Expo was the certificate presentation session to eight newly recruited members of the Campaign. The PZC certificate recipients were Zambia Bata Shoe Company Limited, Goodfellow Finance Limited, IBC Fusion Limited, Moringa Initiatives Limited, Global Industries Limited, Copperbelt shoes limited, Estal Pride limited and Neon and General Signs Limited.
The Expo involved the Minister’s tour of 27 company exhibition stands. The companies that participated in the Expo included Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) – who supported the event through a platinum sponsorship, ZESCO Limited – sponsors, Zambia Bata Shoe Limited – sponsors, Unified Chemicals Limited – sponsors, Yatu Foods Limited – sponsors, Queen of Chitenge Limited, Moringa Initiative Limited, Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation zone (ZCCZ), Goodfellow Finance Limited, Pharmanova Zambia Limited, Mwengele Farms Limited, Estal Pride Limited, Neelkanth Freshfoods Limited, Yatu Foods Limited, Tiemann Beer Limited, Queen of Chitenge Limited, Copperbelt Shoes Limited, Zamleather Limited, Amalgamated Dress Limited, Lampstands Limited, Business Review Regulatory Agency, Carribea Beverages Limited, Invesco Limited, Dangote Cement, Zambezi Portland Cement, Sunshine Millers Limited and Tata Zambia Limited.
During the Expo, local producers interacted with the Minister and representatives from leading super market chain stores on opportunities for local producers in supermarket chain stores and the informal sector. The Minister encouraged the Chainstores to embrace Zambian goods and was happy with the quality and the attractive packaging of goods that he saw.
