In Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, a once-fallow wheat field now ripples golden under the midday sun. Workers load sacks of grain onto transport trucks, part of a vast supply chain that stretches across the country. For field supervisor James Mwape, the change has been personal: “I used to work seasonal jobs,” he says. “Now, with Zambeef, I’m employed full-time and can support my children’s education.”
Mwape’s story is emblematic of a wider transformation driven by Zambeef Products Plc, Zambia’s largest vertically integrated agribusiness. Founded three decades ago as a single butchery, Zambeef has grown into a national powerhouse employing more than 7,000 people—98% of them Zambian—and operating in all ten provinces.
Zambeef’s “farm-to-fork” model spans cattle breeding, feedlot operations, abattoirs, crop production, processing, logistics, and retail. Its network of more than 200 outlets and 280 trucks forms one of Zambia’s most reliable food supply chains.
At its state-of-the-art facilities, Zambeef processes over 60,000 cattle annually, ensuring stable beef supply in a country where livestock is both a staple food and a key livelihood. The company also produces poultry, dairy, maize, wheat, and soya—crops central to Zambia’s food security. “We’re not just creating jobs—we’re building resilience into Zambia’s food system,” says CEO Faith Mukutu.
For thousands of smallholder farmers, Zambeef has become a growth partner. By providing improved livestock breeds, veterinary support, and guaranteed markets, the company has lifted rural incomes and strengthened productivity.
In Namwala District, cattle farmer Ford Puuka describes the impact: “After I started supplying cattle to Zambeef, my business boomed. I built a house, bought a car, drilled boreholes, and sent my children to private schools.”
Such testimonies underscore the role agribusiness can play in reducing rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, where 60% of people rely on agriculture but often lack access to markets.
Zambeef’s mechanised farms in Mpongwe and Chisamba have also transformed agricultural landscapes. In 2023, the company harvested over 9,460 metric tonnes of wheat, underpinning national food supplies. Its Novatek feed brand, popular with poultry and cattle farmers, has improved yields while lowering costs.
This integrated model helps Zambia reduce its reliance on food imports—a critical issue given foreign exchange shortages and rising global food prices.
Zambeef’s influence extends into education, healthcare, and social inclusion. It operates schools and clinics for employees and surrounding communities, donates chicks and training to rural schools to establish poultry projects, and has delivered nearly $2 million in food aid to vulnerable groups.
In Chibombo District, one school turned a Zambeef-supported poultry initiative into a profitable business, using the proceeds to strengthen its agricultural programme. Similar projects are being replicated across the country.
The company also supports traditional ceremonies and rural sports leagues, linking economic empowerment with cultural preservation.
Despite macroeconomic headwinds, Zambeef reported ZMW 7.3 billion in revenue in 2024, a 21% rise. It is now rolling out a $100 million expansion plan to modernise poultry, dairy, milling, and cropping operations, including a 20-tonne-per-day wheat flour mill and a cheese plant in Mpongwe.
The firm’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. The Zambia Revenue Authority recently awarded Zambeef Best Taxpayer in the Agriculture Sector, recognising its contribution to national revenue.
Sustainability is also rising on the agenda. Since 2021, Zambeef has cut its Scope 1 emissions by 30%, replaced charcoal in poultry production with cleaner energy, expanded solar adoption, and introduced water-efficient drip irrigation systems. Its composting programme improves soil health while aiding carbon sequestration.
Zambia faces the dual challenge of feeding a fast-growing population while creating jobs for its youth. Agriculture contributes over 19% of GDP and employs more than half of the population, yet productivity remains uneven. Analysts argue that businesses like Zambeef—integrating smallholders into modern value chains—are vital to unlocking rural prosperity. “Zambeef is not just investing in agriculture,” Mukutu says. “We’re investing in the heartbeat of Zambia’s future.”
