The Sunday News
Business Reporter
A Plumtree company, Lingwale Enterprise is putting final touches to the expansion of its business premises ahead of the re-opening of Bhogwe Bread in the border town.
The company has been refurbishing its existing business premises to include an expanded bakery, mini liquor wholesale and motor spares shop.
Trading as Bhogwe Bread, Lingwale Enterprise (LE) has been in business since 2010 but was closed in 2014 to pave way for the upgrade on the property to include motor spares and a mini liquor wholesale.
The company’s chief operations officer, Mr Mandla Donga, told Sunday Business that the firm has spent a significant amount of money to redo the business premises and also increase the business units.
“We have spent quiet a significant amount of money to rebuild the business structure as well as redevelop the business strategy as a whole. We decided to add a mini liquor wholesale and a motor spares shop to operate alongside the bakery,” Mr Donga said.
Bhogwe Bread’s facelift includes the expansion of the premises as well as fitting of new equipment with increased production capacity. The new bakery is expected to produce bread, oven baked pizza and confectionery.
Mr Donga revealed that plans to increase capacity in the previous operation were stifled by space constraints but added that the new bakery will now have the capacity to produce 400 loaves per bake up from 100 loaves but will soon install additional machinery to up this to 640 loaves per bake.
“Previously we had space constraints and as a result we could not bring enough equipment hence the upgrade in the building itself to increase our capacity from 100 loaves per bake to 640 loaves. Currently our equipment caters for 400 loaves per bake but we are planning to add one machine more with 240 loaves per bake.”
Mr Donga described the development as a huge increase in terms of production, adding that it will enable the company to penetrate new markets and also introduce a bakery in Bulawayo at a small-scale for select customers. The company’s long-term vision is to have a national footprint.
“Our long-term plan is to have not just a presence in Plumtree and Bulawayo but to also have a national footprint.
“Our vision is to have a national footprint starting from Plumtree Town and its surrounding areas. We have also introduced oven baked pizzas over wood which is the first of its kind in Plumtree,” Mr Donga said.
He said his company was facing the same challenges as all businesses in Zimbabwe but was ready to take advantage of every opportunity available.
Bhogwe Bread’s pricing strategy has been rationalised around delivering excellent product and service to their customers while vying to remain competitive. The company has set 2025 as their target for their first major bakery plant in Bulawayo. The company is set to employ at least 15 people.
