The Sunday News
Shepias Dube
BULAWAYO City Council-owned Ingwebu Breweries is franchising two more of its beer outlets in line with the organisation’s turnaround strategy which started in 2011, a company official has said.
Company sales, marketing and corporate affairs manager Mr Nkosana Ndlovu said the franchise system was a deliberate strategy aimed at involving city businesspeople in the development of the company and the city.
Mr Ndlovu said the two outlets available for franchise were Umhambi Beer Garden in Njube, opposite the Entumbane Complex and Magwegwe Bottle Store in Old Magwegwe, near the Pelandaba cemetery.
This will bring the number of outlets Ingwebu has franchised to 44. He said the two beer outlets being franchised were surrendered back to the company by businesspeople who had failed to run them.
“To begin with, these outlets have been run by franchisees since 2011. The latest outlets are not an addition, they are the outlets that have since been surrendered back to Ingwebu, and hence they are being re-advertised. From time to time, franchisees surrender the outlets back when they get overwhelmed by the economic downturn and the going gets rather tough for them,” he said.
Ingwebu now only runs two outlets; MaKhumalo and MaDlodlo, both in Makokoba.
“Ingwebu remains part and parcel of the glory of Bulawayo by changing its form in conformity with the changing times, hence its survival in the face of the demise of other local authority enterprises.
The franchising strategy also empowers the local businesspersons to take part in the development of their own city and perpetuate the glory and splendour of Bulawayo with pride,” Mr Ndlovu said.
He said the turnaround strategy entailed Ingwebu Breweries sticking to its core business of manufacturing and distributing traditional beer instead of retailing. “Retailing has small returns.
It is better run by individuals who are not encumbered by corporate costs. They would be able to live off the business with their families,” he said. He said only residents of Bulawayo with at least 10 years as council ratepayers qualify to rent the beer outlets. Prospective businesses should also be able to support the initial investment startup capital of not less than $15 000.
