Zim: Local brands back for Christmas

National Foods has hit the market with 27 of its core food products to add to grocery shopping, while Blue Ribbon has brought back its brand of maize meal, kitchen soups and other food products on the market.

Apparently, a whole range of old time brands - detergents, processed foods, cordials, and even animal feeds - have suddenly re-emerged and are battling for attention on the market.

“Quality never grows old,” says stock feeds producer Agrifoods, adding its products remain the same although new technologies now drive their production.

But new players have squeezed into the market, taking advantage of the space created by the absence of old players.

The challenge for the local brands, which will battle to regain advantage in a market teeming with South African products, from detergents to processed foods and drinks, will be to match the packaging standards of the imports.

But some retail groups are already reporting a shift to domestic products, a sign of hope for local producers.

Redstar Holdings, which runs a number of retail outlets, says availability of local goods has improved, with the average order fill rate from the local market now at 65%.