By Evans Ng'ingo
THE selling of ready to cook chicken is one of Zanzibar's leading businesses. Currently many youth in Zanzibar have taken on the business either as wholesalers or retailers. Business has boomed over the last three years since ZanChick Company started engaging hundreds of young people.
ZanChick Operations Manager Andre De Lange says his company, while generating substantial tax revenue for the government, also offers direct and indirect employment to about 300 people.
The operations manager says his company strives to offer high quality poultry products to consumers in Zanzibar and helps the Isles' tourist industry to satisfy its growing demand for best quality food.
To fulfill this goal, ZanChick completed construction of a state-of-the art processing facility which, according to the Operations Manager, was constructed according to highest US and European standards. " The new factory is a first step in developing poultry- processing industry in Zanzibar.
The goal is to make this island a regional exporter of poultry," noted De Lange. He clarified that besides using imported raw material, the company purchases local spices in large quantities and works with local growers to set up a programme which would allow the use of locally bred poultry as well.
The flavours of the company's ready to cook chicken, include white and black pepper, Tandoori flavour as well as chicken masala. "Hotels on the Isles are our main customers, and our plan is to make sure that all Zanzibaris eat chicken from ZanChick, " said De Lange.
He added that business is currently booming as importation has increased from two containers per month to seven. Speaking about the impact of the company to Zanzibar's community, ZanChick Director Issa Kasim Issa said that by creating employment for the youth, they have helped fight poverty and unemployment.
He said ZanChick is holding consultations with Zanzibar government to see how best to support local poultry keepers. In order to achieve the goal Mr Kassim and his team are developing a training programme for local poultry keepers, to educate them on healthier and more efficient ways in the business.
He added that currently many residents have acquired skills on poultry keeping, adding that what is needed is to produce quality chicken. On the future plans of the company, Mr Kassim said that they would be supplying sausages as well. A local area resident Mr Rashid Mohamed has benefited from selling ZanChick.
Three years ago he used to buy one box of chicken of 20 kilogrammes, but now he buys up to 40 boxes in one day. He runs five shops located at Darajani, Mwenakwerekwe, Miembeni, Kibweni, Mbweni and Miembeni, and employs two people in every shop.
Giving a testimony on how the chicken business has changed his life, Mohamed said he used to live with his brother and shared one room with his wife and three children.
Now he is building his own house. "Before getting into the chicken business, I had a hard time paying school fees on time and footing hospital bills. My children are in English medium schools and on the whole, my family leads a better life," he says with a smile.
Ms Arafa Abdallah says selling chicken from ZanChick has made great changes in her life. She added that currently she has a reliable source of income as a result of the business.
She sells chicken in different restaurants in Zanzibar Urban and some parts of rural areas. "I have some special orders where I supply chicken and the truth I get better deals that have changed my living standards," she says.
Jamila Ally Abdalah, a business woman engaged in catering says since she started selling ZanChick products, she has made super profits. "Sometimes I get up to 50 orders. Some of the customers come to buy chicken here. I also deliver to them directly" she said. Jamila runs two stores from which she earns enough money to send her children to school.
Source: allAfrica
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