Trade Kings Group

MANUFACTURING A STORY OFAfrican

MANUFACTURING A STORY OFAfrican

Zambia’s largest fast-moving consumer goods manufacturer, Trade Kings Group, has an expanding ecosystem of brands that remain both relevant and scalable. Mohsin Patel, Director, tells the story of the locally grown business that is unafraid to keep building

Writer: Lucy Pilgrim | Project Manager: Harry Thurlow

Zambia is one of the most exciting fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) markets in Africa, precisely because it is not an easy one – the sector rewards businesses that can manufacture efficiently, price intelligently, and keep products consistently available.

As it evolves, the nation’s FMCG space is experiencing strong demand,

granting burgeoning local brands room to gain ground.

“However, it is also a market that quickly exposes weak operating models. If manufacturing is inconsistent, route to market is weak, or there is heavy reliance on imports, Zambia will test you very quickly,” opens Mohsin Patel, Director of Trade Kings Group (Trade Kings) – the

largest FMCG manufacturer in the country.

It’s these sorts of challenges that make the sector so compelling, as it is no longer enough to have a good product – industry operators require the quality systems, packaging strength, distribution reach, and confidence to keep investing when conditions get tough.

“For us, Zambia is not just a consumption market; it is a production market. The companies that understand this can build brands with real durability, scale, and regional relevance,” he adds.

A ZAMBIAN SUCCESS STORY

Built from the ground up, Trade Kings began in 1995 from very humble beginnings.

The company did not start as a ready-made industrial giant, but in its founder’s garage in Lusaka, with one product and a belief that local consumers deserved quality, local goods – which subsequently formed Trade Kings’ overarching vision. In the last three decades, the

company has grown into one of the largest diversified manufacturing groups in sub-Saharan Africa, boasting over 100 brands delivered across 10 countries.

“For too long, Africa has been treated mainly as a destination for finished goods. I believe the bigger opportunity is to build serious manufacturing businesses on the continent – ones that produce, process, innovate, distribute, and export with confidence.

“That is what Trade Kings has been working to do for 30 years.

“We started small, built patiently, and kept reinvesting – today, we are part of a much bigger conversation about what African industrial

capability can look like when it is backed by conviction,” Patel divulges.

A majority of the company’s manufacturing footprint is concentrated within the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone, where several of Trade Kings’ large-scale production facilities operate.

This operational concentration reflects its long-term approach to industrial capacity, infrastructure, and execution.

Moreover, the company is distinguished by its broad scope of successful brands across the confectionery, food and beverage, dairy, home care, hygiene, agro-industrial, steel, and mining portfolio, positioning Trade Kings as a titan in the FMCG space.

A UNITING, CENTRAL STRENGTH

Trade Kings’ position as an industry leader doesn’t rest on a single brand or category but derives from an ecosystem it has built around manufacturing, supply chains, innovation, and market execution – all driven by a central strength or focus.

“Our story does not revolve around one brand or division; it is the story of a Zambian business that has kept on building,” Patel states.

Indeed, the company’s success stems from far more than branding, as it possesses cutting-edge factories, state-of-the-art systems, procurement strength, packaging capability, route-to-market discipline,

“SUPPLY CHAINS ARE BUILT ON TRUST LONG BEFORE THEY ARE TESTED BY DISRUPTION. FOR A BUSINESS OF OUR SCALE, SUPPLIER AND PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT PERIPHERAL; THEY ARE PART OF THE OPERATING MODEL”

– MOHSIN PATEL,

DIRECTOR,

TRADE KINGS GROUP

and the confidence to keep reinvesting – creating a business that is built for durability, scale, and relevance.

Yet, Trade Kings remains streamlined by ensuring each brand remains within its individual market.

For instance, BigTree Beverages

has a deep understanding of flavour, packaging, channel dynamics, and beverage consumption. BigTree Brands, meanwhile, which operates under the same corporate structure, holds a wealth of knowledge in household food needs, party supplies, and practical, everyday affordability.

30+ Years of Experience Installed Projects 100+

1,000+ Produced Vessels

2 B-BBEE Level

Metal Tank

Industries (Pty) Ltd has more than 30 years of experience in the supply of Turnkey Process Solutions and Specialised Stainless Steel Vessels.

Briefly introduce Metal Tank Industries.

Metal Tank Industries is a specialist engineering and fabrication company focused on the design, manufacture, and installation of stainless steel vessels and process equipment. Over the last 30 years, we have developed a strong reputation for delivering high-quality process turnkey solutions to a wide variety of industries, including food and beverage, brewing, chemical processing, detergent, pharmaceutical, mining, and agricultural processing.

Whilst specialised tank fabrication remains at the core of what we do, our offering extends well beyond that. We provide complete turnkey process solutions that include pipework, valves, pumps, instrumentation, cooling systems, heating systems, straining systems, walkways, electrical controls, and an inline illing system. Additionally, we offer a full logistics service throughout sub-Saharan Africa as well as on-site installation and commissioning. We are conveniently located in Gauteng, South Africa, only 20 minutes east of OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. We are wellequipped to load and deliver to all countries in subSaharan Africa.

We have an extensive fabrication facility equipped with the latest vertical tank building technology and automated welding processes. Our fabrication plant is completely unique and differentiates us from other tank manufacturers on the continent. We can build very large vessels and plants with multiple vessels in a short time, to the highest quality, thanks to our automated welding capabilities.

We work with a diverse client base ranging from growing regional manufacturers to well-established multinational companies, with projects extending across the African continent.

Our core focus is to form long-lasting partnerships with our clients and support them on their journeys of growth.

What differentiates Metal Tank Industries from the competition?

What truly differentiates Metal Tank Industries is our ability to deliver complete, customised turnkey process solutions and/or large vessels or plants with multiple vessels within a very short turnaround time. We also provide a total end-to-end solution for process plants that require stainless steel tanks as their core component. Every project is approached with a strong focus on understanding the client’s process and budget requirements as well as their operational goals.

Our fabrication facility is both unique and bespoke and produces tanks using highly efficient automated vertical tank building technology as well as automated welding technology in a manufacturing system unlike any other in Africa.

From design, fabrication, and manufacturing to installation and commissioning, we remain closely involved with our clients’ needs throughout the entire project. This hands-on approach, combined with our focus on quality workmanship and practical engineering and fit-or-purpose build expertise, allows us to deliver solutions that are reliable, efficient, and cost-eective whilst remaining completely tailored to each client’s specific needs.

Can you expand on your experience in providing turnkey solutions?

Providing turnkey solutions has become a key part of our offering. Over the last 30 years, we have built extensive experience in delivering fully integrated turnkey process systems for various industrial sectors.

Our scope typically includes engineering design, fabrication of stainless steel process vessels and tanks, piping reticulation systems, and full on-site installation and commissioning. By managing the project as a complete package, we ensure better integration between components, improved efficiency, and smoother project execution.

Much of our work has been within the food and beverage sector, where strict hygiene standards and precision engineering are essential. Through our experience, we have developed the expertise required to meet these demands whilst helping clients optimise their production processes.

Specifically, our entire team rom design through fabrication to installation and commissioning has developed strong expertise and experience with African Opaque Beverages, which includes popular products such as maize-based drinks, maheu, sorghum-based drinks, and sorghum beer, both carbonated and traditional.

We have a highly qualified and experienced opaque beverages team that delivers total turnkey project solutions relating to Maheu and Sorghum Brewing Plants.

Our current projects extend throughout Southern Africa and give us a strong pedigree to increase our offering into other regions of the African continent.

Could you elaborate on your partnership with Trade Kings Group?

Our partnership with Trade Kings Group goes back almost 20 years.

Our relationship has developed through many successful projects over the years. Trade Kings is one of the leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) manufacturers in the region, and working together has created a strong collaborative relationship. We have been entrusted to supply many tanks, components, and solutions for the group, ranging in size and capacity, over the last two decades. We have worked closely with Trade Kings’ incredible team to understand the requirements and execute accordingly, both on time and on budget.

Through our collaboration, Metal Tank Industries has contributed specialised engineering, fabrication, and equipment solutions, whilst Trade Kings has brought extensive process experience and operational insight. The partnership allows both companies to combine their strengths to develop efficient manufacturing and processing systems that support large-scale production, continued innovation and successful rollout.

Are there any recent or upcoming projects you would like to highlight?

Yes, Metal Tank Industries worked closely with Trade Kings / Dairy Gold Team to design, install, and commission the new Maheu Plant at the MFEZ site. This was an exciting collaboration between the two teams to create a new world-class plant for a product that both teams have been working on together for nearly two decades.

We continue to be involved in several exciting projects within the food and beverage and processing sectors, as well as the chemical and industrial sectors. Our strong presence and reputation in the sub-continent allow us to be a supplier of choice for new investments and upgrades in these manufacturing sectors.

We are also currently involved in numerous projects involving large-capacity stainless steel vessels, as well as ongoing plant expansion work for clients looking to increase their production capabilities. These projects highlight the growing demand for efficient, highquality processing solutions across the region.

Looking

ahead, what are Metal Tank Industries’ key priorities?

Looking ahead, our focus is on continuing to strengthen our engineering and fabrication capabilities through extensive investment in world-class automation technology, whilst expanding our footprint and product offering across Africa. As more industries invest in local manufacturing and processing capacity, there is an increasing demand for reliable engineering partners who can deliver complete turnkey solutions. We aim to continue building strong relationships with our clients to support the long-term growth of the industries we serve.

We believe that Africa is full of potential and needs to support and be supported by local companies, such as Metal Tank Industries, to produce world-class facilities that are built fit for purpose.

How significant a role do partnerships play in Metal Tank Industries’ success?

At Metal Tank Industries, we believe that strong partnerships are key to successful projects. Our goal is not only to manufacture equipment but to work closely with our clients to understand their processes and help them achieve efficient, reliable production systems.

By combining our engineering expertise, quality fabrication, quality installation, and practical industry knowledge, we are proud to contribute to the continued development of manufacturing and processing industries throughout Southern Africa and the wider African continent.

Contact us:

Phone: Rob +27 83 462 6228 / Duncan +27 76 690 5470 / Lauren +27 83 640 5853

Email: rob@metaltank.com / duncan@metaltank.com / sales@metaltank.com

Website: www.metaltank.com

“WE BELIEVE AFRICA CANNOT CONTINUE TO ONLY BE ONLY A CONSUMPTION MARKET – IT MUST INCREASINGLY PRODUCE, BRAND, AND DISTRIBUTE FOR ITSELF. WE WANT TRADE KINGS TO BE PART OF THAT NEXT CHAPTER”

– MOHSIN PATEL, DIRECTOR, TRADE KINGS GROUP

Elsewhere, Dairy Gold keeps track of dairy processing, grain beverages, milk collection, and nutrition.

“This balance is what allows us to stay streamlined whilst still being responsive. The system is shared, but the commercial intelligence stays where it belongs – close to the consumer,” Patel insights.

Trade Kings is further distinguished by its regional footprint, as the company strives to not be a local copy of a foreign FMCG model.

“We are building an African manufacturing model designed around

African consumers, trade routes, and operational realities. That is why manufacturing capability, upstream control, and regional expansion remain at the centre of how we think.”

BIGTREE BEVERAGES

BigTree Beverages was built to create a modern African drinks business that can compete not only on price, but on innovation, taste, packaging, and product execution.

“What makes BigTree Beverages exciting is that it combines technical capability with real market intuition.

TRADE KINGS IN NUMBERS

100+ BRANDS

4,500 STOCK-KEEPING UNITS

17,500+ EMPLOYEES

USD$1 billion IN ANNUAL GROUP REVENUE

USD$1 billion INVESTED IN ZAMBIA

EXPORTS TO 10 NATIONS

THREE

PERCENT CONTRIBUTION TO ZAMBIA’S GDP

Improving Lives, Together

There are companies that manufacture products — and then there are companies that build nations. Trade Kings Group stands firmly in the latter category.

From its early beginnings to its position today as one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading FMCG manufacturers, Trade Kings has grown with purpose. Its success has never been measured only in output, but in impact — in the livelihoods created, the communities strengthened, and the dignity preserved through meaningful employment and responsible leadership.

Through investment in large-scale facilities, continued expansion, and sustained job creation, Trade Kings has become an anchor within the regions it serves. Beyond its industrial footprint, its response during times of need — including its support to communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic — revealed the heart behind the enterprise. Whether through healthcare support, essential goods, or community upliftment initiatives, Trade Kings has consistently demonstrated that true leadership extends beyond the factory gates.

For I Am Chemicals, this spirit of responsibility and integrity is not observed from a distance — it is experienced within the relationship.

I Am Chemicals was established by Dean Booyse in 2019, built upon more than four decades of industry experience and long-standing international relationships. At its core is a disciplined and distinctive business model rooted in trust — trust between manufacturers, logistics partners, compliance authorities, service providers, and the many individuals who make business success and community impact possible. Every person in that chain matters and is honoured.

I Am Chemicals operates with quiet strength and intentional focus, supporting its partners in ways that extend far beyond procurement. Time is dedicated to market research, regulatory alignment, sourcing strategy, expansion planning and ensuring continuity of supply. Relationships are not treated as transactions, but as long-term commitments — built carefully, protected diligently, and strengthened through shared growth.

Dean’s association with Trade Kings for over two decades, and the Group’s continued expansion, have been central to I Am Chemicals’ own journey. As Trade Kings has grown, so too has the extended network that supports it — from international suppliers to the warehouse teams who carefully prepare loads after hours, ensuring quality control without fail. The success of one strengthens many.

There is deep respect for the people behind the process — the teams who pack, load, check and deliver; the partners who respond when required; and the professionals who ensure compliance and continuity. Small gestures of appreciation reflect a larger belief: business is built on people, and relationships are honoured.

Trade Kings’ example — of integrity, resilience and generosity — inspires the standards by which I Am Chemicals operates. It is a reminder that industry, when led with purpose, becomes a force for stability, dignity and opportunity.

As Trade Kings continues to invest in growth and community, those privileged to support its journey remain committed to doing so with loyalty, care and disciplined execution. When leadership improves lives, partnership becomes something far greater than supply.

“It’s not enough to formulate a beverage in a lab; you must understand what consumers will choose, how it should taste, which packaging format and price point works, and how quickly you can scale a winning idea,” Patel outlines.

“This is where BigTree Beverages has become strong.”

The brand’s portfolio includes Vatra, Fruiticana, Mojo Energy Drink, KungFu Energy, Brothers Premium – mocktails and mixers – Appy, and FruiTop.

To meet increasing product demand, BigTree Beverages has invested in hot-fill capability, in-house polyethylene terephthalate (PET) pre-formulated bottle and cap production, packaging development, and a route-to-market model that spans depots, distributors, modern and general trade, hotel, restaurant, and catering (HoReCa), and last-mile channels.

The brand has also built a flavour pipeline designed around African taste preferences and real-use case studies.

This combination of quality, speed, deep flavour understanding, technical capability, and route-to-market strength has driven industry-wide recognition.

For example, BigTree Beverages was named the South African Development Community’s (SADC) 2024-25 Exporter of the Year in the Large Enterprise category – a

TRADE KINGS’ BRAND PORTFOLIO

• Trade Kings Limited

• Trade Kings Home Care

• BigTree Beverages

• BigTree Brands

• Dairy Gold

• Swiss Bake

• Yoyo Foods

• Kingsworth

LOCALLY DRIVEN INDUSTRIALISATION

Trade Kings’ latest business unit, Kingsworth Group Limited (Kingsworth), is strategically important to the company, enabling it to scale its manufacturing capability efficiently.

“It represents deeper industrialisation, not just expansion. It moves Zambia from importing key industrial inputs to producing them locally, which strengthens both Trade Kings and the wider manufacturing sector,” Patel highlights.

Indeed, Kingsworth is the country’s first integrated starch and glucose facility and a USD$110 million investment developed over two phases.

The plant will process locally grown maize into native and modified starch, liquid glucose, maltodextrin, corn germ, gluten meal and feed, dextrose, and related derivatives. These ingredients are used in confectionery,

TRADE KINGS FOUNDATION – IMPROVING LIVES

The company takes its corporate social responsibility (CSR) seriously, evidenced not only through its factories and revenues but in healthier local communities, better opportunities, and stronger regional resilience.

A great deal of that work is carried out through the Trade Kings Foundation, which focuses on health, education, farmer support, poverty alleviation, disaster response, and community development.

The foundation’s work includes:

• 350 scholarships for Zambian university students.

• Support for 500 farmers since 2023.

• Helping 1,300 flood-affected households through partnership with the country’s Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).

• Support for 10 open-heart surgeries for children through a specialist hospital partnership.

“These are practical interventions, not symbolic ones. They reflect the same principle that drives the business itself – improving lives through action,” Patel urges.

Takasago International Corporation: Asian Heritage, Deep Knowledge of Africa, and Technology that Inspires Innovation for the Future

For more than a century, Takasago International Corporation has been shaping taste experiences that enrich everyday life. Established in Japan in 1920, the company has built a global reputation based on its enduring philosophy: “Contributing to Society through Technology.” From beverages and foods to fine fragrances, home, and personal care products, Takasago partners with leading manufacturers worldwide to create distinctive flavors and fragrances that delight consumers. Today, the Takasago Group operates in 28 countries and regions, with a strong network of production sites, creative centers, and research and development hubs. This global presence enables the company to combine advanced technology with deep local understanding, delivering solutions tailored to the tastes, trends, and

Proud Asian Heritage, Deep Understanding of Africa

Rooted in Asia and inspired by the dynamic innovation culture of Japan, Takasago brings the strengths of a proud Asian company: rigorous quality standards, advanced technology, and a commitment to offering high-value solutions at fair prices.

At the same time, Takasago has invested many years studying African markets and consumer preferences. Through continuous research and collaboration with local partners, the company has developed a deep understanding of regional taste profiles, consumption habits, and emerging trends across the continent.

high-quality, innovative solutions that contribute to cultural and social progress.

From the fast-growing energy drinks segment to carbonates, milk-based products, bakery products, biscuits and cookies, and confectionery, not forgetting the important segment of bouillon, Takasago’s teams translate global expertise into locally relevant concepts. This dual perspective - Asian innovation combined with African market insight— allows the company to support manufacturers in developing the next generation of winning products.

Technologies Designed to Elevate Products

Innovation is at the heart of Takasago’s offering. The company provides advanced flavors and technologies designed to improve taste, mouthfeel, and overall consumer experience.

Amongst these technologies: Granutak – a unique encapsulation technology that brings excitement, beautiful visual effects, innovative texture, and possibly functionality to confectionery applications.

INTENSATES – a powerful technology platform designed for taste modulation, including masking offnotes, improving mouthfeel, adding exciting and unexpected sensations, and optimizing overall sensory balance in complex formulations.

Partnering with Africa’s Food and Beverage Innovators

As African markets continue to grow and diversify, Takasago is committed to working closely with regional manufacturers to develop products that resonate with local consumers. By combining its proud Asian heritage, advanced technology platforms, and deep understanding of African trends, Takasago supports partners in creating outstanding taste experiences for their consumers.

beverages, dairy, processed foods, pharmaceuticals, paper, adhesives, textiles, and animal nutrition.

As such, the brand reduces reliance on imported intermediates, helps stabilise costs and margins, strengthens value chain reliability, and makes future downstream expansion more viable as more of the input chain is under local control.

At full capacity, Kingsworth is designed to produce up to 140,000 tonnes of products annually,

substitute around USD$30 million in imports each year, and unlock approximately USD$150 million in export potential through African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)-linked trade.

“Kingsworth is not just another business unit; it is a capability platform that makes the wider group stronger.”

BUILT ON TRUST

A robust and purpose-built supply chain is fundamental to the success of

Trade Kings.

“Supply chains are built on trust long before they are tested by disruption. For a business of our scale, supplier and partner relationships are not peripheral; they are part of the operating model,” Patel shares.

The company works closely with local and regional suppliers to ensure strong manufacturing capabilities, which depend on reliable input workflows, practical coordination, and shared growth.

Since our founding in 1999, Ladismith Cheese has grown into a globally respected brand, and proud South African producer of world-class cheese, butter, and dairy powders, manufacturing 24,000 tonnes of product annually.

These products are sold throughout the food services, retail, wholesale and food production industries in South Africa and the world.

Ladismith also leads in the production of high-quality dairy powders and is a proud supplier of

many of these to the Trade Kings group — whey, coffee creamer, skimmed milk, full cream, and buttermilk. These are used in everything from baking to beverages and confectionary.

We use advanced drying technology to retain flavour and nutrition, ensuring a long shelf life and versatile applications.

Our range of cheeses - from full-fat gouda and cheddar to mozzarella and specialty variantsare crafted using traditional recipes and aged naturally, giving them time to develop their full, rich flavour.

For instance, given Trade Kings is one of the largest industrial users of sugar in Zambia and a major buyer of milk from local dairy farmers, the company works closely with producers of maize, wheat, and potatoes that feed directly into its food processing businesses.

“Local sourcing matters because it shortens the supply chain, builds capability in-country, and strengthens the wider industrial base. Regional partnerships matter because scale

increasingly depends on trade, not isolation,” he informs.

This is also where backward integration becomes important. Case in point, Kingsworth improves the stability of the value chain behind its finished products, whilst Dairy Gold’s milk collection model matters for the same reason.

“The more coordinated and dependable your upstream system is, the more competitive your downstream brands become,” Patel explains.

Equally integral to the company’s DNA is its 17,500+ employees, whose care, deep understanding, and swift problem-solving make the business what it is today.

“One of the things I value most about Trade Kings is that so much of the company’s strength sits in its people – on the plant floor, in engineering, quality, logistics, distribution, and the commercial teams that keep the business close to market.”

Digital, rational, profitable. What else?

Vision system included.

DIGITAL

Digital process control reaches previously unthinkable levels, opening up the industry to IoT scenarios.

RATIONAL

SACMI Preform Vision System included, for advanced, comprehensive process control.

PROFITABLE

After-cooler with COOL+ (inside cooling system): shortens cycle times and leads to more profitable production.

Driving growth with deep expertise in the Consumer Sector

We understand your business landscape, and with our well-established presence across Africa as well as holistic and innovative FMCG sector knowledge, we can help you to drive your growth.

STRENGTHENED BRANDS

Trade Kings is continuing 2026 with a clear set of priorities – to deepen production capability, strengthen upstream control, expand intelligently across the region, and keep building brands that can travel the distance.

This means continuing to strengthen the company’s food and beverage platform through BigTree Beverages, BigTree Brands, and Dairy Gold.

It also means ensuring Kingsworth delivers for the group, namely stronger

input security, more competitive downstream manufacturing, and a more stable industrial base.

Trade Kings also wants to continue investing in key categories such as confectionery, home care, and other core businesses that still have room to grow regionally, facilitated by moving ahead with its wider production expansion agenda that is already part of the company’s growth plan.

“We believe Africa cannot continue to only be a consumption market – it

must increasingly produce, brand, and distribute for itself. We want Trade Kings to be part of that next chapter,” Patel closes.

Tel: +260 211 286 117 / 27 info@tradekings.co.zm www.tradekings.co.zm

Bragan Ingredients

advert name

manufacturers across Sub-Saharan Africa, delivering high-quality ingredient solutions tailored to regional market needs.

Our portfolio includes additives, colourants, sweeteners, and functional ingredients designed to enhance product performance and consistency.

Supported by strong technical expertise and reliable supply, we enable our customers to innovate with confidence and meet evolving consumer demands.

Partner with Bragan Ingredients for quality, reliability, and scalable solutions across African markets.

+27 11 708 0007

Enquiries@braganingredients.co.za www.braganingredients.co.za Bragan Ingredients

Flavour Sensations is a bespoke flavour and fragrance house that produces both standard and speciality flavourings. We are a designer, manufacturer, and global supplier of flavours, emulsions and fragrance ingredients to established companies in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Over the years, Flavour Sensations has evolved into an innovative and trusted manufacturer and global supplier. With a dynamic and experienced workforce, advanced technology, and turnkey solutions, we offer unique, high-quality flavours and fragrances for local and global tastes.

Our application laboratories are equipped to present products that have been researched, developed, and ready to be marketed.