via Delta to reopen two depots – The Zimbabwean 25 June 2015
In a bid to target customers ahead of harvest and festive seasons, Delta Beverages is set to re-open two depots closed late last year, a top official has confirmed.
Chinhoyi and Chiredzi Sorghum beer breweries were closed last year, forcing many workers to relocate. Some sources said when Karoi depot was closed they relocated to Chinhoyi before it was closed, but were then redeployed to Harare.
“We are surprised that management has resolved to reopen Chinhoyi branch hardly six months after it was closed. We missed the tobacco season as we could not match demand, especially in Hurungwe, which is one of the prime production districts with more customers,” said one worker speaking on condition of anonymity.
Delta Corporation limited company secretary Alex Makamure confirmed in a written response this week that Chinhoyi branch was placed under care and maintenance late last year.
“The plan is to run Chinhoyi and Chiredzi breweries intermittently to cover traditional peak demand periods such as forthcoming agricultural harvest in August and the Christmas season. This will ensure that we close all supply gaps and optimise on distribution performance. This is part of the rationalisation of production capacity taking into account the advent of Chibuku Super and the trends in the Chibuku volumes,” he said.
However Makamure ruled out employing any additional employees as the breweries will be manned by redeployment from the current establishment. “The sorghum beer business is expected to run with two Chibuku super plants – Chitungwiza and Fairbridge in Bulawayo – and the scud operations at Harare, Rusape, Masvingo, Kwekwe and Kadoma,” he said.
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