…Wheat mill construction completion by 2021

Ngoni Dapira
FIVE-years ago Mutare’s Nyakamete industrial site had become an eyesore with most factories moribund and diminutive manufacturing activity was the characteristic feature to best depict the dire circumstances that had struck the once illustrious industrial area. However, the entrance of Mega Market (Pvt) Ltd into the fold emerged as a game changer which has breathed life into the industrial area.

Muhammad Shiraan Ahmed

From humble beginnings the Cinderella story of the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution company Mega Market which has over the years grown to become one of the largest distributors in the country is remarkable. But what is most striking is that the business is a brainchild of 33-year old young entrepreneur, Muhammad Shiraan Ahmed, a business magnate whose entrepreneurial streak can be equated to that of acclaimed young international billionaire entrepreneurs such as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who also built his empire from innovation.

Shiraan as he is affectionately called, since 2000 has over the years turned their small family business, into a leading company that now does distribution countrywide and regionally from its central warehouse in Mutare. After acquiring the industrial property formerly owned by the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (COTTCO), the infrastructure development there and construction underway is amazing. Shiraan said he is targeting to have 2000sq. meters of warehouse and manufacturing space at the plant by end of this year.

In his company profile Shirran indicated that the company has a logistics division of delivery trucks where 80 percent of their delivery is done by their own fleet, but their target is to do 90 to 100% of their own distribution by December 2019. “We currently have 10 super-links with capacity to carry 34 tons, 15 tri-axles with 30 ton capacity and nine 15 ton trucks. We have 14 fork lifts operating in our warehouse but let us take this opportunity to say that more vehicles are coming hence we are increasing our fleet beyond the current capacity,” he said.

Mutare’s Mega Market (Pvt) Ltd staff receiving the Outstanding Investment Award from the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba at the ZNCC Manicaland business awards held last Friday.

Although there were a few existing warehouses at the old COTTCO plant, Shiraan has built more modern warehouse facilities such as the 1000sm warehouse for rice packaging, 3000sm for rice storage, 2000sm for the rice packing plant, 11000sm for general storage of goods, 40-foot reefer containers for the storage of frozen and chilled products as well as a milling plant where they are milling mealie meal. He added that a wheat mill is in the process of being constructed for flour production set to begin in 2021. Beyond doubt attesting why they scored a double at the 2019 Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Manicaland business awards held last Friday in Mutare, when they scooped the Outstanding Investment Award whilst Shiraan bounced back as the Businessman of the Year after having won the same award in 2016.

“We have a number of leading brands in different product categories and we also have sole distribution rights for many of these. A key part of our business is to also supply various raw materials to different food industries. We are one of the largest importers of flour. We also trade other products such as feed additives, tomatoe paste and beans to mention a few. We have a number of our own leading brands such as Mega, Ideal, Top Chef, Ekono to name a few, and sole distribution rights for other brands such as Texan.”

He added, “The company’s vision is to provide the nation with nutritious, high quality food at affordable prices. Its future looks to bringing these brands home and manufacturing such foods on our own Zimbabwean soil. This vision has already begun with Mealie Meal and Tomato Sauce already being manufactured at our Nyakamete plant and the wheat mill in the process of being constructed for flour production set to begin in 2021,” says  Shiraan in his company profile.

Some of the Mega Market brands in different product categories.

The Mutare born and bred entrepreneur however did not want to be in business at first as he wanted to advance his education. It was fate that brought him back home to help run the family business and little did he know he was the one who had the midas touch. He said growing up he was surrounded by a large family and always had love for his country. As  a strong academic who attained his education at Hillcrest Preparatory School upto Hillcrest College, Shiraan excelled particularly in Mathematics and Science subjects and obtained all A’s in his Ordinary level examinations and 25 points at Advanced Level.

“That was a country record at the time. After completing high school, I was ambitious and was accepted into the Imperial College of London. However, due to financial constraints, I had to settle for a more affordable option and went to Rhodes University in South Africa where I studied a Bachelor of Economics Degree. Even then, I could not go on to do my Honours Degree due to financial constraints and returned home to help run our small family business which was situated along Main Street in Mutare,” said Shiraan.

With high ambitions and big dreams, he aimed to turn around the struggling family business to create one of the largest FMCG distribution companies in Zimbabwe. He said he worked tirelessly together with his family and loyal employees to turn his dreams into a reality.

Shiraan however said, one of his proudest achievements was being able to give back to his country even during the most challenging economic times, from the hyper-inflation Zimbabwe dollar era up to the current multi-currency era that started in 2009. He said he has always worked hard to ensure his business never stops supplying the nation, often through almost impossible circumstances but they manage through innovative business practices.