Malawi - 3.5.1 Malawi Food Suppliers | Digital Logistics Capacity Assessments

Overview

The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) used to be the only channel for grain trade in the country and was not allowed to buy or sell grain through other channels. However, liberalization of business activities now allows ADMARC to trade grain freely with any commercial bodies. ADMARC has over 400 warehouses at key locations across Malawi with a total capacity of 270,000 mt. ADMRC has smaller warehouses in all district centers and markets with capacities ranging from 50 to 200 mt. Storage facilities are available on a commercial basis but only on a space availability basis. ADMARC request that all requests for services or procurement are made through their Head Office in Blantyre. NFRA (National Food Reserve Agency), a government affiliated corporation, buys grain from farmers and traders and uses the NFRA silos for storage, the only silos in the country, as a national Emergency Strategic Grain Reserve (ESGR)

NFRA silos: Kanengo near Lilongwe (180,000 mt), Mangochi (20,000 mt), Luchenza (20,000 mt), Mzuzu (20,000 mt). The NFRA silo complex at Kanengo is one of the largest silo complex’s in Africa. NFRA warehouses: Kanengo (26,000 mt), Limbe (40,000 mt), Bangula (7,000 mt) and Kazomba in the north (7,000 mt). All silos and warehouse facilities have weighbridges that are calibrated by MBS every six months. All silo complex’s have bagging facilities but there are no mobile bagging units in Malawi. New warehouse facilities are planned at Kanengo and Kazomba which will be available for use by humanitarian organisations on a commercial basis

Additional information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For more specific and detailed overviews of food availability and market conditions, please consult the following sources:

For more information on food supplier contact details, please see the following link:

4.11 Malawi Additional Services Contact List

Retail Sector

The retail sector in Malawi is dominated by small family owned stores across the country. Due to the limited capacity of the retailers, most consumer items that are found in stores are specific, however due to increased number of market players, consumers are able to access their needs within the market.

Types of Retailers Available
Type of Retailer	Rank (1-5)
Supermarket – concentrates mainly in supplying a range of food, beverage, cleaning and sanitation products; have significant purchasing power; are often part of national/regional/global chains.	3/5 Examples: Chipiku Plus Game stores Shoprite City supermarket Sana Mega Store. However, these retailer shops are found in the major cities of the country i.e Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Zomba
Convenience Store/Mini Market – medium sized shop; offers a more limited range of products than supermarkets; usually has good/stable purchasing power; may be part of chain or cooperative.	2/5 The following retailer shops also have mini- Markets across the country in almost all the districts. Peoples Trading Centre/Metro (Although facing some challenges as several shops have closed up) Sana Chipiku
Permanent shop with strong supply capacity – individually/family owned store; usually offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; good storage and reliable supply options.	This does not apply in Malawi retail context
Permanent shop with limited supply capacity – individually/family owned store; offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; limited storage and unstable supply options.	1/5 There are a lot of individual owned stores across the country. Most of these are found in the high density and rural areas in almost all the districts
Mobile Shop/Market Stand – individually/family owned store; usually offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; may be found at outdoor markets, camps or unstable environments.	5/5 This has just been introduced into our markets (only major cities) but very minimal supply.

Wholesale

Supplier Overview
Company Name	KALARIA WHOLESALERS
Address	N/A
Does the supplier have its own production / manufacturing capacity?	No
Does the supplier have its own retail capacity?	Retail shops operates under their sister company (Chipiku stores)
Does the supplier have its own transport capacity?	Yes
Does the supplier have its own storage facilities?	Yes
Approximate Turnover in MT	N/A
Payment Methods Accepted	Cash on delivery and Bank transfers
Other Comments or Key Information	N/A

Primary Goods / Commodities Available
Commodities by Type** (SITC Rev 4 Division Code - Title)		Comments
00 - Live animals (other than fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.)	i.e. sheep and goats, swine, poultry…	N/A
01 - Meat and meat preparations	i.e. meat of bovine animals, meat of sheep, dried or smoked meat of swine, sausages…	Locally sourced
02 - Dairy products and birds’ eggs	i.e. milk, yogurt, butter, cheese, eggs…	Locally sourced
03 - Fish (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs, etc.	i.e. fish (chilled or frozen), fish (salted or in brine), fish liver and roes…	Locally sourced and Imported
04 - Cereals and cereal preparations	i.e. wheat, rice, flour of maize, pasta...	Locally sourced and Imported
05 - Vegetables and fruit	i.e. vegetables, fruit and nuts, jams/jellies, fruit juices…	Locally sourced and Imported
06 - Sugars, sugar preparations and honey	i.e. sugars (beet or cane) raw, natural honey, fruit/nuts preserved by sugar …	Locally sourced and Imported
07 - Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof	i.e. coffee, cocoa, chocolate, tea, mate, pepper…	Locally sourced and Imported
09 - Miscellaneous edible products and preparations	i.e. ready-to-eat foods, margarine, sauces, soups and broths, yeasts…	Locally sourced and Imported
41 - Animal oils and fats	i.e. lard, fats and oils…	Imported
42/43 - Fixed vegetable fats and oils, crude, refined or fractionated	i.e. soya bean oil, olive oil, maize oil, vegetable oil…	Locally sourced and Imported

**For non-FOOD products please see section 3.5.2 Additional Suppliers, and for FUEL/PETROLEUM products please see section 3.1 Fuel.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.