The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
IN business, the leadership’s mindset determines the mood of the whole company.
Given the uncertainty brought about the Covid-19 pandemic, adopting a survival mindset is a necessity for all businesses no matter how established they are.
This also entitles re-looking at how they manage and operate their business, including re-visitation of their business plans.
It has become challenging for most businesses to keep their financial wheels turning in an environment saddled with Covid-19 lockdown measures which resulted in less revenue being generated as well as the general uncertainty in the global financial environment.
Despite the myriad of challenges associated with business operations, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company, Global Brothers Wholesalers has continued keeping its head above the murky waters of the harsh operating environment.
While most people expected the company to toddle since its inception in 2016, Global Brothers has struck the right codes and is sprinting all the way to success by spreading its tentacles to other towns.
Having its presence felt in Harare and Mutare, Global Brothers Wholesalers yesterday opened a new branch in Rusape.
But who are these brothers who are having a distinct mark in the FMCG industry?
The company, which started in 2016, currently provides a wide range of products under its two departments in the groceries and liquor section trading as Madhadha Liquor Centre.
Global Brothers finance and administration manager, Ms Happiness Jengwa said: “ Global Brothers was started by four enterprising brothers with a shared vision to become successful businessmen with a global impact. They pooled their small capital together in 2016 and started running a small family business which has blossomed to become what it is today.
“We are a wholesale that sells fast moving consumable goods. Our product range is groceries, meat, liquor and of late we have expanded to hardware. Currently we are operating in Harare and Mutare. We are opening a new branch in Rusape to offer the same products being offered by the other branches.”
True to the brothers’ vision, the organisation is positioning itself strategically to increase its reach through a wide product range that will help them meet local demand and eventually expand its footprint into the region.
“We started with eight employees and currently we have a staff complement of over 100 employees comprising of permanent staff, casual workers, graduate trainees and attaches.
“We are an indigenous company which started small and we appreciate Government’s efforts in supporting small and medium enterprises in the business sector. We also support the Buy Zimbabwe concept, the growth of local producers, suppliers and industries.
“We are giving support to growing indigenous entrepreneurs by partnering with them in value addition, stocking of their products and linking them to markets through our shops,” said Ms Jengwa.
She added: “Our vision is to continue growing and penetrate the regional market in the next five years. We also endeavor to venture into production and manufacturing of products, not just for the local market, but for the regional market.”
On the challenges Global Brothers Wholesalers have encountered and how they overcame them, Ms Jengwa said: “Dealing with fast moving consumable goods is not an easy business. You have to keep abreast with dynamic market forces, changing customer preferences and needs. As Global Brothers, we have set very high work standards for ourselves such that we have been able to adapt to the changing economic environment and strategically position ourselves to ensure that we remain competitive and viable.
“We are grateful to our suppliers who have been forthcoming with unique packages for us and providing us with tailor made solutions for our work-related challenges.”
As part of ploughing back to the community, Global Brothers Wholesalers are providing employment opportunities, mostly to students from local colleges and universities, for industrial attachment in different departments.
Ms Jengwa has words of advice for would-be entrepreneurs: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Be determined and avoid procrastination.”
