Arenel
Moving Forward in the Local and Regional EconomiesWriter:Emily JarvisProject Manager:Callum PhilpArenel has achieved local and regional growth throughout its decades of continuous operational improvement in the manufacture of quality sweets and biscuits for Zimbabweans and its key export markets. Last year, the Company launched a new range of mini biscuits - known as ‘Yummies’ - in five exciting flavours, and a new flavour of Chocolate Zambezi Pops which serves to strengthen Arenel’s growth strategy and cement its position in the country’s confectionery industry. “The new product lines are designed to meet changing market demands and are in response to the ever-changing taste of the people. So far business has been positive and we are moving forward with that movement of positivity,” says Joshua Lepar, Managing Director of Arenel.With a footprint in virtually every corner of the country, Arenel boasts one of Zimbabwe’s most extensive distribution networks in the country.In line with this, the Company has been committed to increasing its service offering with the eventual aim to provide a more inclusive end-to-end service. 2015 is an exciting time for the Company as feasibility studies have been undertaken for the manufacture of a further three products and Lepar is eager to push for their production and inclusion in the Arenel product range. “This year, we will be launching our take on the traditional energy drink called Mahewu, made from maize. To achieve this objective, we have a special purpose-built factory in place for new state-of-the-art equipment, including new processing and bottling machinery which is being installed as…
Arenel
Experience! Quality! Innovation! Through their three core values of integrity, loyalty and hard work, Managing Director Joshua Lepar is confident that the future is bright for Arenel Writers Emily Jarvis Project Manager Callum Philp Arenel are manufacturers of quality sweets and biscuits. After decades of operation, you can be sure that the company's sweet and biscuit lines are of the finest quality. In 1946, Mr Robert (Rube) Lepar and Mr Abe Rubin had a vision which culminated in the manufacturing of sweets, in a small factory in Bulawayo. It was not long before the duo were manufacturing a range of hard boiled sweets that included the ever popular "suckers", "sugar sticks" and "apricot balls". Demand for their quality products grew and in order to increase their manufacturing capability, a purpose built facility was erected in the Belmont industrial area of Bulawayo. The partnership of Lepar and Rubin dissolved when Mr Abe Rubin relocated to Harare, where he established a successful bread making enterprise. In the early 1960s, Arenel entered the biscuit market with the purchase of Crown Biscuits. Arenel continued on its path of growth and product development and in 1973 additional premises were acquired some 200m west of the existing facility. Therefore, a biscuit plant was purchased from overseas and installed. Arenel now manufacture quality biscuits to compliment their ever popular growing range of sweets. Soon, space and development dictated the purchase of yet another factory for warehousing and distribution, along with a facility for the transport division and maintenance workshops. "Our high quality product…
