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Tinashe Makichi Business Reporter
Cooking oil manufacturer, Willowton Group is set to put up a new $20 million crushing plant at its operations in Mutare as part of expansion plans intended to strengthen its market presence in the country.

The plan to extend comes after the group completed its $40 million cooking oil plant, which has directly created over 100 jobs.

The cooking oil company which operates three plants in South Africa produces the popular D’lite cooking oil brand.

Willowton managing director Bruce Henderson told The Herald Business that the project remains a priority for the company and will require about $20 million.

“We are planning on embarking on a crushing plant project which will require close to $20 million and it’s a project we are taking seriously but there are obviously some things which still need to be done,” said Henderson.

Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said she was notified of the company’s intentions to expand its investments.

“There has been some activity in the province and I am told that Willowton will be setting up a new crushing plant, a project expected to create more jobs for our people.

“We encourage companies like Willowton to keep on investing and they should take advantage of the strategic positioning of Mutare to the world and regional markets,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

Willowton manufactures a wide range of products, which include edible oils, margarines and spreads, toiletries, laundry and bathing soaps, candles, chocolates, baking and industrial fats.

The project has breathed life in Mutare’s business sector, which in   recent years experienced de-industrialisation as many companies were forced to close due to economic challenges.

Zimbabwe has four main oil expressers, with crushing capacity of 24 000 tonnes of oil seed per month.

These are ETG Parrogate, Surface Investments, Olivine and United Refineries.