Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo has officially launched the Hungry Lion franchise at Siphofaneni.
This, he said, was a proudly local franchise under Elangeni Food Group, which is home to Elangeni Poultry, Eswatini’s largest and only FSSC 22000 V6‑accredited chicken abattoir.
During the official opening at Siphofaneni Plaza yesterday, the minister noted that new investments in the economy create jobs and contribute to economic growth.
He added that Hungry Lion has committed to hiring and training 400 local staff, creating valuable employment opportunities, particularly for the youth in the surrounding areas, upon the completion of 20 stores in the country.
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“The growth in one sector translates to growth in the country’s economy through employment creation, the improvement of livelihoods in the community, and contributions to other economic activities,” Khumalo said.
He added that there are currently 425 Hungry Lion stores across the region, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Angola, benefiting from the SADC Trade Protocol through preferential market access.
He said this was a testament to the company’s expertise and the clear growth mandate they have mapped out for the future.
Khumalo emphasized that the jobs created by the business have enabled workers to live a decent life and provide for their families’ needs.
“Local companies are encouraged to provide the stores with quality inputs, thereby strengthening the local value chain in business. The franchise has been present in Eswatini since 1999, and Elangeni Food Group has been operational since 1994.
“We highly appreciate such positive contributions to the economy and urge other businesses to emulate what Hungry Lion has done. As a ministry, we are the pivot for all businesses — their development and growth in the country and we emphasize that the business community has a prominent role to play in forging alliances with businesses in the same value chain,” said Khumalo.
He added that Hungry Lion has demonstrated its commitment to this endeavor by sourcing its meat and other products locally. Through effective and expedited efforts across various programmes, more private sector entities like Hungry Lion will benefit from an environment that enables such growth.
Eswatini Observer Press Reader
