In Zambia the agro-processing sector dominates manufacturing activities accounting for
approximately 63% of total manufacturing output (UNDP 2016: 32). Therefore this study focuses
on food processing because it forms a significant component of the agro-processing industry.
The growing interest in the food sub-sector is driven by the expanding demand for processed
food arising from growing incomes and urbanization. Increased regional economic integration has
further encouraged local and foreign firms to invest in food-processing activities to meet the
increased demand for processed food and other manufactured products. Linked to this trend is
the proliferation of South African-based supermarket supply chains such as Pick n Pay
Shoprite and Game Stores which provide key routes to markets for both local and foreign
suppliers (Dakora 2012 das Nair & Chisoro-Dube 2016 Paremoer 2018). These developments
offer rapid growth prospects provided challenges related to upgrading access to quality
inputs design packaging product certification and standards and distribution are dealt
with. Despite the presence of supermarkets in Zambia domestic processing firms possess limited
capabilities to engage and effectively participate in the agro-food value-chains (Ziba & Phiri
2017).
