MBABANE – What began as a sugar producer has evolved into one of Eswatini’s most diversified agribusinesses.
Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RESCorp) has now expanded further into retail through a new marbling butchery at Simunye.
RESCorp is steadily proving that its future extends well beyond sugar production, with the Eswatini Stock Exchange-listed agribusiness continuing to build one of the country’s most diversified corporate portfolios.
On Monday, the corporation officially unveiled its latest investment – a Marbling Butchery at Simunye – after investing around E1 million into the venture and creating five more job opportunities for emaSwati.
The latest venture capitalises on one of the corporation’s less-publicised but significant operations – its expansive livestock business at the Livestock and Game Farm formerly known as Inyoni Yami Irrigation Scheme in Tshaneni.
The farming operation, jointly owned by RESCorp and Tibiyo Taka Ngwane, complements the company’s core sugar cane and ethanol businesses. Beyond irrigated agriculture, the operation manages more than 2 500 head of cattle, supported by an 800-head feedlot, while also overseeing extensive wildlife conservation activities across the estate.
Speaking to the Times Business Desk, RESCorp Group Corporate Affairs Manager Ishmond Fakudze said the investment forms part of the corporation’s deliberate strategy to diversify its business portfolio while creating greater value from its existing operations.
Fakudze said the new E1 million Marbling Butchery was not merely another retail outlet, but a strategic expansion of the corporation’s beef value chain.
“Diversification has always been part of our long-term strategy. As a business, we continuously look for opportunities to unlock value from the assets and operations that we already have,” he said.
He explained that the newly commissioned facility becomes the third butchery operated by the corporation, complementing the existing outlets at Hambanathi and Delco.
According to Fakudze, the latest investment was strategically located to serve the growing Lusoti market, including motorists and travellers using the busy Mozambique route, where there had previously been no butchery offering quality fresh beef.
“We identified a gap in that corridor because people travelling towards Mozambique and residents around Lusoti did not have access to a dedicated butchery. This investment responds directly to that demand while expanding our market reach,” he said.
Fakudze added that the corporation had previously transported meat from its Tshaneni livestock operation using a mobile truck to supply employees at Simunye and Mhlume. With the establishment of the new butchery, customers will now have access to fresh meat from a permanent, purpose-built retail facility.
“Previously, we relied on a meat truck that travelled from the farm to supply staff at Simunye and Mhlume. Now we have invested in a permanent structure where customers can conveniently access our products, while also allowing us to grow the business beyond our internal market,” he said.
The latest addition joins a growing list of diversified investments that increasingly distinguish RESCorp from being viewed merely as a sugar producer.
…New business comes shortly after Spotted Horse launch
MBABANE – Only months ago, the corporation entered another entirely different market when it officially launched Spotted Horse Gold Rum, signalling its ambitions to establish itself in the premium beverage industry.
The launch represented more than simply introducing a new alcoholic beverage.
It showcased how RES Corp is leveraging one of its biggest industrial strengths – ethanol production – to manufacture higher-value branded consumer products.
During the launch last year, RES Board member Mike Shongwe described the development as a milestone for local industry and a bold statement of export ambition.
He argued that Eswatini possesses the industrial capability to produce premium internationally competitive brands capable of finding shelf space beyond the country’s borders.
That confidence is backed by considerable production capacity.
RES Corp’s distillery produces approximately 32 million litres during a 36-week production cycle.
The facility also houses an advanced anhydrous ethanol unit capable of producing 99.9 per cent fuel-grade ethanol suitable for petrol blending, highlighting the sophistication of the corporation’s industrial infrastructure.
Such capacity provides a strong foundation for beverage production while reinforcing RES Corp’s position as one of the country’s leading ethanol manufacturers.
Beyond beverages, the corporation continues embracing technological transformation across its core agricultural operations.
Modern digital farming systems, precision agriculture and advanced analytics are increasingly integrated into sugarcane production, improving efficiencies and supporting long-term sustainability.
However, diversification at RES Corp stretches far beyond agriculture and manufacturing.
The company has also established interests in commercial property through its stake in Simunye Plaza, broadening its revenue streams beyond traditional farming activities.
Within the hospitality sector, the corporation operates both the Simunye Country Club and the Mhlume Country Club, facilities that not only serve local communities but also contribute to the corporation’s broader investment portfolio.
