Being a young business Savanna is still looking for avenues to positively contribute to the communities in which it does business. Since 2006, the company has introduced an HIV management programme meant to help employees and their families cope with the deadly scourge. Once the programme is consolidated the company has plans to extend it to communities around it as way of giving back to its customers and consumers.
Getting it right from the field...
Due to distortions in the pricing model and the volatile exchange rate, it has become increasingly difficult for tobacco growers in Zimbabwe to sustain their operations without support. In a bid to safeguard a consistent supply of high quality fully developed leaf the company decided to launch a contract growing scheme to support a few selected farmers starting at the beginning of the 2008-2009 farming tobacco season. The initial target is a total of 350 hectares for both Burley and Virginia.
In addition to the year by year growth milestones in equipping the factory and launching new products, Savanna has in its short existence won a prestigious award in the Monde selection 2006 Trophies and Awards. The company won a Silver medal for its Pacific Storm brand and a Bronze medal for the Pacific Blue brand at the 2006 Monde Awards: 40th World Selection of Tobacco.
Since inception Savanna has pursued a vigorous regional penetration strategy which has seen its lead export Brand, Pacific Blue, making inroads into Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, Namibia, Angola and South Africa. In South Africa, the company has opened an office which in addition to looking after the South African market, will also service the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The company’s medium to long term objective is to expand rapidly beyond its current markets.
