Malawi’s kilombero rice will now be available to a wider United Kingdom (UK) retail market after Scotland-based Just Trading Scotland (JTS) unveiled a partnership with Reading-based fine food distributor Cotswold Fayre.
Malawi High Commissioner to the UK Kena Mphonda witnessed the announcement of the new partnership that will bring Malawi’s own kilombero rice to London and the entire UK market.
The announcement was made at the London Fine Food Trade Show hosted by Cotswold Fayre where hundreds of food buyers saw kilombero rice brand for the first time, with many new retailers placing orders for the cereal, grown by smallholder farmers.
Mphonda said they appreciate JTS efforts to promote Malawi products that empower the rural communities.
“The quality of branding of this world rare and tasty rice and launching it to the prime London markets through Cotswold Fayre at this particular time when Malawi is looking to diversify and increase its exports complements our overall development agenda,” he said.
An official from JTS, Malcolm Shannon, said: “Bringing kilombero rice to London was the next step for JTS to introduce Malawi’s wonderful kilombero rice to more customers in the UK.
“We are pleased that our work, based on fair trade and partnership principles, with our friends in Malawi has led to such a good product and we are confident the future is looking much brighter for Malawian smallholder farmers. n
