The Wallace Centre at Winrock International and the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) in the United States of America (USA) have invited Sylvia Professional Catering to speak as part of a panel for the study involving 24 locally-owned food businesses worldwide.
The study would draw on detailed analyses of 12 US and 12 international community food enterprises (CFEs), which include food-related producers, processors, grocers, restaurants, training programmes and other businesses
Sylvia Group of Companies executive chairperson, Hector Banda said in Lusaka that the meeting would take place at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the US on January 28.
He said CFEs involved firms poised for sustainable growth and competitiveness both locally and globally.
The study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Kellogg Foundation, and features Sylva Professional Catering Services as a case study of a successful and cutting edge community food enterprise.
Mr Banda and managing director, Sylvia Banda have been invited to make a presentation on their business in Zambia.
The case studies show how community food enterprises have transformed factors that once stymied their performance and profitability from smaller scale, modest ambition, limited local ownership, and high social standards into powerful competitive advantages in comparison with multi-national food businesses.
“We have identified several critical ways CFEs provide invaluable tools for economic development and anti-poverty efforts worldwide,” says Michael Shuman, lead author of the study.
Wallace Centre at Winrock International supports entrepreneurs and communities as they build a new food system that is healthier for people, the environment and the economy.
The centre builds and strengthens links in the emerging chain of businesses and civic efforts focused on making healthy, green, fair and affordable food.
BALLE is North America’s fastest growing network of socially responsible businesses, composed of more than 80 community networks that represent more than 21,000 independent business members across the US and Canada.
Founded in 2001, BALLE works to foster vibrant communities, a healthy natural environment and prosperity for all.
[Times of Zambia]
I read this on the Watchdog a month ago. Come on Lusaka times. give us fresh news.
I am suprised no one has commented yet. This is good news for zambia. Please go and represent us well dear and God bless you and prosper you in this year.
Goodmorning
#1 I was also wondering why no one is commenting on what seems to be a Zambian success story? It seems we are only quick to comment on negative issues. I dont always want to be first to comment so I hesitated on this one…
I have also noticed that Zambians are sole-fighters when it comes to enterprising – I wish that Zambians, especially in the Diaspora would encourage each other more when it comes to establishing business opportunities. I was watching an infomercial the other day on late night TV reporting on Foreign Investment in Europe. It featured mainly people from West Africa and Asia (Indians & Chinese) who have successfully established shops & restaurants in Europe. I think it is largely because they support each instead of pulling each other down.
great staff. Go Sylvia. fly our flag high
# 2 Nine Chale
Are you now LTs resident priest ?. Why then dont you open a resturant in europe ?. we coment on the negatives we see in our society so as to try and correct them. we dont always comment on things we expect to be happening anyway. if a zambian is doing well then jolly good for them, but we can be lining up like in KKs days saying well done, well done. we have better things to do. Attanso.
Good news indeed! LT, the Bandas run SYLVA Catering and SYLVIA Catering! Thanks anyway for informing us about the progress this Zambian family is making! I wonder whether they get any support from government in terms of marketing their products since they definetely carry the national flag! If i were Felix Mutati, i would include them in my every tour of foreign countries(EXPOs).Most importantly though, i would use the in Zambia itself to encourage and motivate many citizens in various enterpises so as more citizens see the realities of honest hard work. To the Bandas, we honestly congratulate you for your every success and hope you are never tempted to mix your business with politics!
I have a lot of respect for this lady. When all these Zambians especially those outside or who travelled briefly outside use to shun their traditions, she took it up and did something good with it. And now in Europe including America, the Africans from East Central and Southern Africa are yerning for the food they grew up on.
#5 mule I am neither a resident nor a priest here. But if you want to know why I’m not openning any business in Europe, I can tell you; I prefer to leave it up to the specialists because it is simply not my ambition. My intentions are quite different and they’re homeward bound but I will welcome and encourage any Zambians with ideas to extend their enterprise in Germany. There’s a lot of potential in the Music & Fashion Industry for instance.
My innocuous observation was simply challenging our feelings of national pride/togetherness and if I have managed to awaken an interest for the phenomenon then that should suffice.
Cheers.
Congratulations ‘Sylvia Professional Catering’ and, in particular, your managing director Mrs. Banda. It is nice to see that Zambia has some home-grown private businesses with a reputation good enough to be recognized internationally. It is your kind of business face we Zambians in the Diaspora yearn for—–not always corruption this, corruption that, Aids this, Aids that, and so forth.
Hope to someday follow in your footsteps when the burdens of academic studies are over.
GO GET THEM!!!
Congratulations ‘Sylvia Professional Catering’ and in particular the managing director Mrs. Banda. It is nice to see that Zambia has some home-grown private businesses with a reputation good enough to be recognized internationally. It is your kind of business face we Zambians in the diaspora yearn for—not always corruption this, corruption that, Aids this, Aids that, and so forth.
Hope to some day to follow in your footsteps when the burdens of academic studies are over.
GO GET THEM!!!