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In the highly competitive fast food industry, it takes more than just great tasting food to be a top performer.
Chicken Inn, a Zimbabwean chicken restaurant chain, has proven itself to be a cut above the rest, earning the title of Overall Winner in the 2023 Superbrand Awards.
The awards took place at Rainbow Towers hotel, Main Auditorium HICC on the 1st of December 2023, with the theme “Anchoring Brand Success on ESG”
The Superbrands Awards are a prestigious recognition program that honors exceptional brands across various industries.
The awards are based on a rigorous selection process that considers factors such as branding, marketing, customer loyalty, and overall performance.
Chicken Inn’s victory in the 2023 Superbrand Awards is a testament to its commitment to excellence and its ability to consistently deliver high-quality products and services.
Chicken Inn emerged as the overall winner of the Superbrand Awards 2023 due to its exceptional performance across multiple categories.
The brand’s success in the brand-to-consumer category, where it secured the top position, reflects its strong connection and resonance with consumers.
This indicates that Chicken Inn has effectively established itself as a preferred choice among consumers, surpassing other renowned brands such as Econet, Proton, Coca Cola, and Mazoe.
Furthermore, Chicken Inn’s victory in the fast food category, where it outperformed competitors like KFC and Chicken Slice, underscores its dominance and popularity within the fast food industry.
The brand’s ability to capture the top spot in this highly competitive sector demonstrates its strong market presence and appeal to consumers seeking fast and convenient dining options.
In addition, Chicken Inn’s recognition in the business-to-business category further solidifies its position as a leading brand.
On 6th position was Nyaradzo Funeral Services, followed by Zimgold, OK Zimbabwe on 8th position, Netone and Vaseline on 10th position.
Among the Top 20 Business to Consumer, Bakers Inn was on 11th Position followed by Chibuku Super, EcoCash, Carling Black Label, Mukuru, Huletts, Puredrop, Red Seal, Cerevita and Pepsi on 20th Position.
In the Business to business category, the winner was Delta Corporation, followed by CBZ Bank, Simbisa Brands, National Foods and Dairibord on fifth position.
On 6th position was Telone, and Nash Paints on 7th position. The last three in this category were PPC on 8th position, CABS and Old Mutual on 10th position.
Positions 11 to 20 in Business to business category had the Irvine’s, Probrands Pvt Ltd, Dendairy Toyota Zimbabwe, Cimas, Swift, Colcom Foods, Seed-Co Zimbabwe, Schweppes Holdings Africa Limited, and Steward Bank in that order.
In the Abattoirs and Butcheries sector, Texas Meats was honoured for its dedication to ESG on 3rd position, with Colcom occupying 2nd position and Irvines leading the category on 1st position.
Irvine’s emerged as the winner in this category, demonstrating excellence in ESG practices within the sector.
Recognizing brands within the Agro Chemical sector for their ESG achievements, the awards highlighted 3rd position scooped by Superfert, and ZFC Limited on 2nd position. Agricura was acknowledged as the leading brand in the Agro Chemical sector for its sustainable practices and contributions to ESG goals.
The Banking Sector witnessed commendable performances with Steward Bank on 3rd position, CABS on 2nd Position, CBZ Bank leading the category on 1st position.
In recognition of sustainable practices within the Beauty and Health sector, Jade was on 3rd position, Geisha on 2nd position and Vaseline on 1st first position.
The Car Hire sector recognized brands that excelled in integrating ESG considerations into their operations were Legacy on 3rd position, AVIS on 2nd position and Impala on 1st position.
Celebrating sustainable practices within the Clothing & Fashion sector, the awards honored Truworths taking 3rd position, Jet on 2nd position and Edgars as the winner.
In the construction sector, Beta Bricks took home the 3rd position award, while Zimtile emerged as the winner.
In the print media sector, The Sunday Mail took 2nd position, while The Herald emerged as the winner.
In the detergents and disinfection solutions sector, Multiklean took 2nd position, while Nemchem, the sectoral certificates sponsor, emerged as the winner.
In the freight, logistics and transport sector, DHL took 2nd position, while Fedex emerged as the winner.
Looking in to the health insurance sector, Fidelity Life Medical Aid Society took 2nd position, while First Mutual Health emerged as the winner.
In the hotel sector, Cresta Hotels was on 2nd position, while Rainbow Towers emerged as the winner.
The following brands were awarded for excellent commitment to ESG practices Econet Delta, Nedbank, Zimplats, Schweppes.
The Superbrand Adjudication process chairperson commented on the shift of the Superbrand winners in the past years from Telecommunication to Fast food as the winner.
“In the past, Telecommunication was the undisputed Superbrand winner in the industry, but this year, Fast Foods, specifically Chicken Inn, has emerged as the overall winner. This shift was caused by their continued increase of their distribution network that has contributed to their brand visibility.
We would like to thank all our sponsors Premier Gifts, Image magic, Chicken Inn,Irvines,Esnell,Arenel, ZiFm stereo ,Fincial gazette, The Herald,Zimbabwe Independent, 3kTv,Dailynews,CIMAS,Nemchem, Hullets, Probrands, Alliance media, ZTN Prime, Star fm , Askeland, Simbisa brands, Hinnposs, Tanganda, Delta Corparation, Truworths,PPCand Zimpapers and our partners Zimgold and Zimswitch for making this event a memorable experience.
Also not forgetting our Research Partner Expert Research Insight and research auditor Grant Thornton for making sure our Superbrand process is up to standard.
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Marketers Tee Off A Worthy Cause
The Marketers Association of Zimbabwe, (MAZ) will be hosting the seventh edition of the MAZ Charity Golf, on Friday 21 July, 2023 at the ZRP Golf Club.
The key drive behind this event is to encourage marketers to use the platform to network and also contribute to charity.
This year`s fundraising objective is; ‘Roofing, plastering and painting of Masasa Clinic in Buhera District.’
MAZ Head Marketing and Operations, Mrs Enia Zimunya highlighted that the Charity golf day is a corporate social responsibility initiative that involves marketers.
“As MAZ this year we decided to shift to the health sector targeting Manicaland province where we want to assist in the construction of Masasa Clinic in Buhera.
“Proceeds from the gold tournament will go towards the refurbishment of this clinic in a bid to make a difference to the people in Buhera area,” said Mrs Zimunya.
Masasa clinic has a catchment area covering 40 villages.
The staff compliment at full capacity is 8 nurses but is currently operating at 25% capacity with only 2 nurses occasioned by shortage of staff accommodation.
“Therefore our target is to raise funds for roofing, plastering and painting of Masasa clinic from the Charity Golf day. We are therefore inviting golfers and corporate teams to come and join us fulfil this obligation by playing with us on the 21st of July,” said Zimunya.
She said registration for the Charity Golf day is still on-going.
MAZ is working in conjuction with the Marketers Golf Society for Charity Golf Day.
The inaugural MAZ Charity Golf day was held on 4 August 2017 and since then the Association has not looked back, making it an annual event.
The Charity initiatives are rotated in provinces annually.
The Association has over the years been involved in different corporate social responsibility initiatives through the MAZ Charity Golf tournament.
MAZ through the ‘donate a shoe’ campaign donated 300 pairs of shoes to Chokera Primary School in Masvingo in 2018 and Mathew Rusike Children’s Home where over 300 pairs of shoes were donated in 2019.
In 2020, MAZ donated sunscreen lotions worth thousands of dollars to the Albino Association of Zimbabwe after hosting charity golf day under the theme ‘donate a hat campaign’.
The initial plan was to raise funds to purchase 10 000 sun hats for people with Albinism but the cause was then changed to buy sunscreen lotions as they were very expensive and a basic need for them.
In 2021, the Charity Golf day was held under theme ‘Prison Campaign’ an initiative that sought to raise funds to purchase toiletries and blankets for prison inmates in Mashonaland West province.
The donation of blankets, groceries and toiletries was handed over to Chinhoyi prison after the tournament.
Last year’s Charity Golf was held under theme ‘Rescue a teen from substance abuse’ and the Association partnered with Teen Rescue Mission, a non-profit organisation based in Chitungwiza.
Teen Rescue mission sought assistance for the construction of a fowl run to assist the youths in the area by equipping them with self-help projects in order for them to stay away from drugs.
MAZ has since handed over the fowl run to Teen Rescue Mission.
Women in Marketing, an arm of Marketers Association of Zimbabwe has donated sanitary wear to about 500 pupils at Jonasi Secondary School and to the Teen Rescue Mission all from Seke in Chitungwiza Harare.
The sanitary pads were raised mainly through a fitness and wellness Fun Day organised by the WIM in March during Women’s Month and some were donated by the Population Services Zimbabwe (PSZ).
The sanitary wear was handed over to pupils at Jonasi Secondary School from Form 1 to A’level by the WIM in conjuction with MAZ.
In a speech at the handover ceremony, MAZ Head Marketing and Operations, Enia Zimunya encouraged the girl child to focus on their academic.
“As Marketers Association of Zimbabwe and Women in Marketing we are saying girls should not be absent from school because they are on their period.
Because we want a girl who is empowered and educated can excel so we don’t want you to miss school, “said Zimunya.
Zimunya encouraged the pupils to also consider taking up Marketing as a career of choice.
Zimunya thanked corporates that supported the ‘Donate a pad campaign’ namely Image Magic Corporate , Turbo Baby wear , Proton , Dandemutande , ZimPure and Population Services Zimbabwe.
PSZ Demand Generation Officer Eugenia Five taught the girls the importance of menstrual hygiene.
She shared on various types of sanitary wear, one can use during their menstrual cycle these include, the menstrual cup , re-usable sanitary pads and disposable pads.
She also encouraged the use of re-usable sanitary pads which were more cost effective.
““We don’t want girls to miss school because they do not have sanitary wear hence we also encourage you to get re-usable sanitary pads if you cannot afford the disposable ones every month,” said Five.
During the engagement the pupils highlighted some of the challenges they face when they are on their menstrual cycle.
Some of them revealed that they did not use appropriate sanitary wear due to lack of money to buy and used alternative material available at home.
The school’s head girl thanked MAZ and PSZ for the kind gesture which she said was very much appreciated.
The remaining pads were handed over to Teen Rescue Mission, a non-profit organisation based in Seke, Chitungwiza.
The organisation works with underprivileged youths in the area and is working on the fight against the drug and substance abuse scourge.
Last year, the Women in marketing desk donated over 3 000 sanitary pads Chagugudza Primary School in Domboshava and Tsanganzuru Secondary School in Rusape.
In 2021, the CSR arm of WIM took their first initiative to Chingwere Primary School and donated pads to the young girls.
According to the study by SNV Zimbabwe, 72% of menstruating school girls do not use sanitary products simply because they cannot afford them.
The study further established that 62% of school girls are forced to miss school every month due to a lack of sanitary wear.
The lack of sanitary products results in alternative dangerous methods to manage the flow such as the use of rags, cardboard, tissues, newspapers, leaves and cow dung amongst others.
While 96 percent of girls in urban areas and 89 percent in rural areas reported using disposable sanitary materials, there are no containers for disposing used materials, and no supplies for cleaning after toilet use.
Often, the facilities are not accessible to girls with disabilities. Seventy-seven percent of girls from both rural and urban schools reported not having access to private and lockable compartments to change at school.
Marketers Association of Zimbabwe has successfully completed and handed over a fowl run to Teen Rescue Mission, a non-profit organisation based in Seke as it joined the national fight against drug abuse.
The fowl run project is part of Teen Rescue Mission’s (TRM) projects aimed at keeping youths off drugs through self-sustainable projects in the community.
MAZ through its Annual Charity Golf Day held last year under the theme ‘Rescue a Teen from Substance Abuse’ raised funds which were channelled towards the construction of the fowl run to accommodate 10 000 chickens.
Speaking at the handover ceremony last week, MAZ Executive Secretary Rusike encouraged the youths to take the project serious and abstain from drugs.
“To the youths, we are living in hard and dangerous times. It takes your personal motive and desire to make the right choices that will determine your future.
Drugs and substance abuse are real and they destroy your life, our hope and prayer is that if you spend time here feeding the chickens and doing gardening then you will be able to keep busy and avoid drug and substance abuse that has become rampant in our communities,” said Rusike.
He said the chicken project is meant to benefit the youths.
“Be ambitious young people and you will make it,” he said.
Rusike thanked the golfers and the Marketers Golf Society for the support they rendered that ensured that the project is successfully initiated and completed.
TRM executive director Abraham Matuka appreciated the support by MAZ in ensuring
“They say give a child not a fish but a fishing rod, you have given us a fishing road which we are promising to utilise this project so that it becomes a success,” said Matuka.
He said his organisation is not only fighting the drug abuse scourge but also supporting child headed families, single mothers, orphans in the community through empowerment projects.
MAZ board member and Marketers Golf Society representative, Andrew Tawodzera applauded the two organisations for the initiative which he said will make a lasting impression in the community.
Tawodzera paid tribute to the MAZ for the noble idea behind the MAZ Charity Foundation which spearheads charity initiatives.
“As Marketers Golf Society we pledge to continue working with them to support their charity initiatives.
To the youths here, I say this is a seed that has been sown here. The potential of the seed sown here is very big. Your foundation is food supply. Let’s all take responsibility and work as a team that way we will go far,” said Tawodzera.
Beneficiaries of the project thanked MAZ and committed to ensuring that the project yields the desired results through hard work.
In attendance at the handover ceremony were local head man Besa, MAZ Vice President Liberty Kazhanje, Head Marketing and Operations, Enia Zimunya, MGS executive Alaina Suliwa, MAZ staff, Teen Rescue Mission Board, staff and beneficiaries
MAZ has over the years been involved in different corporate social responsibility initiatives through the MAZ Charity Golf Tournament that include the ‘donate a shoe campaign’ which saw the Association handing over school shoes to Chokera Primary School in Masvingo in 2018 and donated school shoes to Mathew Rusike in Epworth in 2019 as well.
In 2020, proceeds from the Charity Golf Tournament were used to buy sunscreen lotions which were donated to the Zimbabwe Albino Association.
In the same year, the MAZ Charity Foundation responded to the Covid 19 pandemic by donating food baskets and other basic commodities at the Methodist church in Epworth.
The Charity Foundation also donated stationery to Dambudzo Primary School in the Midlands province. The school had its roof blown away by heavy rains and a lot of infrastructure and learning material was destroyed.
Last year, the Charity Foundation handed over food, basic commodities and toiletries to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) in Chinhoyi.
The donation was made possible through proceeds from the 2021 Charity Golf Tournament held under the theme ‘Prison Campaign’ as well as groceries donated by National Foods.
MAZ corporate and individual members participated in the annual tournament but it was a Charity tournament open to everyone who is interested in playing golf.
This year’s Charity Golf Day has been slated for July 21 at the ZRP Golf Club. The fundraising objective is to raise funds and acquire bedding for a Paediatric ward in a public hospital.
The target is to raise USD$10 000 which will go towards the purchase of blankets, sheets and bedcovers for a Paediatric ward.
Marketers Association of Zimbabwe on Friday 26 May, 2023 unveiled the 2023 top 200 brands at a Breakfast Meeting, which marks the second phase of the Superbrand research process that seeks to identify top perfoming brands on the market.
The unveiling of the Top 200 brands was held under the theme ‘Anchoring brands on ESG’ at a Breakfast meeting attended by over 100 marketers, brand managers and senior executives at Monomotapa Hotel.
The unveiling of the top 200 brands, is an annual event which culminates to the Superbrand Awards held at the end of the year.
In her welcome remarks at the Breakfast meeting, MAZ president, Lillian Mbayiwa highlighted the importance of the Superbrand Awards.
“Ladies and gentleman, the Superbrand Awards are critical to every brand custodian, brand manager, or marketing or public relations practitioner. They give insights on your brand’s performance and customer feedback.
“The Superbrand Awards are a very key indicator of your brand’s standing in the market. After the Awards are conducted, a detailed report is published with information that is increasingly being used by practitioners to gain insights on their brand performance, as well all benchmark their performance by gauging how they are performing each year,” said Mbayiwa.
Mbayiwa highlighted that MAZ has ensured the consistency and credibility of the research process to ensure that the Superbrand results are credible.
“Through the inclusion of auditors, adjudicators and independent researchers, MAZ strives to ensure that the results are consumer determined, with no influence from members,” she said.
Mbayiwa acknowledged the support of sponsors, partners, adjudicators, research partner, auditors and all brands that partake in the Superbrand Awards.
In her remarks, Superbrand Chairperson, Carol White highlighted the notable growth of the money transfer sector in the country.
“The market of local and international money transfer (“remittances”) keeps growing considerably and it has been an advantage to the money transfer sector, and we are delighted to have new brands competing in the Superbrand this year,” she said.
White said the Superbrand research process is very thorough and it is ongoing after the unveiling of the Top 200 brands.
“I would like to emphasize that from the very beginning, the consumer is very much a determinant factor in the Superbrand research. It is the consumer who continues to be the backbone of the Superbrand process.
This year the MAZ Research department in conjunction with Expert Research Insights will again conduct a rigorous research process,” she said.
White encouraged brand to continue re-inventing themselves to be the best brands despite the challenges in the economy.
“We urge all brands to continue reinventing themselves, increasing the customer experiences and satisfying their customers. Make it a motto to provide quality service and products to your customers,” she said.
MAZ Head Operations and Marketing , Enia Zimunya unveiled the 2023 Superbrand partners namely ,the research partner, Expert Research Insights , auditors, Grant Thornton, media partners , 3ktv , Daily News , Financial Gazette , Zimpapers , Alliance Media, ZTN , ZiFm Stereo, Zim Independent.
She also thanked the 2023 Superbrand Business Breakfast main sponsors, Econet Wireless, Nyaradzo Group, Pure Drop and ZB Financial Holdings.
She paid tribute to the giveaway sponsors for the continued support.
After the unveiling ceremony, the 200 brands are taken back to the consumers for market research.
After the consumer research the results are then presented to the adjudication committee for their final verification and endorsement. The adjudication panel will also make further analysis, taking into account brand achievements during the particular year.
The final results are then presented at the Annual Superbrand Awards ceremony, which is the most prestigious event of the year. Top 20 Business to Business (B2B), Business to Consumer (B2C) brands and Sectoral leading brands are given awards.
After the Awards, a report is published profiling top brands.
Birthed in 2010, the awards celebrate brands that break new ground and go beyond excellence in service delivery and brands that are always on the mind of the consumer.
Over the years, the Superbrand Awards have become a premiere business event that brings together over 400 business executives among them brand custodians and marketers as well as chief executive officers.
Econet Wireless was adjudged as Zimbabwe’s Superbrand for the year 2022.
Zimbabwean business and brands have been implored to join the global movement on environmental, social governance compliance and build purposeful brands around it.
A top business executive highlighted that ESG matters represent the trifecta of environmental, social, and governance values that are reshaping the business landscape across the globe.
Speaking at the Superbrand Breakfast Meeting held on May 26 in Harare, ZB Financial Holdings CEO, Shepherd Fungura said ESG is
not a mere acronym; it’s a revolution that calls for every business to act.
“Zimbabwe has joined this global movement, proudly waving the flag of ESG compliance across sectors, signaling to the world that we mean business, both figuratively and literally. But let’s be clear—ESG is not just about checking off boxes or jumping on the bandwagon.
It’s about embedding purpose in every fibre of our brands. It’s about understanding that profit and purpose are not adversaries but dance partners,” said Fungura.
In a speech read on his behalf by ZB Agency Banking Manager Emilliah Mabika , Fungura said purposeful brands transcend transactions and become a beacon of hope, inspiring change in the world.
“That’s the power of purposeful branding fuelled by ESG. It’s about connecting with our customers on a deeper level, speaking to their aspirations, and showing them that their choices matter. When we align our brands with their values and weave sustainability into our DNA, we create an unbreakable bond,” said Fungura.
He added: “Let’s take a moment to appreciate the strategic role of sustainability in shaping our financial reporting. It’s not just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s about telling a story—a story of resilience, innovation, and long-term value creation.
Fungura pointed out that investors were increasingly scrutinising organisation’s ESG performance, recognizing that a brand with a strong ESG foundation is built to weather storms, navigate uncertainties, and emerge as a winner in the eyes of shareholders.
He said ESG is no longer an abstract concept; it’s a call to action for each and everyone and it’s a reminder that we are not just corporate entities but corporate citizens.
“We have a duty to our communities, our employees, and our planet. The people concept and the planet concept must intertwine, waltzing gracefully to the rhythm of progress. By embracing ESG, we demonstrate that profitability can coexist with empathy, that business success is not measured solely by financial gains but also by the positive impact we create,” said Fungura.
Fungura said ESG is a journey of transformation that propels brands to new heights.
“It’s about harnessing the power of renewable energy, reducing our carbon footprint, and revolutionizing our operations. As our brands shine brighter, we attract not just customers but a tribe of loyal advocates who proudly align themselves with our purpose. Together, we become a force for change, rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a successful brand in the 21st century,” he said.
In his conclusion, he implored marketers to embrace ESG as the catalyst that propels brands towards unprecedented success.
“Let us break free from the shackles of conventional thinking and embark on a journey of purpose with profit. Together, we can create brands that transcend boundaries, inspire generations, and leave an indelible mark on our society. The time for change is now, and the power lies in our hands,” he said.
MAZ president, Ms Lillian Mbayiwa in her opening remarks highlighted that the Association had taken a deliberate step to promote ESG matters hence the theme for the Breakfast Meeting.
“Environmental, Social and Governance matters have become topical in every sector and we are saying marketers must be at the forefront of promoting ESG issues through incorporating ESG matters in their strategies.
As MAZ we have gone further to appoint an ESG specialist on our Board as well as having a committee that will spearhead these issues and we hope these will cascade to all our corporate members,” said Mbayiwa.
