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OUR
BUSINESS

Illovo Sugar Malawi (The Group) was incorporated in Malawi as a private company, (The Sugar Corporation of Malawi (SUCOMA) Limited), on 31 May 1965 and then converted to a public company on 15 September 1997.
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KEY IMPACTS

Long Term View: 2016 – 2025

Medium Term View: 2020 – 2025

EMPLOYEE SALARIES (1)

MK 347.3B

EMPLOYEE SALARIES, WAGES, AND OTHER BENEFITS
INTEREST PAID

MK 41.7B

INTEREST PAID

MK 56.5B

SHAREHOLDERS DIVIDENDS
SOCIAL INVESTMENT

MK 8.4B

SOCIAL INVESTMENT

MK 310.5B

TAX CONTRIBUTION
DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS

14 100

DIRECT & INDIRECT JOBS
LOCAL PROCUREMENT SPENT

MK 803.6B

LOCAL PROCUREMENT SPENT

100%

RECYCLABLE PREPACKS
SMALL SCALE FARMERS

7 000

SMALL SCALE FARMERS SUPPORTED

NCHALO SUGAR ESTATE

Nchalo Sugar Estate is the oldest Sugar Estate in Malawi. The Estate is a product of collaborative Sugar Cane growing research in lower shire by the then Nyasaland Government and Booker Brothers and McConnell and Co. Ltd in 1949. The Alumenda Scheme became the first pilot scheme… In 1963, Dr McMartin a renowned sugar cane researcher was engaged by Lonrho Ltd to do a thorough research of the topography, drainage, climate, natural vegetation, soils, and water supplies in Nchalo area. He recommended Nchalo as a favourable area for sustained sugar cane production. SUCOMA was formed in mid-1965 as a Lonrho Subsidiary to operate the Nchalo Estate and was incorporated with an authorised capital of 3 million GBP. In 1997 Illovo acquired Lonrho Sugar Corporation Limited which owned SUCOMA hence the change of name to Illovo Sugar Malawi. Nchalo Estate is located 80kms south of Blantyre on the West Bank of the Shire River. It is 80 m above sea level. The Estate annually cultivates more than 1 million tonnes of sugar and produces more than 260 000 tonnes of sugar. The estate produces 15 different types of specialty sugar. At its peak the Estate employs more than 6 000 employees including seasonal and casual employees. The estate also generates its own electricity when the sugar production season starts Read More

Dwangwa Sugar Estate

Dwangwa sugar estate is situated in the central region of the country in Nkhotakota district. Planting of cane and building of canals on the estate started in 1975 and was finalized in 1979. Building of its factory started in June 1977 and the first sugar production commenced on 1st June 1979…. The sugar mill was officially inaugurated on 13th October 1979 by the national president Ngwazi Dr H kamuzu Banda. The estate covers 13, 300 hector’s of land and grow 14 different varieties of canes. Its factory is able to process over 900,000 tons of cane crushing at 203 tons an hour and produces 116, 000 tons of sugar at its peak. The factory produces both white and brown sugar for domestic and export markets (direct consumption and industrial use). The factory packs 220g, 500g, 1 kg, 2kg, 20 kg and 50 kg bags which are all fortified with Vitamin A. Dwangwa estate employees 3, 276 permanent employees in agriculture operations, estate support, finance, general administration, human resources, manufacturing, SHERQ and supply chain management. It also provides over 4, 000 direct and indirect employment opportunities through its contractors and seasonal employment. The estate also supports 4 800 independent growers that belong to 16 associations and 3 of whom are independent. Head office-Limbe The company’s country head office is situated in the southern region Blantyre city and is based in Limbe. The head office is a centralized strategic hub for the business to manage its commercial, corporate operations, human resource, supply chain and finance functions. The Limbe office employs over 200 Individuals and has distribution centers in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Karonga from which it supplies sugar to its customers for resale into the different markets. Read More

OUR PURPOSE

Illovo Sugar Malawi (ISM) recognises that for our business to be successful we must evolve alongside the Malawi market, whilst creating shared economic value.

We will ensure this through our commitment to fulfil our purpose in creating a thriving Malawian community through the provision of affordable food and energy.
Integral to this is ensuring the long-term sustainability of the business through its practices that will secure the business’s profit while safeguarding the planet and people.

Our purpose is supported by the four purpose pillars: Sugar Market Leader, Sustainable Agriculture, Value and Quality Driven Industry and Community Connected.

SUGAR MARKET LEADER

Encouraging innovative commercial community opportunities along our manufacturing value chain. Positioned to serve and meet local customer and consumer needs. This underpins Illovo’s market, financial & business sustainability, and license to operate. Read More

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Creating mutually-beneficial and commercial value from agricultural community projects. Promote rural economic development and growth by sharing agricultural expertise and facilitating community access to resources, including water, power and farming inputs. We prioritise sustainable cane developments through inclusive growth models and shared value in our supply chain to bring mutual benefit to both business and society. Read More

VALUE DRIVEN INDUSTRY

Encouraging innovative commercial community opportunities along our manufacturing value chain. Unlock national growth in Malawi aligned to the Company’s core agri-business expertise. Read More

COMMUNITY CONNECTED

Collaborative and cooperative stimulation of economic activity. Collective community engagement strengthens the growth and the development of the THRIVING MALAWIAN COMMUNITY, evidenced by increased opportunities which bring about positive socio-economic impact and benefit. Read More

Milestones

The journey of a Malawian sugar company
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No Current Vacancies Available
Illovo Sugar Malawi (The Group) was incorporated in Malawi as a private company, (The Sugar Corporation of Malawi (SUCOMA) Limited), on 31 May 1965 and then converted to a public company on 15 September 1997.

Illovo Group Holdings Limited (Illovo) through Sucoma Holdings Limited, holds 76% of the issued share capital of Illovo Sugar Malawi with the balance of the shares being held by the public and other institutional investors.

The ultimate holding company is Associated British Foods plc (ABF), in the United Kingdom, which acquired full ownership of Illovo Sugar Africa in 2016.
No Current Activations Available

Chigumu – Malawian Banana Cake

Chigumu is a hearty, traditional Malawian cake made with ripe bananas and corn flour (Mgaiwa or grain meal). It’s perfect as a breakfast treat or a snack, offering a rich, fibre-filled bite with a naturally sweet flavour.

DOWNLOAD RECIPE

Homemade Baked Beans

Slow-cooked and hearty, these beans are sweetened with demerara sugar and enriched with smoky spices and tomato.
DOWNLOAD RECIPE

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

Warm, spiced, and beautifully sticky — this gingerbread loaf uses demerara sugar for a caramel depth and golden crumb.
DOWNLOAD RECIPE

Chocolate Mousse

Classic French Chocolate Mousse.

DOWNLOAD RECIPE

Meringue

Classic French Meringue.
DOWNLOAD RECIPE

Banana Bread

Moist and flavourful with a rich, slightly toffee-like taste thanks to the brown sugar.
DOWNLOAD RECIPE

Soft & Chewy Brown Sugar Cookies

Deeply flavourful, chewy cookies made with brown sugar.
DOWNLOAD RECIPE

Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken Thighs

Savory-sweet baked chicken with a sticky, caramelized glaze.
DOWNLOAD RECIPE
At Illovo Sugar Malawi plc, our commitment to sustainability is at the core of our corporate responsibility. We recognize that as a leading agro processor, our activities have significant environmental, social, and economic impacts.

Therefore, we are dedicated to integrating sustainable practices across all aspects of our business to ensure long-term value creation for our stakeholders while protecting the environment and supporting our communities.

We are committed to fostering sustainable development and creating a better future for our business, customers, and the greater Malawian community.

EXPORT SALES

Northern Region

Central Region

Southern Region

Route to consumer Manager

Trade Marketing Manager

Domestic Sales Manager

For Feedback or more information please contact
us below or email infomalawi@illovo.co.za

Our approach includes:

  • Understanding Impacts, Risks & Opportunities: Identifying material ESG issues across our value chain to guide strategy and decision-making.

  • Monitoring: Tracking performance against key ESG metrics to drive continuous improvement and ensure regulatory compliance.

  • Reporting: Sharing progress through our annual report and other communication channels.

  • Governance: ESG oversight is led by the Executive Team, with strategic direction from the Managing Director and Board based on material risks, local regulations, and customer needs.

By embedding ESG into our business practices, we aim to create lasting value for our business, our customers, and the communities we serve. You can find the latest ESG report here.

SUPPLY CHAIN

The Supply Chain department manages end-to-end planning, procurement, warehousing, inventory, inbound and outbound logistics, and customer order fulfilment. It ensures seamless alignment between demand and supply through a robust Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, enabling informed decision-making and cross-functional collaboration.

The department also drives efficiency and service excellence by optimising cost, service, and working capital, while leveraging tools like the Transporter Management System (TMS) to improve logistics visibility, performance tracking, and last-mile delivery.

SHERQ

The SHERQ department’s core function is to implement the Illovo Way of SHERQ and Food Safety standards, systems, processes, and regulatory requirements. It promotes continuous improvement in SHERQ and Food Safety, and coordinates risk management to identify and mitigate estate risks

HUMAN RESOURCES

HR is the custodian of our people strategy. From recruitment and onboarding to learning, wellness, and performance management, HR ensures that every employee is supported, valued, and empowered to thrive. They bring our Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to life and champion a culture where people are proud to belong.

FINANCE

The Finance Department, led by the Finance Manager, manages core accounting and transactional functions. It performs financial and operational analysis to support strategic decisionmaking and maintains a consistent approach to financial risk management through regular reviews. Additionally, it develops and maintains positive relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, customers, and auditors

FACTORY

The Factory Department ensures product quality by embedding the “Illovo Way in Production,” partnering with Finance to develop and manage the production budget, achieving cost synergies, and fostering continuous improvement and risk assessment. It also upholds SHERQ and Food Safety standards.

ESTATE SUPPORT SERVICES

The Estate Support Services department’s core function is to ensure the best-in-class security and emergency response operations, medical services, community engagement activities and estate maintenance operations within the estate.

CORPORATE AFFAIRS

The Corporate Affairs department is responsible for internal and external communication, stakeholder engagement, regulatory affairs, and brand reputation management. It fosters strong relationships with government, media, community leaders, and the general public to protect and enhance Illovo’s social license to operate.

COMMERCIAL

The Commercial department is made up of three core functions: Sales, Trade Marketing, and Route to Consumer (RtC). Together, they ensure that Illovo’s products are available, accessible, and affordable, even in white space markets. The department drives product availability, optimises revenue generation, and builds enduring partnerships with customers, distributors, and regional trade bodies.

The team delivers against the following seven Commercial Imperatives:

Cost to Serve, Supply Reliability, Quality, Optimised Product Portfolio, Increased Consumption Occasions, Sales Excellence, and Route to Consumer.

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT

The Business Improvement department drives operational excellence by embedding continuous improvement practices, unlocking efficiency gains, and supporting strategic initiatives across all functions. It plays a critical role in fostering a high-performance culture and driving transformation across the business.

AGRICULTURE

The Agriculture department is responsible for championing the “Illovo Way of Agriculture” through ongoing farming system modernisation, capability building, and performance optimisation, to ensure Illovo becomes the best-in-class sugar producer in Malawi.