National Foods Limited Zimbabwe

National Foods has a long history stretching back to early last century, when two separate families, the Palte family and the Harris family, started separate businesses, which eventually came together as one. Joseph Palte started his company, J. Palte & Co in 1908 in Bulawayo, where he traded as Miller and Merchants. When he died in 1934, his son, Jack, took over the business. He expanded it in 1952, when Tiger Oats became major shareholders. Meanwhile in 1915 Mark Harris established Mark Harris Manufacturing in what was then Salisbury, using the trade name Atlas. In 1920 he sold his shares to the British South Africa Company (now Anglo American Corporation). The same year C. Harris & Co., which was later renamed Harris Brothers, was established in Bulawayo. It was then that the brand name Red Seal was born. The Gloria brand name was also born. In 1924 Mark Harris Manufacturing was renamed Rhodesian Milling and Manufacturing Company. In 1956 the Rhodesian Milling and Manufacturing Company purchased Harris Brothers. However, the Red Seal brand was taken over by Harris Maize Milling and Produce Company, a company founded the same year by three sons of C. Harris, the founder of Harris Brothers. In 1964 Harris Maize Milling and Produce Company merged with J. Palte & Co. to form Palte Harris. In 1970 Palte Harris went public as Palte Harris Industrial Holdings. In 1969 the Rhodesian Milling and Manufacturing Company merged with Palte Harris to form National Foods, bringing together the Gloria and Red Seal brands. The company has grown to become one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of food products in Zimbabwe and the Southern African region.