MERAKI expands footprint in Lusaka, creates over 100 jobs in growing food industry
“We pride ourselves on giving our customers the very best. Quality and convenience are what set us apart,” MERAKI Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chomba Mwansa
MERAKI Founder and CEO Chomba Mwansa explains products offered to World Bank Country Representative Mr Ackim Folk during an exhibition at the launch of ZATP II in Lusaka.
March 17, 2026 – Lusaka
As Zambia’s food outlet industry continues to expand, locally owned café brand MERAKI is emerging as a notable player, offering a diverse range of products while contributing to job creation and economic growth.
Speaking during a recent engagement, MERAKI Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chomba Mwansa, described the business as a proudly 100 percent Zambian-owned brand operating in the café, confectionery, and catering space.
Mwansa said the company currently runs four café outlets across Lusaka, with its flagship store located in Rhodes Park area.
Other branches are situated in East Park shopping mall, Centro Mall in Kabulonga, and along Great East Road, positioning the brand strategically within the capital’s busy commercial hubs.
Beyond its café operations, MERAKI has invested in a fully functional bakery that produces a wide variety of confectionery products.
The company has also ventured into the production of fast-moving consumer goods, which are distributed in shops and major supermarkets across the country.
“Our focus is not just on serving customers in our outlets, but also on reaching households through retail products available nationwide,” Ms Mwansa said in an interview on the sidelines of the launch of the Zambia Agribusiness and Trade Project (ZATP) II line credit facility in Lusaka on Tuesday.
MERAKI was among the exhibiting businesses at the ZATP II launch officiated by Mr Crusaviour Hichikumba, Permanent Secretary for Industrialisation and Investment in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.
MERAKI’s growth has been supported in part by its participation in a World Bank-funded initiative targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) under the same ZATP II.
MERAKI was a beneficiary of the programme’s first phase, which provided financing and technical support to help scale up operations.
Ms Mwansa revealed that the company is now engaging in the programme’s second phase, which introduces a line of credit for SMEs, combining grants and loans to further stimulate business growth.
“This platform [ZATP II] offers various types of assistance, and we are optimistic about the opportunities it presents for businesses like ours to expand even further,” she said.
In terms of employment, MERAKI has created 105 jobs, with approximately 60 percent of positions held by women and young people, reflecting its contribution to inclusive economic participation.
Ms Mwansa attributed the brand’s growing customer base to its commitment to quality and convenience service provision.
“We pride ourselves on giving our customers the very best. Quality and convenience are what set us apart,” she said.
As Zambia’s urban food market becomes increasingly competitive, MERAKI’s expansion highlights the rising role of local enterprises in shaping the country’s hospitality sector while supporting livelihoods.
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