Maranatha Poultry, a recent entrant into the Namibian poultry industry, and its partners plan to invest more than N$250 million to expand production capacity to above 800 tonnes a month.
Managing Director Shaun Esterhuizen said the programme includes upgrades to the hatchery, abattoir and farming operations, with construction expected to be completed in 2026.
He said current output stands at between 200 and 250 tonnes a month, with an interim target of 400 tonnes before capacity is doubled. While the value chain is integrated from farms to the abattoir, the slaughter facility is still operating below its design capacity.
Esterhuizen said reaching 400 tonnes a month will depend on restoring full utilisation at the abattoir and aligning supply from the hatchery and growers. He noted that all parts of the value chain will require synchronised upgrades before further gains can be achieved.
He said the expansion will be implemented in phases, starting with upgrades to the hatchery, followed by improvements to the abattoir to match higher incoming volumes. Only once these steps are completed will output increase towards the targeted 800 tonnes a month.
“At the moment every entity in the chain needs to be upgraded for us to move forward, because the hatchery still needs to supply the volumes that allow the abattoir to run at the level it was built for. That is why we are doing the work in phases, so each part can support the next,” Esterhuizen said.
He said the estimated capital requirement for the combined upgrades is between N$250 million and N$300 million.
The investment will cover construction work, completion of primary facilities and improvements to the abattoir to expand slaughtering capacity. Esterhuizen added that Maranatha’s sales arm will also require additional trucks and transport capacity to manage higher distribution volumes.
He said regulatory issues were addressed after the company took over the abattoir, with all licensing and fitness requirements now compliant.
“Retail access and potential export routes will only follow once the upgraded facility meets the required technical and hygiene specifications. We had to fix quite a lot when we took over the abattoir to bring everything back to standard, because without those basics in place we cannot even consider moving into retail or exports. The upgrade is what will allow us to meet those higher specifications,” Esterhuizen said.
Head of Marketing and Sales Theresa Greeff said more than 1,800 tonnes of poultry have been supplied to the local market to date, supported by more than 120 employees across the value chain.
She said farmers based in Stampriet remain key partners in sustaining production and ensuring consistent quality.
Greeff said Maranatha is currently the third-largest poultry supplier in Namibia and is preparing to expand its presence into the retail market as part of the next phase of growth.
She added that interest is emerging from regional buyers, including a potential partner seeking to introduce the brand into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, although the immediate focus remains on national coverage.
“Our farmers in Stampriet carry a heavy load for us, because farming in Namibia is not easy. Working closely with them is what keeps our production strong as we prepare to expand into more towns and more stores, which is the direction we are moving in during the next phase of our plan,” Greeff said.
