Colcom Holdings Limited, yesterday responded to complaints and criticisms that the company are not what they used to be for the past two years.
Customers have been complaining that the pies are now having small quantities on meat than before.
“We are naturally very concerned by the complaints and criticisms that Colcom’s pies are ‘not what they used to be,’” says Colcom.
“Whilst this is true, we would like to clarify the changes that have been made, and the reasons therefore,” Colcom says.
Colcom relates the changes in the pies to a plant commissioned in August 2015 to replace a previous aged and inefficient plant to increase production capacity required to meet the increase in demand.
“While it was anticipated that the new plant would be able to produce similar pies, in practice this was found not to be the case,” Colcom says.
“At the same time, we were increasingly conscious that a large proportion of our customers were asking for a more affordable pie.”
“In order to achieve this, the plant was designed to produce a 100-gram pie, which at that time retailed at 39 cents to replace the previous 120-gram pie which retailed at 60 cents. (The current retail price for Colcom’s 100-gram pies, three years later, is 50 cents),” Colcom goes on.
Colcom also says its technical team is working to on plans for alternative means of producing a pie that includes the aspects of the ‘original’.
“We have listened to our customers and are well aware that there is a segment of our pie customers who would like to see the return of the “original” Colcom pies,” the pie making company says.
“Whilst maintaining the original Colcom pie has been the objective since the commissioning of the new pie plant, and we have committed significant resources to achieve this result including seeking the assistance of international technical experts, it has until now not been possible to replicate all aspects of that product.”
“The work to achieve this result is ongoing but the process will take time,” Colcom says.
Colcom, which produces a variety of meat products both fresh and processed took two years to clarify product changes to customers.
The pie making company, which employes over 1000 people was also de-listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.
