Lusaka, November 04, 2019
The Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) and the Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) have partnered to deliver Zambia’s second Annual Consumer Gold Star Awards.
Over the next two weeks consumers from across the country will have the ability to vote for their favorite brands in several categories using the most dynamic platform there is, social media. The final awards ceremony will take place on the 15th of November 2019 at the during the Prestigious Manufacturers Gala and Awards Ceremony where the winners of each product category will be announced and awarded the coveted Consumer Gold Star Award.
The awards are in line with the Proudly Zambian Campaign which encourages consumers to “think local first” in their purchasing decisions and encourages Zambian manufacturers to assist them to do so by producing high quality products and services.
For the recipients, the award will reflect the earned trust and loyalty of consumers as well as serve as the crowning achievement of their efforts as manufacturers. For the consumers, these awards provide an opportunity to support the businesses whose products they interact with on a day to day basis.
Consumers form the foundation of the success of any business because outside of firm’s abilities to produce a product, the product must be consumed/bought to secure the viability of the business. As such, the primary goal of any business is to identify and meet the needs of the consumer. The Consumer Gold Star Awards will the celebrate producers of Zambian products that are able to do this well.
Both ZAM and CUTS agreed that consumers hold a unique position in a free market economy as they play a critical role in determining the success and failure of a brand or a product. This in turn has broad implications on sustainable economic growth, and highlights the need to increasingly ensure that consumers understand the critical choices they make when purchasing a product based on quality and adherence to existing standards and regulations.
Since its inception in Zambia, CUTS has been functioning as a centre for research, advocacy and networking on issues of Trade and Development, Competition Policy, Investment Regulation and Consumer Protection. In all of its work consumer issues lie at the heart of CUTS’ work.
In the same vein one of ZAM’s objectives is to promote value addition to local raw materials and ensure the development of a modern and efficient manufacturing sector that produces high quality, Proudly Zambian products, brands and services. The Consumer Gold Star Awards are where consumers and Zambian manufacturers meet.
These awards present an opportunity for Zambian manufacturing companies to be recognized for their efforts in winning the hearts and trust of the Zambian consumers. Furthermore, we believe that they will encourage firms to continuously improve on their brands and marketing in order to ensure that consumers become more aware of the growing number of manufacturing organizations in Zambia that are producing a variety of quality products and services.
For more information contact:
Ms. Chenai Mukumba, Centre Coordinator, Consumer Unity and Trust Society at 097 8055293 or cm@cuts.org
Ms. Chipego Zulu, Vice President, Zambia Association of Manufacturers at 0965787338 or ceo@zam.co.zm
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For further information please contact: Njavwa Wilanji Simukoko, Communications Officer. Email: nws@cuts.org or phone: +260964905611