Davis & Shirtliff launches new Zambia Distribution Centre in Lusaka

The new state-of-the art covers a 5,000 square meter area that includes the warehouse, offices and staff facilities at its Luanshya Road Distribution Centre

Lusaka, Zambia, Friday, 26 May 2023 – Davis & Shirtliff has commissioned its new state-of-the-art Distribution Centre in Lusaka as it accelerates presence in the Zambian market in what the firm terms a big boost to its distribution capacity to reach even the most remote areas of Zambia and Southern Africa. Davis & Shirtliff Group Chairman Alec Davis says the automated facility will improve customer experience, and play an important role in helping the country address perennial water and energy challenges to improve the quality of life for Zambian households, businesses and industries.
“Our new distribution centre is an important step to improving our already efficient logistics setup and will enhance access to Davis & Shirtliff products and services across our business segments leading to expansion, future job creation and a meaningful contribution to the people of Zambia through our mission of Improving Lives,” said Davis & Shirtliff Group chairman Alec Davis.
This investment, the company’s largest ever in Zambia since setting shop in the country 22 years ago, covers a 5,000 square meter area that includes the warehouse, offices and staff facilities. It provides a central hub where stock can be stored and efficiently redistributed different regions within the country and beyond.
The warehouse features include a single-roof open floor area with extensive racking, self-levelling vehicle docking bays, high specification material handling equipment and a new warehouse management IT system.
“As we provide a critical range of products in the water and energy segments that support homes and businesses, we have experienced significant growth over the past few years driven by development of our branch network in the country. E-business, which is a key focus for the company, has also necessitated this development to ensure we meet our partners expectation in Zambia,” Mr Davis added as he presided over the commissioning. The Lusaka facility will allow for increased stock holding, and, importantly, faster delivery to customers.
Speaking at the same event, Davis & Shirtliff Zambia Managing Director Jonathan Mainga said: “With our new distribution centre here in Lusaka, we will be able to deliver products and services much faster and more efficiently – directly to our customers and to our partners. This is in line with our strategy to be closer to our customer.”
Davis & Shirtliff, now 77 years old, is engaged in eight product segments all focused on providing energy and water solutions. A particular focus is its growing presence in the solar energy business where it is already a market leader in Africa. Other activities include surface and borehole water pumping, water treatment, swimming pools, power generation, irrigation and chemicals where it sells many products under its Dayliff brand.