Established in 1971 and now with 11-50 employees, Charles Stewart Day Old Chicks (CSDOC) operates a commercial hatchery and feed processing unit that produces and supplies Hyline day-old chicks and feed and provides poultry production training to smallholder farmers nationwide from its base in Blantyre. Mr Alexander Stewart, Managing Director, has a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management and over 20 years of experience in poultry management, breeding and production.

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Facilitating Access to Finance and Investment for Market Actors

This project demonstrated the effectiveness of business development services in helping agri-SMEs to attract investment and the viability of smallholder farmer supply chains working with agri-SMEs.

Completed in June 2022, this 18-month project supported CSDOC to become investment-ready and attract and secure investment finance to expand their hatchery and feed processing line. The investment-readiness support included enhancing the company’s financial management, developing a business plan, and creating a marketing and branding strategy, which would help reposition the company in the market and strengthen its competitiveness. The company is the exclusive license holder of Hyline Chicks, an American breed imported into Malawi to breed parent stock and produce hatching eggs (chicks), which are then distributed through company-owned shops and agents. The company sources from 1,895 smallholder farmers its raw materials for feed, which are also distributed through company-owned shops and agents. At a total cost of £50,008, the CASA contribution of £48,508 covered technical assistance and a grant.

CSDOC worked with CASA to attract third-party investment in the amount of £310,000 to expand its operations, upgrade the hatchery, and increase supply and distribution of DOC to regain market share.

Updated: December 2024