Retailer Development Programme

May 29, 2024. Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) continues on a journey to upskill and empower its retailers under an initiative known as the Retailer Development Programme (RDP), which was launched in Dar es Salaam last year on October 24, 2023. 

The Retailer Development Programme, under the slogan GRIT (Growing Innovatively Together), is an initiative that looks to help retailers grow their businesses and learn new skills. 

The programme aims to foster growth, education, and inclusion by training retailers on a number of topics, which include financial management, stock management, marketing and sales, and responsible business retailing. 

The tailored business trainings will be facilitated by industry experts, and the retailers selected for the pilot phase of this initiative will go through a detailed 6-module skills curriculum including facilitator guides and participant handbooks tailored to the identified needs of retailers and focused on driving behavior change. 

TBL has over 28,000 retailers across Tanzania. The retailer development programme, which will be carried out in phases, ensures that these entrepreneurs learn new tricks of the trade and are able to stay in touch with the changing business landscape, which continues to be disrupted by digital transformation. As such, the integration of digital technology is one of the key tools that retailers will learn. 

As Tanzania's largest taxpayer, TBL is also one of the country's top employers, with thousands of people directly and indirectly providing goods and services for the beer company in the supply chain. Michelle Kilpin, TBL Managing Director, said that the retailer development program is part of TBL's commitment to positively impacting Tanzanian society. “We always strive to create a meaningful impact in our communities and are committed to a people-centred growth approach. This development programme is a manifestation of such commitment.” 

TBL's communication manager, Catherine Mabula, said that the program offers critical skills to retailers, most of whom are breadwinners for their families. "We have decided to relaunch the retailer development programme as part of our broader efforts to empower communities. All the selected retailers will learn sustainable business practices and skills that will help them grow." 

The programme trainer from the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr. Dotto Paul Kuhenga, said GRIT encourages retailers to rethink old operating models. "We encourage retailers to be innovative and to become more agile in their ability to respond to customers and rivals." 

The training program commences on May 29 in Dar es Salaam as the first tier and ends in July with the second tier.  

About Tanzania Breweries Limited 

Tanzania Breweries Public Limited Company (TBL Plc) is Tanzania’s first and oldest brewery. Established in 1933 as Tanganyika Breweries, we are a proud member of the AB InBev Group of companies, the largest brewer in the world. We operate breweries in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Mbeya, a distillery in Dar es Salaam and eight depots across the country. 

TBL Plc has a portfolio of over 15 brands, which include Safari Lager, Kilimanjaro Premium Lager Kili Lite, Castle Lite, Castle Lager, Balimi Lager, Flying Fish, Safari Double Malt, Redds Premium Cold, Bia Bingwa, Eagle Lager, and Grand Malt. Other prominent brands associated with TBL Plc are Konyagi Gin, Valeur Brandy, Zanzi Cream Liqueur, and Dodoma and Imagi Wines. 

TBL is also a Sustainable business dedicated to inspiring and empowering consumers to create a Better World. This is because building a better world is a task that can only be achieved when we work together, even when we’re at a distance.