Madagascar - 3.5 Food Suppliers | Digital Logistics Capacity Assessments

For contact information on suppliers of other commodities then food, please select the following contact list:

4.11 Madagascar Additional Supplier Contact List

Overview

The majority of the Malagasy population are farmers and / or cattle ranchers, which explains the abundance of commodities (meat, vegetables, rice) in most of the parts of the island. In the southern area, the situation is different due to an arid climate and insufficiency of rain; foodstuffs are scarce especially agricultural products, and more expensive than in other regions.

Other first necessity products such as sugar, oil and flour, are imported from all over the world. In the main towns of Madagascar there are generally one or more supermarkets where different kind of imported products are available. Basic food and first necessity items can be bought everywhere in the streets at the level of retailers or wholesalers or in local markets, which are numerous in Madagascar.

In the countryside, commodities are available in local markets but the type and quantity of products sold depend of the area. In the south and in other regions, some products like sugar or salt or butter are very rare due to supply difficulties (bad road conditions).

Local product collectors are the main suppliers in the public markets and regularly supply retailers and wholesalers in Madagascar.

The main products supplied by the collectors on internal trade are usually cereals (rice, wheat, sorghum, etc.), legumes (groundnuts, beans, sesame, soya, etc.), tubers (sweet, cassava, potato ...), vegetables (tomatoes, carrots…) and fruits (all types but according to the seasons).

Large cities have several slaughterhouses which are the main suppliers of zebu meat and pork for butchers and supermarkets.

Vanilla, cloves and litchi are among the main exported products of Madagascar. Unfortunately, actually more and more people are substituting foods crops for export crops, leaving the population withless ressources to eat.

Most of the ready-to-eat products (meat, dairy product, etc.) are manufactured in the country and are available on the local market throughout the year but in generally, this type of product is expensive and most of the people cannot afford it.

Additional information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For more specific and detailed overviews of food availability and market conditions, please consult the following sources:

WFP Vulnerability and Analysis Mapping (VAM): http://vam.wfp.org/CountryPage_overview.aspx?iso3=MDG

USAID Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET): http://www.fews.net/southern-africa/madagascar

For more information on food supplier contact details, please see the following link: HQ staff will input a link to section 4.10 Supplier Contact List here.

Retail Sector

Retailers are numerous and are present in all regions of Madagascar. Commodities such as sugar, salt, rice, oil and first necessity products (soap, candles, matches, etc.) are available from these resellers throughout year. For their supplies, retailers are in contact with both national and regional wholesalers. The rate of bankruptcy or closure is relatively low despite the low purchasing power of the population. In the majority of cases, purchases are made in cash with the official Malagasy currency (the Malagasy Ariary-MGA) but in the supermarkets of the big cities, payment with credit card is available.

Types of Retailers Available
Type of Retailer	Rank (1-5)
Supermarket – concentrates mainly in supplying a range of food, beverage, cleaning and sanitation products; have significant purchasing power; are often part of national/regional/global chains.	1
Convenience Store/Mini Market – medium sized shop; offers a more limited range of products than supermarkets; usually has good/stable purchasing power; may be part of chain or cooperative.	2
Permanent shop with strong supply capacity – individually/family owned store; usually offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; good storage and reliable supply options.	4
Permanent shop with limited supply capacity – individually/family owned store; offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; limited storage and unstable supply options.	5
Mobile Shop/Market Stand – individually/family owned store; usually offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; may be found at outdoor markets, camps or unstable environments.	5

Wholesale – MAGRO AAA (MAlagasy GROssiste)

MAGRO is Madagascar's largest agro-food production and sales company. This national company was founded 20 years ago and has points of sale everywhere in the country. MAGRO works with local product collectors in several regions of the country and has its own production and food processing as well as farms. The company, as the name suggests: Malagasy Wholesaler, is one of the largest food suppliers of local markets and resellers (wholesaler and retailer) from all over the big island.

Supplier Overview
Company Name	MAGRO AAA (MAlagasy GROssiste)
Address	TANJOMBATO – Antananarivo 102
Does the supplier have its own production / manufacturing capacity?	Yes and the supplier is directly engaged in farming, agriculture or food processing.
Does the supplier have its own retail capacity?	Yes and the supplier directly manages stores (shopping centres) and is in partnership with other resellers (wholesaler and retailer)
Does the supplier have its own transport capacity?	Yes
Does the supplier have its own storage facilities?	Yes
Approximate Turnover in MT	n/a
Payment Methods Accepted	Cash and credit payment
Other Comments or Key Information	n/a

Other Locations
Region(s)	Service Location(s)
ANALAMANGA	Antananarivo
VAKINANKARATRA	Antsirabe
HAUTE-MATSIATRA	Fianarantsoa
ANTSINANANA	Tamatave
DIANA	Diego, Nosy be
BOENY	Mahajanga
SOFIA	Antsohihy
VATOVAVY-FITOVINANY	Mananjary, Manakara
SAVA	Antalaha

Primary Goods / Commodities Available
Commodities by Type** (SITC Rev 4 Division Code - Title)		Comments
00 - Live animals (other than fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.)	goats, sheep, pigs, poultry (chicken, ducks, goose, turkey), beef, rabbit	Produces locally and available all of year.
01 - Meat and meat preparations	meat of bovine animals, meat of sheep, dried or smoked meat of swine, sausages (poultry, beef, pigs)	Produces locally and available all of year. Some goods like sausages or delicatessen are imported and are generally sold in supermarkets.
02 - Dairy products and birds’ eggs	milk, yogurt, butter, cheese, eggs	In majority produced locally and available all of year. Goods like butter, some type of cheese or milk are imported and are generally sold in supermarkets and mini-market.
03 - Fish (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs…	fish (chilled or frozen), fish (salted or in brine), fish liver and roes	Produced locally and available according seasons.
04 - Cereals and cereal preparations	wheat, rice, flour of maize, pasta	In majority produced locally and available all of year. Goods like pasta, some type of rice and wheat are imported and are generally sold in supermarkets and mini-market.
05 - Vegetables and fruit	vegetables, fruit and nuts, jams/jellies, fruit juices	All vegetables and fruits are produced locally and available according seasons. Goods like nuts, jams/jellies and some fruit juices are imported and are generally sold in supermarkets and mini-market.
06 - Sugars, sugar preparations and honey	sugars (beet or cane) raw, natural honey, fruit/nuts preserved by sugar	Most of the sugar and natural honey is produced locally and available all of year long. Fruits/nuts preserved by sugar are in majority imported and sold in supermarkets and mini-market
07 - Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof	coffee, cocoa, chocolate, tea, mate, pepper	In majority locally grown and transformed but imported international brands are available well. Sold in all types of resellers (wholesale, retailers, supermarkets, mini-market).
09 - Miscellaneous edible products and preparations	Ready-to-eat foods, margarine, sauces, soups and broths, yeasts…	In majority ready to eat foods are produced locally and available all of year. Products like some type of soups, broths and yeasts are imported and are generally sold in all types of resellers (wholesale, retailers, supermarkets, mini-market)
41 - Animal oils and fats	lard, fats and oils	Produced locally and available on local market.
42/43 - Fixed vegetable fats and oils, crude, refined or fractionated	soya bean oil, olive oil, maize oil, vegetable oil	One part produce locally and another part imported. Available all of year and sold in all types of resellers (wholesale, retailers, supermarkets, mini-market)

**For non-FOOD products please see section 3.5.2 Additional Suppliers, and for FUEL/PETROLEUM products please see section 3.1 Fuel.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.