My business adventure in Africa

I came to Nelt quite by accident in 2006. My affinities were math and pedagogy. During the stages of studying and changing colleges, I found a temporary job in Nelt intending to earn some money for the vacation by sticking declarations in a warehouse for a month or two. The entire distribution business at that time was in the development phase, and Nelt, as a pioneer, already had a large network of job positions that most people at that time had not even heard of. I got an offer to work as a merchandiser and then various positions in sales came. As time went by, I realized more and more that sales are something that suits me very well because of the dynamics and the fact that it requires an understanding of a much bigger picture and all sectors in the company. After working as a salesperson, KAM, and NKAM, I received an offer to go to Africa.

It will be three years in March since I arrived. The people of Zambia are warm and welcoming, making it much easier to get used to life here. On the other hand, the cultural differences are significant, and it takes a lifetime to understand the world around you in Africa.

I would encourage everyone interested to embark on an African “adventure.” I can’t say I was brave when I got the offer to work in Africa. It took me a while to accept and decide, but after a quick research, that was my decision. Today, without hesitation, I can say that I would have made a mistake if I hadn’t come here and that this is an invaluable life and business experience that isn’t frequently offered in life. I think that a person who works at Nelt in Africa should first of all be an independent and open person.

The speed with which things change and develop here is thought-provoking. If I compare Lusaka three years ago and today, it is a completely new city. The number of inhabitants is rapidly growing, the infrastructure is developing, and the quality of life is improving.

The Zambian people are known for being friendly, charming, and curious. Usually, these traits are applied to Africans, as I have seen myself in the neighboring countries. But Zambians are, in a peculiar way, even more extreme in their kindness and acceptance of foreigners. The incredible kindness that you experience at every step will impress you in Zambia.

Regarding diet, the principal part of the Zambian meal is Nshima, a type of maize porridge. Vegetables usually go together with porridge – tomato sauce and mixed greens, abundant here, while meat is chicken and beef. There is a wide range of food in supermarkets, therefore it is easy to adapt. There is a big Serbian community, so packages with Smoki, Plazma, and ajvar often arrive, but we are still the happiest when someone brings the paté.

Beer is the favorite alcoholic drink in Zambia. In the category of alcoholic beverages, beer takes more than 80 percent. Heineken is the leader in the premium segment, for which there is always supply and demand.

When Nelt came to Zambia, it wasn’t hard to understand Modern trade, which is significantly simpler than Serbian, although surprisingly structured in some elements. Traditional trade was something new and different from what we are used to. It took time to get to the level at which we are today and where we can proudly say that we are one of the best TT distributors in the country.

In the previous two years, we started cooperating with eight new principal clients. At the same time, we strengthened our capacities, which significantly helped our better positioning in the Zambian market. As the main driver of this success, I single out teamwork in the first place. Our Zambia team consists of a large local organization and four expats, and we all work very well together.

Heineken brands (Heineken, Amstel) are at the top of Nelt’s best-selling brands in Zambia. In addition, the Kiwi brand (shoe polish) is very close, considering that in Zambian culture, polished shoes are part of the general culture. The Kiwi brand is very popular in African countries.

If your journey brings you to this beautiful country, you mustn’t miss Livingstone! It is my favorite place in Zambia. I take every guest there first. In Livingstone, in a few days, you can see the largest waterfalls in the world, pet a lion, meet an elephant on the way, play with monkeys, see rhinos, of which there are very few left in the world, watch the sunset on the Zambezi. Whenever I have free time, I go to Livingstone, since I can never get enough of it. In addition, there are beautiful national parks that you can often see on National Geographic, and which are a unique experience.