Zimbabwean Grocery Shops, African Supermarkets, and Food Suppliers in the UK

For Zimbabweans in the UK, the craving for familiar flavours — Lobels biscuits, Mazoe orange crush, Cerevita, Colcom polony, or a proper bag of madora — is a deeply felt experience. Fortunately, a growing network of specialist online shops and physical African supermarkets across the country makes it increasingly possible to eat well and eat Zimbabwean, without booking a flight. ## Dedicated Zimbabwean Online Shops **Zimfoods (zimfoods.co.uk)** is one of the most well-known UK-based suppliers of Zimbabwean food products, operating out of Birmingham. Their range covers Zimbabwean staples including Lobels biscuits (Custard Creams, Lemon Creams, Vanilla Creams, Bermuda Creams), Charhons biscuits, Colcom French Polony, Royco Usavi Mix (chicken and beef), Cerevita in both banana and chocolate malt varieties, and fresh mauyu (baobab fruit). They also carry South African products commonly used in Zimbabwean cooking: All Gold tomato sauce, Knorrox stock cubes, Black Cat peanut butter, Rajah curry powder, Joko tea, and Nola mayonnaise. Wholesale options are available — for example, a box of 24 Cerevita units is priced around £170–£180. The shop ships nationally and has fulfilled orders as far afield as Russia, with tracked delivery. **GazMart (gazmart.co.uk)** was established in 2018 and positions itself as a supplier of Zimbabwean home foods with a mission to deliver food "from home to your door" at affordable prices. Beyond nostalgia, GazMart aims to introduce Zimbabwean flavours to the next generation and to wider communities. Their range includes Mazoe cordials, Lobels biscuits, and a selection of other Zimbabwean pantry items. **Hungwe Tuckshop (hungwetuckshop.co.uk)** operates as both an online store and a collection point at Woolwich Arsenal in London. It stocks a distinctive range of Southern African and Zimbabwean products including madora (mopane worms), Savanna Dry Cider, Hunters Gold Cider, Freezits, and various snacks and drinks. The shop also runs periodic city-to-city delivery tours — customers can contact them on 07472 350503 to find out when deliveries are scheduled in their area. Operating hours are Monday to Saturday, 9am to 9pm. **ZimGroceries (zimgroceries.co.uk)** operates differently from the above — rather than shipping products to UK customers, it sources directly from Zimbabwe and delivers to families in Harare and surrounding areas. This makes it particularly useful for diaspora members who want to send groceries to relatives back home. Orders can be built into hampers, and the service promises 3–5 business day delivery within Zimbabwe. Free delivery applies on orders over $100. The platform is expanding its delivery coverage beyond Harare. ## Physical African Supermarkets by Region **London** has the densest concentration of African food retailers. Key shopping destinations include Electric Avenue in Brixton (Africa Shopping Centre), Rye Lane in Peckham (Bims African Food Store, Jaffa Food Store), and various stores across East and South East London. The wholesale source for fresh produce is New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms, which operates in the early morning hours (midnight to 6am) and primarily serves trade buyers, though large private purchases are sometimes accommodated. **Birmingham** has some of the UK's most established African traders. Samis Wholesale Cash & Carry at 82–89 Cecil Street, Birmingham B19 3SU (tel: 0121 359 2779) is a major supplier for both individuals and businesses, stocking wholesale rice, frozen meats, African spices, and beverages. Other Birmingham options include Cape Market Oguaa at 8 Heathfield Road, Birmingham B19 (tel: 0121 241 9451), Afrimart at 468 Dudley Road B18, and Tropical Foods Ltd at 7 Stafford Road B21. Birmingham Wholesale Market, located at The Hub in Witton, is also a useful source for bulk fresh produce. **Manchester** has seen significant growth in African food retail, particularly around Cheetham Hill and Salford. Global African Ltd serves a diverse African customer base including Zimbabweans and stocks a wide range of products. Manchester stores are noted for larger floor spaces and strong wholesale sections where 20kg bags of rice or bulk dry goods can be purchased at a discount. **Glasgow** options include African Embassy African Foods at 293 Duke Street G31, Solly's African Village at 381–383 Great Western Road G4, and Main African Store Ltd at 486 Duke Street G31. ## Broader Online African Supermarkets For Zimbabweans who cannot find a dedicated Zim shop nearby, several broader African online supermarkets carry products relevant to Southern African cooking. The South African Spaza Shop stocks maize meal, biltong, boerewors, Mrs Balls chutney, Simba chips, and Ouma rusks — all familiar to Zimbabwean households. Wosiwosi (wosiwosi.co.uk) and Afropride (afropride.co.uk) offer broader African grocery ranges with UK-wide delivery. ## Practical Tips For the best prices on staples like sadza meal, cooking oil, and tinned goods, buying in bulk from a cash and carry or through wholesale options on Zimfoods tends to be more economical than individual retail purchases. If you are ordering online for the first time, check whether shops offer tracked shipping — both Zimfoods and Hungwe Tuckshop are noted for this. For sending groceries to family in Zimbabwe rather than buying for yourself in the UK, ZimGroceries is the most direct option currently available.