Mrs. Sylva Banda is a qualified and experience of a long standing.  Mrs. Banda's wide and varied experience in this industry has earned her a place among Managers of leading institutions and business contacts.  Her complete understanding of the catering world is legend.  These qualities her resulted in her being elected Chairperson for the Lusaka Province Business association and appointments to several Boards of Directors: Zambia Investment Centre, Lusaka Vocational Training (vice Chair), and Habitat for Humanity.  She was voted Woman of the Year 2000 by the American Biographical Association.  

She was also awarded the Honour of Selection as one of the Top Six (6) Excellent African Women Entrepreneurs for 2001, under the auspices of the renowned Enterprise Africa magazine.  Mrs. Banda insists on employing only professionally qualified staff, such as a highly qualified and experience General Manager, competent Managers, competent Accounts and supportive staff, who have made the company to compare so favourably with the ______ names in the hospitality industry.  It is not for nothing that our customers call the company “The Food People”, and say, Foods matters – ask Sylva.”

Mr Hector Banda: Executive Chairman

He always has worked alongside Mrs. Banda and until recently was a Senior Executive at the Zambia Institute of Management, a premier management training provider in the Southern African region.  Mr. Banda is an innovative motivator and  in mind setting and purposeful living approaches.  He is the 1998 Zambian  Laureate.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The company operates a range of inter-related services.  The initial concept of Sylva Professional Catering Services was to ensure professional practice in the food industry in the country.  The company is set out to do this through education and training.

CATERING COURSES

Sylva Professional Catering College provides courses suitable to sustain all forms of catering operations in the country.  The company is fully aware of the tourism potential in the country and policy of government to shift from mineral dependence to tourism.  The college runs 3-12 months course, viz:

• Food Production

• Institutional Catering

• Hotel and Catering Management

• IATA / Ticketing & Tourism (planned)

We have received students from a cross section of society, individuals and companies, over 500 students has so far graduated and have all been snapped up by catering establishments.

The recent development is that Sylva Professional Catering has been contracted by Hotel Intercontinental, Lusaka, to train their catering staff.

RESTAURANT

We also operate a walk-in Restaurants which sits 40-800 diners.  These outlets prove a wide choice table d’hote menus and elegant A’la carte menus that offers a rare selection of freshly prepared joints of steak, poultry, fish etc.

The Snack Bar specializes in bakeries i.e. Sausage Rolls, Meat Pies, French Rolls, Cocktail sausages, a variety of cakes and a supplement of groceries and fruits.

OUTSIDE CATERING

As indicated above, the company enjoys externalizing its services even to thos clients that prefer personalized-in-door services.  Out catering tends to contribute largely to the overall financial performance of the company.

GUEST HOUSE

Sylva also runs a Grade A 20-bed Guesthouse in Roma Township.  The facility provides conference and outdoor utilities (swimming pool, lawn tennis and pool table.)