The Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation has officially opened a E1 million Marbling Butchery in Simunye, a move the company says will create jobs, bring quality meat closer to communities and support economic growth in the Lubombo region.
The facility was officially opened on Monday, July 27, 2026 by RES Managing Director Nick Jackson.
He said the investment reflects the corporation’s commitment to expanding its business beyond sugar while creating opportunities for emaSwati. 
Jackson acknowledged that the company is currently focused on cutting costs and implementing austerity measures.
However, he said that does not mean halting investments that can generate long-term returns.
“Yes, we are looking at the unit cost and implementing austerity measures, but that does not mean we should stop spending money to make money,” Jackson said.
He added that the butchery is already performing well, just days after opening. According to Jackson, the early success is the result of collaboration across RES departments.
“The butchery is already taking off and performing wonderfully. It was the result of different departments working together instead of operating in silos,” he said.
The new butchery according to Jackson forms part of RES’ broader strategy to diversify its portfolio.
For decades the corporation has been synonymous with sugar production.
Company officials said the diversification drive is aimed at strengthening local economies, creating employment, and improving livelihoods in the communities where RES operates.
RES Livestock and Game Manager Machawe Dlamini said the project is expected to deliver lasting economic benefits for residents of Simunye and surrounding areas.
He noted that emaSwati were employed during the construction phase, and that more jobs have been created now that the butchery is operational.
Dlamini said the facility will also address a long-standing challenge of access.
Residents of Simunye, Lomahasha, Shewula, Maphiveni, Ngomane and Thabankulu previously had to travel long distances to buy fresh meat.
The new butchery will offer affordable, high-quality meat products closer to home.
“The opening of Marbling Butchery is about more than selling meat. It is about bringing development closer to our communities, creating employment and improving access to quality products,” Dlamini said.
The corporation said the butchery will source livestock from its own livestock and game operations, ensuring traceability and quality control.
This vertical integration, officials explained, will help keep prices competitive while maintaining standards.
Officials said the butchery will also support small-scale livestock farmers in the region through potential supply linkages, although details of those arrangements are still being finalized.
RES said it will monitor sales, customer feedback and operational costs closely over the coming months to determine future expansion.
The corporation reaffirmed that projects such as Marbling Butchery are central to its mandate of creating shared value, growing the business while contributing to community development.
