PTC was established in 1973 as a general retailer for the people of Malawi. The business has evolved over the years to become the largest distributor of fast moving consumer goods in the country. It comprises 101 stores with four distinct brands:
 
•“Peoples” (43) – Supermarkets & Superettes. These consist of fully fledged supermarkets with a complete service department profile to simple rural retail convenience stores. Ranges include store specific grocery ranges, liquor in all stores, and limited hardware ranges. Sizes vary from 80m² to over 2000m² and ranges can extend to 5,000 sku’s. Customer base is predominantly LSM 2 to 7.
•“Peoples Cash & Carry” (31) is the newest tier in the business. They are hybrid outlets offering goods in singles & ‘shrink wrapped’ in packs suitably sized for hawkers and the consumer at Cash & Carry prices whilst retaining its retail identity. These are found in smaller towns primarily in rural areas.
•“Metro Cash & Carry” (21) in Malawi has a distinct retail bias in that not only does it offer goods to the trade in full case lots, but adds a shrink wrap option and in certain stores single units. Our customer profile includes the whole spectrum from resellers and industry through to the individual consumer. The larger stores provide serviced departments that include perishables, bakery, butchery, fruit & vegetables and prepared meals. All Metro’s are located in larger urban centres. As an exception two of the Metro stores are branded Trade depots and are set up to service the institutional and conventional wholesale trade.
•“McConnell & Co” (6) is generally being replaced by Metro and PCC stores. They are currently traditional no frills wholesalers in rural areas with a few exceptions. Their ranges consist primarily of commodities and basic foodstuffs.
 
Metcash, who have had a joint venture with Press Corporation since 1986, hold an indefinite term management contract with PTC to provide systems, procedures, management & advise, and specialist expertise on occasion through short-term secondments to Malawi. The Company employs in excess of 1900 Malawian citizens across all levels of the business.