May is an important month in the D&S year as it ends the first financial half and is also when we celebrate Founders Day which marks the Company's founding in 1946, now 77 years ago, by my father Eddie Davis and his partner Dick Shirtliff. We are all very proud of this long history and continuity, which is unusual in the corporate world, and the success that has been achieved by following the founders guiding principles and values. Celebrations were held throughout the Group to mark the occasion which is also when retirements and service awards are presented.
D&S Zambia is now D&S's largest subsidiary that has become the country's market leader in pumps. It also supplies regional markets Zimbabwe and DRC and as volumes have increased additional distribution capacity became essential. To address this GM Jonathan Mainga arranged purchase of a one-acre plot on Luyansha Rd near the existing Head Office that has been developed with a state-of-the-art warehouse and offices block building.
D&S Kenya Branches under executive Margaret Kuchio has opened its newest outlet in Chuka, on the Eastern slopes of Mt.Kenya. Branch Manager Benedict Ngula has opened the doors to local customers who include farmers, businessmen and real estate developers from the thriving surrounding area. The capital of Tharaka-Nithi County, Chuka boasts a large and successful university as well as several local industries.
Celebratory events to mark Founders Day have been held around the Group as was the tradition before the pandemic with this years' theme being tree planting. D&S Head Office marked the occasion with a fun day of activities including a nature walk and games at Karura Forest where a tree planting session was carried out by children of staff.
New products are the life blood of all organisations and driven by the Product Committee, it has always been a particular focus for D&S. Over the years the product range has grown hugely and we are proud of the many innovations we have introduced to our markets. The Dayliff initiative has been particularly successful with the pump product range being as wide as available anywhere and is now firmly established as the leading market brand that also includes many other products from our various other segments.
Expansion of the network of branches has been ongoing across the D&S group with five new branches opening in the last 2 months. D&S Rwanda under Country Manager James Ngugi has refurbished D&S Kigali and opened a branch in Remera, D&S Tanzania under MD Ben Munyao has opened new branches in Kibaha and Morogoro, and D&S Kenya under Executive Margaret Kuchio has opened in Vipingo and Kangundo Rd, Nairobi.
A briefing and feedback session was recently held at D&S Tatu to introduce digital Paygo platform DAYLIPA to interested partners. The innovation, which aims to provide D&S customers with flexible credit solutions, was jointly developed by D&S Group's Technical division under Director Philip Holi and fintech partner 4RDigital under CEO Dr Nick Hughes OBE.