Established in 1993 after the deregulation of the coffee industry as a non-profit making private company. Became an unquoted, public company in June 1999.

Main function is the grading and marketing of coffee, and its primary income is derived from a processing fee charged to growers who use its facilities.

The company has 145 shareholders, 36 of which are small-scale coffee growers, one of which is a trust shareholder and the remainder former commercial growers.

Small-scale growers hold 1%, the trust shareholder 11% (on behalf of small-scale growers), 88% commercial farmers. The Trust shareholding will be distributed to small scale growers once they start to produce and deliver a significant volume to ZCM. 

Three small-scale grower representative with voting powers sit on the Board.

The company, with assistance of donors, sometimes runs smallholder coffee contract farming schemes in which farmers are assisted with inputs and extension services.

Currently farmers are receiving marketing assistance from Nespresso, with processing being done by ZCM. One commercial farmer is supporting farmers with inputs.