Makukwe Enterprises 0
| Company name: | Makukwe enterprise. |
| Legal status: | Sole Proprietorship |
| Number of Staff: | 5 |
| Entrepreneurs: | Mrs. Mariam Hussein Mwalimu |
| Core Business: | Food processing |
| Address: | C/o SIDO Mtwara, Box 513, Mtwara |
| Telephone Fax: | +255759026792 |
| email: | mtwara@sido.go.tz |
| web site: | BDGbusinessclubs.bdgtpsf.com/makukweenteprise |
Mrs. Mariam Hussein Mwalimu, posse for picture at her shop during the visit of BDG Expert in Mtwara. Here are some of her product as a day before she sold product worth 300,000Tsh.
History of Business
Makukwe Enterprises is an food processing company established in Mtwara & Lindi regions of Tanzania. Only 5 years ago the owner was a peasant farmer in Mkangala village, surviving on petty selling of buns to school children.
At that time, as an informal business, her marketing strategy involved hawking products in offices, retail shops and surrounding homes in Mkangala. She covered 15kms per day to search for customers, carrying her products on her back. Most of the products were sold on credit, to be paid at end of the month. Average monthly income averaged 100,000 Tshs. However, often there were bad debts, as often clients were not in the position to pay for her products.
Special features of Makukwe enterprise
Only a short while ago the entrepreneur managed a “informal business” which she started after completion of a SIDO food processing training in 2005. After this training she moved to the Mtwara Municipality as she could not find sufficient demand for her products within the Mkangala village.
Since 2005 she was trained to implement the technical part of the job, but had no idea how to set up a real business till she graduated from the competitive Business Skills Development BDG program in July 2009.
Entrepreneur Mariam H. Mwalimu now says: “Kabla hujafa Hujaumbika” All thanks goes to the BDG Program!
Proudly she announces her enterprise to be “specialised in food processing products in Mtwara/Lindi regions”. She is convinced that, with a little support from BDG partners, she becomes a player on the East Africa Market.
Hardly she can believe the effects of her products which are now bearing the business logo, as she regularly receives phone calls as far as from Nairobi and Kampala. Suddenly she realizes her language shortcomings as she cannot communicate efficiently in English to her potential customers. Consequently, she already started attending English lessons.
Tackling one opportunity after the other shows the real entrepreneurial spirit. BDG encourages such initiatives!
BDG inputs
In July 2009 the entrepreneur completed the BDP component of the BDG Program. She won all four BDP terms and received a grant of 4,,800,000 Tshs, which she invested in equipment, enabling her to produce quality products and reduce production costs. She also invested in packaging systems / materials and printed labels bearing the business name: “Makukwe Enterprises” Business premises were obtained and 4 employees engaged.
Operating from Makukwe Enterprises business premises tripled revenues. These gains should also be compared with regard to time and efforts spent, while covering enormous distances by foot with her products on her back, during the previous “Informal Business” situation.
Enterprise Achievements
The Entrepreneur completed BDG training in July 2009 and as a result a business Bank Account was opened, business formally registered, a Trade License was obtained and the business operates from a physical business address, keeps accounts and now “Makukwe Enterprises”, is specialized in processing of cashew and peanuts into cashew and peanut nut butter. Makukwe Enterprises also produces fruit wines and cassava flour.
Links with other organizations /companies
Mtwara BDG Business Club founding member and strong ties with SIDO