There has been a global rise in interest in all things natural and artisan-made when it comes to food products, something that foodpreneur Thuli Dlamini-Teferi is tapping into with her company, Bobholotsi Flavours. She is exciting tastebuds throughout Swaziland with her lovingly handmade and natural range of jams and sauces, all celebrating the wealth of local ingredients on offer.
LoA chatted to this enterprising and highly creative foodpreneur about her wonderful products and her ambitions for the future of her brand.
What does your company do?
At Bobholotsi Flavours, we produce a variety of jams and preserves, mainly orange marmalade, marula jam, strawberry jam, watermelon jam, and also a range of hot sauces.
"What makes our brand and products unique is that they are homemade and use local ingredients, some of which are indigenous such as the marula."
What inspired you to start your company?
The realization that my family cannot survive on my salary alone, I needed to make the money stretch. That was my inspiration for starting my business and my brand.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
What makes our brand and products unique is that they are homemade and use local ingredients, some of which are indigenous such as the marula. They do not have any artificial additives, unlike most factory made products which do contain other artificial ingredients.
"My future plans for the company are to have a professional kitchen, and then to supply the whole of Swaziland and also export to other countries."
Tell us a little about your team
On starting the company I roped in two friends, ladies who were unemployed, to also assist in growing the company. They have both volunteered with their time to undergo entrepreneurial training through SEDCO and Swaziland Fair Trade.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, its just that I haven't gotten my break through yet in terms of getting meaningful income from my ideas. Through my mother I learned to sew clothes which I still do as a side hobby to get extra money. The jams and hot sauce processing business is one which I see has the potential of growing bigger.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My future plans for the company are to have a professional kitchen, and then to supply the whole of Swaziland and also export to other countries.
"What inspired me to start the business was the realization that my family cannot survive on my salary alone, I needed to make the money stretch. That was my inspiration for starting my business and my brand."
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The reviews I get from customers after tasting our products, and of course the money!
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Not to give up until you get a breakthrough. Take advantage of local training programmes being offered. It is not an easy road but it does pay off at the end.
Contact or follow Bobholotsi Flavours
Why LoA loves it….
At LoA, we love seeing those strong women who see a challenge as an opportunity to create a business that has the potential to provide the solution. In the case of Swaziland food entrepreneur, Thuli Dlamini-Teferi, she harnessed her creative talents together with the natural ingredients available to her in the country, and created a wonderful artisan food brand that is winning legions of fans. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa