LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Java Foods, a food-processing market leader in affordable nutrition
Corporate Lawyer turned entrepreneur, Monica Musonda is the Founder of Java Foods, a Zambian based food-processing company that provides affordable nutrition to the Southern African market. Monica currently serves as non-executive director on a number of boards including Airtel Networks Zambia Plc & Zambia Breweries (where she is chair). She is the recipient of the 2017 African Agribusiness Entrepreneur of the Year award, a 2013 Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow. Forbes Magazine and Africa Investor named her as one of the leading Young Power Women in Business in Africa in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Java Foods was founded in 2012 by Monica Musonda, with the vision of manufacturing nutritious food products using locally acquired raw materials at affordable prices. Initially Java focused on convenience and providing affordable meal options for its consumers using locally acquired raw materials. But in 2015, Java’s mission changed to focus much more on nutrition. Micronutrient malnutrition (MNM), also known as hidden hunger, is a prevalent health problem, responsible for thousands of premature deaths, illnesses, and reduced productivity. Undernourishment in children under five years of age is rife, with 40% suffering from stunting (low height for age), with Zambia being among the top five highest in the world. Food-based responses against MNM include interventions that directly increase the nutrient intake, such as food fortification. Food fortification can lead to rapid improvements of the population’s nutrition status, and it is financially attractive and sustainable because the cost is partially shifted from the government to the private sector. Having existing viable technology and distribution network in place are some of the favorable factors that make food companies viable partners to Government in the fight against malnutrition. In addition, food products that are consumed on a regular basis (such as porridges/cereals, noodles, biscuits etc) are commonly selected for fortification, requiring no or little change in existing dietary patterns making it easier to deliver the valuable micronutrients needed for a growing population. Java Foods is one of the companies in Zambia manufacturing fortified foods thereby creating nutritional impact.
Java Foods first product was an instant noodle brand - eeZee Noodles and is the first manufacturer in the Southern African region to manufacture fortified instant noodles. Java Foods also manufactures Supa Cereal and High Energy Protein Supplement (HEPS), a fortified instant porridge made from maize and soya beans sourced from local farmers (all GMO Free). The success of Supa Cereal/HEPS as a nutritious product is mainly around the fact that it is consumed on a regular basis and in regular amounts through-out the year by a large proportion of the population. At the moment, the market has very few locally manufactured fortified foods. Those available are imported and very expensive. Java Foods has grown the eeZee Noodles and Supa Cereal brands into leading brands in Zambia especially amongst urban consumers (mainly mothers and youth). Java signifies the success of local production – building local capacity to address local issues (malnutrition) using local solutions.
So, what inspired Monica to start the company? After a successful career in law, she moved back to her native country Zambia. Her last position was for the manufacturing conglomerate in Nigeria, where she witnessed first-hand the impact local manufacturing had on an economy. She moved back to Zambia with the aim of setting up her own company, with the view of creating impact especially around nutrition, creating jobs, empowering Zambians with food technology and manufacturing skills and creating Zambian brands.
Since launching back in 2012, Monica has grown the business from a team of 6 to a fully fledged manufacturing business with 42 employees, of which 40% are females. Java has a fully fledged production team (as well as a Quality Control & Foods safety team), supply chain and procurement, finance and logistics, sales and marketing, as well as operations.
Speaking about her personal entrepreneurial journey, Monica says:
“I started my career as a corporate lawyer advising big corporates on acquisitions and financing and lived outside of my home country for over 14 years of my professional career. Every time I visited Zambia, I could see the economy was growing but Zambians were not actively pursuing the opportunities. I really wanted to be part of the crop of young Zambians making a difference to my country - by providing employment, changing lives, supporting efforts to develop the country. So after a successful career in law, I gave it up to move home and start Java. It was not easy given that food processing and manufacturing was very male dominated and had several large multinational brands - but I did it anyway. I wanted to tell Zambian women that we could play a part in the development of our country and succeed.”
Today, Java has become one of the number one Zambian manufacturers, and Monica’s aspiration for the business is to be known as a leader in the manufacture of nutritious foods in the Southern African region. What gives her the most satisfaction today in being an entrepreneur is that she loves the fact that entrepreneurship allows you to be innovative, learn from your mistakes and others. She also loves the fact that it is possible to impact the lives of many through Java’s products but also through the unique Java story. She believes that other women entrepreneurs can create impact of their own through their businesses.
Her advice to other women looking to startup in business is:
“It will be hard, not all pieces will be in place but believe in yourself and your passion and START! Start small, learn, fail forward and fast but persist. Lean on a mentor and also join an industry group to learn from other business how to navigate the business environment.
To find out more about Java Foods, contact Monica via email: monica.musonda@java-foods.com or visit the company’s website and social media platforms:
