Startup Story
Kátia Agy, known as a singer and TV presenter, is also the founder of Food Lounge Mz. The business is focused on making edible bouquets using fresh fruits and chocolates. For the past 7 years, this business has been the main source of income for Kátia, and now also her three employees. Creating a new business concept to present to people in their daily lives has been a constant challenge, but creativity and focus have been winners in such a competitive market! The Food Lounge Mz now has its sights on growth and becoming the largest chocolate maker in Mozambique.
LoA chatted to the creative founder of Food Lounge Mz, Kátia Agy, to find out more….
What does your company do?
We create edible bouquets and homemade chocolate!
“I turned a passion into a business.”
“My business started in an unusual way. I made an edible bouquet to encourage my eldest daughter to eat fruit.”
What inspired you to start your company?
What inspired me was the desire to become independent, and to be able to work from home to be close to my daughters. But above all was the love I have for making, creating and decorating food, especially for being able to transform a plate of fruit or a simple chocolate into something interesting, and that will grab the attention of those who are going to eat it. I turned a passion into a business.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
The pleasure it gives me with each creation and decoration is inexplicable. We all like to eat, but not everyone likes fruits or chocolates. The Food Lounge Mz found a way to bring health and happiness through the creation of a unique item. Making a bouquet to be devoured by someone is a huge responsibility and the amazement and satisfaction on the face of the recipients are constant sources of celebration. We sell happiness through our explosion of flavors!
Tell us a little about your team
I work with three young people - one woman and two men! They embraced Food Lounge Mz three years ago and have been my battle companions. One of the men makes the deliveries and is almost always anxious to work because it is he who records the reactions of the customers! We are a family, and I am grateful to have such a committed and firm team at work!
“We sell happiness through our explosion of flavors!”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My business started in an unusual way. I made an edible bouquet to encourage my eldest daughter to eat fruit. But before she touched it, I took a photo and shared it with a friend! She decided to share it on Facebook and the comments were: "Who does it? I want one for myself. How much is it? I am asking for the contact of the person who did this beautiful thing."! My friend informed me, and I authorized the sharing of the contact and that same day I received the first request. I was scared because I didn't know how much I would charge for the work. I called my mother for advice and moved on. The whole week was just requesting, and I just accepted each one. I worked nervously and uncertainly, but without giving up. I decided to research new ways to improve my work and found several. I took a brief online course and experimented with various foods. I have done so until today, but I decided to stick to the chocolates and seasonal fruit. I decided to create a page on Facebook and then on Instagram. I still didn't know what name to give my business and that morning the name came into my mind and I went there and then to register it. After creating the pages on social networks, I decided to improve the photographs of the items in order to attract the attention of followers and customers. It had been a while, but I was still nervous. There was a week that I didn't even receive an order and started to get worried. The week passed and I thought: Well, next week everything will get better. However, nothing happened. Another week without work and I almost despaired. I started to think about how difficult it would be to manage. I was scared because I had already left my job as a television presenter and two weeks without work, that will scare any beginner. What did I do!? King. I spoke to God because I needed to dispel my fear and I couldn't give up. I never thought of giving up despite the fear, the difficulties of the beginning and for many months. Not giving up brought great payoffs and today, after 7 years, I feel like a big winner. But there is still a long way to go.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My future plans are to grow my business and make it a great reference point in my country and abroad. I know that great challenges await me, but the goal is to make Food Lounge Mz the largest chocolate centre in Mozambique.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
There are several aspects that give me satisfaction in this work. Firstly, being able to control my time. Secondly, being able to imagine something and creating it. Thirdly, being able to help my clients to find the best gift for their loved ones. Fourthly, the satisfaction of receiving clients recommended by others. Finally, seeing my network grow cohesively and steadily. The Food Lounge Mz is my youngest son and to have conceived, born, raised and watched him grow every day, has no explanation. I love my Food Lounge Mz and everyone who has decided to embrace it.
“The goal is to make Food Lounge Mz the largest chocolate centre in Mozambique.”
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
For women who wish to, or are already starting a business, my advice is: Do not stop! Do what you have to do, trembling, afraid, but don't give up. Cultivate your dreams with the same claw that is characteristic of women in all other aspects of life! Do not listen to those who consider your business without wings to fly, because even the eagle had several falls before it managed to fly high. Remember to pray, believe, work with discipline, stay focused and make it happen. It is in your hands.
Contact or follow The Food Lounge Mz
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL keikoagy@outlook.com
Why LoA loves it….
Entrepreneurs who have a passion for what they do ultimately create businesses that resonate with customers, because that passion translates into great customer experiences. For Kátia Agy, that passion was to create beautiful expressions of love and happiness through her edible bouquets, taking the gift of food to a whole new level. Today, special occasions call out for these unique edible gifts and the delight seen on the face of those who receive their bouquets is priceless. Kátia is a great example of a woman entrepreneur who saw a gap in the market for a unique gift idea and filled it with a world class product offering. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa