Impact Partner Content - Absa
For all those cooks who want to bring extra flavour into their meals, mi butter, founded by entrepreneur Vhongani Shumba in South Africa has the answer in a jar. Vhongani is the founder and CEO of mi butter SA, founded in 2016, a proudly local woman-led company introducing the market to the world of flavoured butters. She is a marketing and brand manager by day and small business developer by night. Vhongani has brought her company to life by her own hard work and tenacity, and today is involved in the daily operations of the business, providing strategic insights and ensuring that the quality of mi butter meets customers’ expectations.
mi butter SA is one of the 117 companies showcased at the Absa Lionesses Xpo. Lioness Weekender spoke to founder Vhongani to learn more about her entrepreneurial journey and her aspirations for the future of her brand and business.
What does your company do?
mi butter blends butter with herbs, spices, extra virgin oil, roasted garlic and other flavourings.
What inspired you to start your company?
I fell in love with the art of gourmet cooking and experimenting with new recipes, It was in the experimentation process that I discovered an idea that soon became a gourmet brand.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
The brands that are most similar to mi butter make salted and unsalted butter spreads but they do not include extra virgin olive oil and flavours in their butter. One of the great things about the butters is that they make your meal preparation easier. The seasoning has already been done for you; it’s all in the butter so you can keep your dishes simple. We use glass bottles that are recyclable for our products to assist in the reduction of our carbon footprint. For every empty mi butter bottle returned, our customers get R2.00 off their next purchase of mi butter.
Tell us a little about your team
Angela Shumba my sister, is the Operations Strategy Director at mi butter. She has years of experience in Microbiology. She is also an MBA graduate.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
As an entrepreneur at heart, I have founded and run other businesses before mi butter, including Black Diamonds Matchmaker and Lemon Maids Placement.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
It is not about the money. It’s about doing that which makes you happy and doesn’t feel like work. That’s how I feel when I am blending my butters.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
To find that which makes you happy because you will sleep less, earn less money, and work very hard. You must love whatever you decide to do.
To find out more about mi butter, contact Vhongani via email: vhongani@mibutter.co.za or visit the mi butter website and social media pages.
