Wedgehut Foods Limited, a Kenyan business revolutionizing Africa's food security through a robust potato value chain

Wanjiru Mambo is a Kenyan entrepreneur focused on reshaping Africa's agrarian landscape one potato at a time. As founder and director of Wedgehut Foods Ltd, she combines entrepreneurial skill with a commitment to uplift farmers and enhance food security across the continent. She has forged key alliances with Equity Bank, Syngenta E.A, Seed Producers and the National Potatoes Council of Kenya, transforming the potato value chain and ensuring top-quality produce reaches every corner of the nation and beyond. Wanjiru’s hands-on approach extends from the boardroom to the fields, fostering sustainable growth with small-scale farmers. Honored with the Zuri Awards (Agriculture Impact) 2023, AGRA WAYA (Woman of the Year Agripreneur Award) 1st runners up. My leadership includes collaborations with KIEP 250+, the World Bank, and Partners in Food Solutions. My passion is revolutionizing Africa's food security through a robust potato value chain. Wedgehut Foods Ltd was started in 2021 and today has 35 employees.

Lioness Weekender spoke to the enterprising Wanjiru Mambo about her entrepreneurial journey, her drive to ensure food security, and her vision for the future impact of her business.

What does your company do?

Wedgehut Ltd is a potato processing enterprise. We are passionate about potatoes value-addition, easing the time taken to source, prepare, cook, and serve. We supply fresh cut, ready-to cook chips, wedges, lyonnaise, cube and whole potatoes. This ensures it gets to the plate with a rich delicious natural taste. Wedgehut Ltd has a capacity to process up to 4 Tonnes of potatoes per day, serving a diverse clientele that includes: Hotels, Restaurants, Hospitals, Food Caterers, Schools, and individuals. Once an order is placed, we ensure deliveries are always made on time without any delays.

What inspired you to start your company?

Since my school days, I have always been an entrepreneur, but Wedgehut Foods Ltd is my post-COVID triumph. When the world was at a standstill, I managed to birth a new opportunity. As a woman with the hands of gold, I gave the potato business a Midas touch. What began as a car boot sale of surplus potatoes from a closed restaurant has evolved into a thriving potato value chain company, transforming countless lives through direct employment and offering newfound hope to farmers by eliminating brokers and increasing their earnings. By forging connections with stakeholders, we are working for the benefit of farmers and food security. I am immensely proud, not only of the lives we have transformed but also of our contribution to making Africa food secure, one step at a time. I am the oil in this engine, with everyone around me being an indispensable moving part. I am African, and Africa's food security is my mission.

What makes your business, service or product special?

Wedgehut Foods stands out due to its unique approach to sustainability, innovation and community impact. The business has grown beyond us and we are more centered on the empowerment of smallholder farmers and giving the value. We have a farm-to fork approach where we engage farmers on smart agriculture practices, train on importance of certified seeds, best farming techniques and financial literacy. In return, this has ensured a consistency in supply of quality potatoes to our clients and helped us remain at the top. Food safety is also a core component and through implementation of a food management system, our clients have a lot of confidence in our products and trust us.

Tell us a little about your team

In 2021 when we launched the business, we started off in small premises, just three of us - a driver and 2 workers. It was the three of us doing everything. But with time as the volumes grew from 300kgs a day to 4 Tonnes, we were pushed to move to new big premises and the recruitment of more people. Wedgehut has all departments fully functional and with heads. But this was through the help of an organizational operations expert who helped develop SOPS, KPIS, JDS to assist us in getting the right people. Being a woman, I am passionate about uplifting the lives of other women and I am privileged to work with 21 out of 35 women, most of whom have a minimum level of education. In addition to the job training, we offer other training including money management, house keeping, personal hygiene and reproductive health.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

I come from an agricultural background where both my dad and mum were agricultural extensional officers under the Ministry of Agriculture. However agriculture was not my thing and while everyone went out to the farms, I preferred to stay back to cook and clean. However, I grew up seeing my mum try out many business, especially when my late dad passed on, so as to pay our school fees. I draw so much inspiration from her. My educational background is in accounting and marketing. After my degree I only worked for 2 years and the last 10 years of my career I have been in business. I always joke that since I was young, to date I have tried 13 businesses of which 3 are in operation at the moment. Apart from Wedgehut, I run a courier business called Mambo Express Courier Limited which serves the E-commerce market on last mile deliveries. I am part of a chain of three restaurants where the idea of potato processing came from. I can say I am very innovative and new ideas are always running through my mind. I also support upcoming small businesses by being their think-tank and helping them through the starting process of business.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

I want to be a leading African food processor and with a full speciality of potato products. In the next 5 years we are looking at processing potato flour, starch, flakes, frozen potatoes, and as I always joke to my friends, I will create potato Vodka made in Africa. These new products will enable us to also tap into the export market to the UAE, and also other African countries. I want to see the Wedgehut story shared widely to inspire other young women and girls to dream big and be more involved in the African food systems, so as to improve the livelihoods of Africans.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

By driving initiatives that uplift farmers, I not only transform lives but also contribute to Kenya's agricultural resilience. I want to leave behind a legacy, and through my speaking engagements I want to keep sharing my story because I believe by doing so many entrepreneurs draw a lot of inspiration to step up and believe in themselves.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

There is no perfect time, just start!

Good luck is when opportunity meets preparedness - keep showing up!

To find out more about Wedgehut Foods, contact Wanjiru via email: wanjiru@wedgehutfoods.co.ke or visit the company’s website and social media platforms:

Website: https://wedgehutfoods.co.ke

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14dHcUfXjy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanjirumambo/profilecard/?igsh=ODd2cW83cnF1MW9k