Startup Story
Forget Shareka is the founder of Chashi Foods in Zimbabwe, and also a farmer, vibrant agronomic engineer, award-winning entrepreneur, environmental management, and sustainability professional. She is passionate about agribusiness, sustainable food systems, sustainability, community development, youth and women empowerment, and climate action. Her academic background is in agricultural sciences, entrepreneurship, and innovation. She is the founder and business development director for Chashi Foods, an agro-processing company committed to reducing postharvest and food losses in Sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, she works in the Environmental, Social, and Governance field (ESG) in Telecommunications.
LoA spoke to Forget Shareka to learn more about what it takes to build a successful and growing environmentally conscious business with impact.
What does your company do?
Chashi Foods is a socially and environmentally conscious enterprise committed to reducing post-harvest and food waste in Sub-Saharan Africa through leveraging agro-processing, innovation, and technology. We operate a B2B2C service, solving cross-cutting issues in line with sustainable development goals.
The company produces 100% natural and healthy dried fruit snacks and vegetables through renewable energy drying technology. This includes dried bananas, pineapples, apples, tomatoes, spices and roasted spiced nuts on the market in big supermarkets and retail outlets. Using fair trade practices, Chashi Foods sources raw materials directly from rural smallholders and family farmers with no access to the market. By doing so, the company reduces post-harvest losses, increasing farmers' per capita income while reducing environmental impacts associated with food decay.
“Chashi Foods is a business for good with people and the planet at heart. We believe in shared prosperity and shared value; thus, we are committed to empowering women and smallholder farmers through training to ensure food and nutrition security and network connections.”
“Determined to make a difference, I chose a path in sustainable agribusiness and now empower fellow youth and women in the industry, striving for positive change.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I grew up on a farm in Mushumbi Pools, in the northern part of Zimbabwe. Rooted in my late grandmother's guidance on our subsistence farm, I developed a deep passion for sustainable farming, agribusiness and solving food system challenges. Inspired by her strength, progressive spirit, and the challenges small-holder farmers face every day in their farming endeavors, I dedicated my education and knowledge to tackling food waste through agro-processing. Growing up as a farmer, I witnessed first-hand the detrimental effects of inadequate and lack of old storage infrastructure for agricultural produce, post-harvest losses, and unreliable markets for fruits and vegetables. These issues not only impact income generation but also threaten food security, waste precious resources that go into farming and contribute to global crises such as hunger, poverty, and climate change. Determined to make a difference, I chose a path in sustainable agribusiness and now empower fellow youth and women in the industry, striving for positive change.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Chashi Foods is a business for good with people and the planet at heart. We believe in shared prosperity and shared value; thus, we are committed to empowering women and smallholder farmers through training to ensure food and nutrition security and network connections. By focusing on shared prosperity and empowerment, we are not only supporting women and smallholder farmers but also making significant contributions to their families and communities while contributing to gender equality and sustainable development in agriculture. Additionally, through training, we enhance their skills, increasing productivity and accessing new opportunities. The network connections provide them with access to resources, information, and markets, thereby expanding their opportunities for growth and success. In addition, networking opportunities have enabled them to learn from other experienced farmers, exchange ideas, and collaborate on initiatives that can collectively benefit them all as a community.
Tell us a little about your team:
The diverse Chashi Foods team exemplifies a standard of excellence that is truly awesome and inspiring. From procurement to production, the team has unparalleled commitment to service, unwavering dedication, and a profound sense of purpose for both business and community development. The team are resolute in their alignment with the vision and mission of our business. They embody a spirit of dedication that transcends mere professionalism, channeling their collective efforts towards a noble cause that epitomizes our core values. Our team spares no effort, going above and beyond expectations, determined to realize the aspirations that fuel our shared dream to transform food systems and revolutionize the agriculture sector through agro-processing innovation. It is in this unwavering commitment that the essence of our triumph resides, for we firmly believe that true success lies in the willingness to surpass ordinary boundaries and serve for good.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My father was an entrepreneur in the mining sector and a couple of my cousins and brothers run their own small business. It has been five years of entrepreneurial exploration, from social causes to a profit-driven venture, resulting in an enlightening, growth-driven, and self-development journey. Many sleepless nights were spent, so many sacrifices were made, and so many times the adventure brought me headaches and tears of joy—a mixture of everything. Eventually, I got the essence of it: with undying determination, high spirit, passion, grit, resilience, adaptability, and flexibility, I discovered the secret formula for success. Failure become a steppingstone, adversity fuels our strength, and passion keeps us going. Grit instills an unyielding "I can do it" mindset, while flexibility lets us scale mountains with joy. In the end, victory is inevitable.
“Our team spares no effort, going above and beyond expectations, determined to realize the aspirations that fuel our shared dream to transform food systems and revolutionize the agriculture sector through agro-processing innovation.”
“It is in this unwavering commitment that the essence of our triumph resides, for we firmly believe that true success lies in the willingness to surpass ordinary boundaries and serve for good.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I dream every day of seeing Chashi Foods flourishing, with a vision that extends far beyond Africa's borders and the realms of agriculture. My hope is to see us reach new heights, leaving a lasting legacy that benefits both humanity and our precious planet.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
As an entrepreneur, there's nothing more exhilarating than tackling real-world challenges head-on. It's the thrill of problem-solving that ignites my creativity and fuels my desire to make a meaningful impact and a difference in my community. Building something from scratch and turning a vision into reality gives me an indescribable sense of purpose. Yet, I am not alone on this journey; social interactions with fellow entrepreneurs, family and friends, community mentors, and customers enrich my experience every day. Through these connections, I learn, adapt, and grow, both personally and professionally. Entrepreneurship, for me, is a dynamic blend of creativity, problem-solving, meaningful impact, social bonds, and continuous self-improvement. It's a path that not only fulfills me but also propels me forward with unwavering passion and determination.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Dare to do it. Don't be scared to pursue your dreams and sole life purpose. I didn't say it would be rosy; it will be a journey both smooth and rough. You will not do it alone, so make it a habit to surround yourself with people who inspire, encourage and cheer on you in all your endeavors. You don't know it all, so don't hesitate to reach out for help. Asking increases knowledge. A company or organisation is not built by one person; get yourself a good team with a blend of skills to complement yours. In whatever business idea you are going to work on, please solve people's pain points. Any product or service that relieves people's pain and enhances their everyday lives and experiences will have customers paying for it.
Contact or follow Chashi Foods
Email: forgetshareka@gmail.com
Website: http://www.chashifoods.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chashifoods/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChashiFoods
Why LoA loves it…
At Lionesses of Africa, we love to share the stories of women entrepreneurs who are making a big impact through their businesses and positively changing lives. Forget Shareka is one of those women impact makers. Her passion for agribusiness and sustainable food systems, combined with her drive to make a difference in the lives of youth and women in local communities and to take action on mitigating the impacts of climate change, are truly inspirational. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa