Benikwa ventures into food colourants

Ms Chanana Benikwa, a business woman venturing into supplies of food colourants and flavours, takes her business with utmost seriousness to ensure its stability and growth. Born in Tsamaya, Ms Benikwa’s business is only based in Francistown but able to reach out to potential customers across the country. After completion of her studies at tertiary, Ms Benikwa found herself at a crossroads without a job.

Wondering what she could do while waiting for employment opportunity, a friend noticed her passion for business and suggested that she turn her dream into reality by sourcing food flavours, colourants, and ingredients for ice pops and drinks for business purpose. The idea led to the creation of the business called Ice Candy, in 2019 which got officially registered in 2021. After the registration, Ms Benikwa never looked back and started right away by sourcing high-quality colourants, flavours, sweeteners, stabilisers and other ingredients essential for making drinks and ice pops.

“I started to order all these ingredients from Zimbabwe for reselling. Upon realising that I am consistent in business, my suppliers in Zimbabwe asked me to be their agent in Botswana so that I can buy in bulk and supply the country,” she explained. As the business grew, Ms Benikwa started to also make ice pops for reselling, which also boosted her business.

[paywall]

“I supply different schools around Francistown and many other street vendors, it bring good profits,” she said. The growth of the business hired two dedicated team members to meet the rising demand. Based in Francistown only, Ms Benikwa uses buses and sprint couriers to supply to those outside Francistown.

However, she said she faced some challenges within her business, her biggest hiccup being at the borders where clearing her Zimbabwe-sourced stock was cumbersome. “Most of the times I encounter challenges at the borders, officials give me hard time, asking for many documents though I always have them, it seems there is confusion in categorising my stock” she said. Another hiccup that she experiences is operating from one location which she said makes some customers feel she is too far away.

As a supplier and seller of ice pops, she is aware of the nature of her business being seasonal, but still thrives besides the circumstances . “My business is seasonal, Ice pops sell well in summer, when winter comes, the business slows down. Nonetheless we keep on going,” she explains. I give a very good customer service and this helps me as my customers spread the word and recruit more customers for me,” she confidently.

[/paywall]