Living in a world when almost everyone is getting super busy, people are becoming more interested in purchasing almost ready to eat foods than cooking. One of the core reasons for them to purchase readymade meals is having a limited time. Unlike the previous times, the fact that women are coming in front leaving the household burden and engaged in more outdoor responsibilities has opened door to services that ease lives.
Who would have thought that a business started serving ‘Sanbusa’ at a street of Addis would lead to be a huge business that has nearly 25 to 30 million ETB revenue within a year and changed the life of almost 185 employees of which 135 are permanent?
It all started at a blink. The woman, that has nothing more than a small business idea and started from selling ‘Sanbusa’ to ‘Anbasha’ then to ‘defo dabo’, is now preparing foods such as Wot – stew.
Even though it is 10 years since ‘Tapu Prepared Food Plc’ was established, it is almost three years since it has formally presenting readymade packed food [Wot] for customers.
Getaneh Melkamu, Marketing Manager of the Company, Said that these days supplying readymade food is becoming normal trend. Some people thought that it is against the tradition of the public and related it to idleness. “However, the service that we are providing eases the life of many individuals. Valuing women’s ability based on their house chores and skills is a little backward thinking. They should rather be encouraged to be successful in activities outside the household.”
As to him, the Company though wants to expand their businesses and export readymade Wot to the international market, absence of governing law or export standard that evaluates Wot is lowering its performance. As much as exporting might generate large amount of foreign currency to the nation, it is believed that it could be a means to promote the cultural food to the international community.
Here, the marketing manager stressed that their Company do not import a single product yet generates about 30 million Birr in a year which is rare.
“Though we had a strong desire and competence to export our prepared foods to the world and be internationally competitive, the fact that the nation has not a given standard for prepared meals such as ‘Wot’, we could not be able to export. Nonetheless, since our customers buy the foods and take it to different countries, we are doing our best in labeling the product – where it is made.
Mentioning that the Company has not so far a problem of finance, supply or related issue, he suggested the government to take part in providing working place and do more to prevent unexpected power interruption.
“Quality is Company’s number one priority and our customers know that we always have the same taste. To have the same taste while still producing a bulk of food each day is not an easy task. That is why the inputs, such as pepper, butter and spices, we use for each of our products are made by professionals of the Company.
As the service should be done in a clean and healthy environment while giving priority to quality, the Company has hired health officer that examines the foods each day, as to the Marketing Manager.
It is almost a year or so since the other readymade food company, Mayas’ Catering was established in Addis Ababa. There are about 10 employees who work under the Company. As to the founder of the catering service, Maya Tesfaye, providing prepared meals for all occasions-weddings, sad times, birthday and graduation are amongst their main activities.
She stressed that women are still expected to fulfill the household chores even when they are engaging in other income generating activities. “And, as one of our priorities is easing life for people, we provide prepared foods of different varieties in accordance to our customer’s interest. By doing so, apart from saving the time, energy and cost of individuals, we are serving quality foods with fair prices.”
As to her, most of the foods prepared by her Company are traditional and their customers are not only local people but also foreigners residing in Addis. Thus, they believe that they are taking a share in promoting the cultural foods of the nation.
Nowadays, people are interested to take Ethiopia’s cultural food [prepared foods such as Doro Wot] to family members and friends living abroad. This by itself is one of the ways to showcase Ethiopia’s traditional foods to Western community.
Maya mentioned that the Company is planning to start exporting once the government set export standards. Furthermore, she has a plan to expand her business and create more job opportunities for citizens.
While taking issues related to quality, Maya said that quality is the core center of any business and it could not be compromised. In this regard, all companies engaged in the industry should give more priority for quality rather than price as health is the priority for everyone.
The Ethiopian Herald, May 29/2-19
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
