Entrepreneurship Zone: 09 September 2020: Niger: Company making Italian-style ice cream with local ingredients and flavours

Wed Sep 9 07:29:08 CAT 2020

 <http://www.bulls.co.zw/> Bulls.co.zw
<mailto:info at bulls.co.zw?subject=View%20and%20Comments> Views & Comments
<http://www.bulls.co.zw/blog> Bullish Thoughts
<http://www.twitter.com/BullsBears2010> Twitter
<https://www.facebook.com/BullsBearsZimbabwe> Facebook
<http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bulls-n-bears-zimbabwe/57/577/72> LinkedIn
<https://chat.whatsapp.com/CF6wllAfScU9Wr6dXxoQnO> WhatsApp
<mailto:info at bulls.co.zw?subject=Unsubscribe> Unsubscribe

Entrepreneurship Zone: 09 September 2020: Niger: Company making
Italian-style ice cream with local ingredients and flavours

 <http://www.zb.co.zw/> 

Kooka Niamey, based in the West African country of
<https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/category/countries/niger/> Niger,
produces ice cream using local ingredients and flavours. The company was
started in 2019. Founder Raki Ben Mohamed (41) answers our questions.

1. Give us your elevator pitch.

Kooka revisits the traditional Italian gelato with ingredients and flavours
from West Africa such as baobab, camel milk, shea fruit or local cereal
porridge. The idea is to promote the re-discovery of local fruits, herbs and
cereals through high-quality ice cream. At the same time, the company is
supporting local suppliers of those ingredients, providing them with
sustainable revenue.

2. How did you finance your startup?

The company was financed through my private savings which I earned during my
15 years in corporate finance. These savings enabled me to finance my gelato
training in Italy and invest in professional machines for ice cream
production, in packaging and in delivery containers.

A tub of Kooka ice cream made with dates from northern Niger

3. If you were given $1 million to invest in your company now, where would
it go?

It would go towards:

*         Building a medium-sized production plant that would enable Kooka
to increase its production capacity and optimise its fixed costs, hence
allowing the company to deliver a competitive high-quality product.

*         Investing in an efficient logistics system that would allow Kooka
to deliver its product not only in the country but also internationally.

*         Investing in a strong marketing campaign to promote the product
both locally and internationally.

*         Investing in developing an efficient human resource policy
(training and other professional development).

*         Developing an online order and delivery platform.

4. What risks does your business face?

Kooka faces two major risks:

*         Competition from non-natural and industrial ice cream producers
which are able to offer a cheaper product to a population who still sees ice
cream as a luxury product; and

*         The difficulty in finding highly-skilled and trained team members.

5. So far, what has proven to be the most successful form of marketing?

We found that direct marketing works best. Kooka has been participating in
school and agricultural fairs. Contact with end customers is very important
as we can answer their questions directly.

6. Describe your most exciting entrepreneurial moment.

My most exciting entrepreneurial moment was at the national agricultural
fair in February 2020. That is when I would say the company was officially
launched. Before that, I was delivering ice cream to family and friends
mostly. During this fair, visitors and fairgoers discovered Kooka and the
brand was launched. Kooka won the first innovation price in its category for
the magaria (local jujube) ice cream.

7. Tell us about your biggest mistake.

My biggest mistake was not conducting market research prior to launching our
products. Kooka delivers ice cream in small individual cups and did not
invest in larger, family-size containers which are in demand. I will now
make sure to consider market studies before any important investments or
changes.-Howwemadeitinafrica

Raki Ben Mohamed

INVESTORS DIARY 2020

Company

Event

Venue

Date & Time

Companies under Cautionary

Bindura Nickel Corporation

Padenga Holdings

Delta Corporation

Meikles Limited

Invest Wisely!

Bulls n Bears 

Cellphone:      <tel:%2B263%2077%20344%201674> +263 77 344 1674

Alt. Email:       <mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> info at bulls.co.zw  

Website:
<http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bulls.co.zw&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AF
QjCNH8LYgdY55h-XKseuM8Kpr-JKdfhQ> www.bulls.co.zw 

Blog:
<http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bulls.co.zw%2Fblog&sa=D&sntz=1
&usg=AFQjCNFoIy6F9IXAiYnSoPSgWDYsr8Sqtw> www.bulls.co.zw/blog

Twitter:         @bullsbears2010

LinkedIn:       Bulls n Bears Zimbabwe

Facebook:
<http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBullsBearsZimba
bwe&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGhb_A5rp4biV1dGHbgiAhUxQqBXA>
www.facebook.com/BullsBearsZimbabwe

Skype:         Bulls.Bears 

DISCLAIMER: This report has been prepared by Bulls ‘n Bears, a division of
Faith Capital (Pvt) Ltd for general information purposes only and does not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or
subscribe for any securities. The information contained in this report has
been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or
warranty is made or guarantee given as to its accuracy or completeness. All
opinions expressed and recommendations made are subject to change without
notice. Securities or financial instruments mentioned herein may not be
suitable for all investors. Securities of emerging and mid-size growth
companies typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than
the securities of more established companies. Neither Faith Capital nor any
other member of Bulls ‘n Bears nor any other person, accepts any liability
whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its
contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Recipients of this
report shall be solely responsible for making their own independent
investigation into the business, financial condition and future prospects of
any companies referred to in this report. Other  Indices quoted herein are
for guideline purposes only and sourced from third parties.

(c) 2020 Web: <http:// www.bulls.co.zw >  www.bulls.co.zw Email:
<mailto:info at bulls.co.zw> info at bulls.co.zw Tel: +263 4 2927658 Cell: +263 77
344 1674

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20200909/fb640230/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 4846 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20200909/fb640230/attachment-0004.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 26112 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20200909/fb640230/attachment-0005.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 92468 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20200909/fb640230/attachment-0006.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 69336 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://listmail.bulls.co.zw/pipermail/bulls/attachments/20200909/fb640230/attachment-0007.jpg>