Molly’s powder drink aiming to stir Zimbabwean soft drink industry

Johannesburg-born entrepreneur and founder of Molly’s Food Enterprise, Ms Lerato Nonyane aims to cause a stir in the Zimbabwean soft drink industry with her range of Molly’s Powder drink. Ms Nonyane is currently exhibiting at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) stand that is participating at the 58^th annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.

Ms Nonyane cut her teeth in the hospitality industry, working as an International Marketing Manager for a leading hotel chain where she was responsible for developing the Africa market for her company.

“I broke into entrepreneurship scene in 2013 when I registered my company, Molly’s Food Enterprise and went into operation in 2015. I ventured into this line of business because of my hospitality industry experience and because of a gap that I had identified in the market. I realised that there was no one manufacturing powdered soft drinks except for large food companies. It was because of these factors that I saw potential for my company,” she said.

Molly’s powder drinks come in a form of sachets and is offered in flavours of ginger and pineapple. In addition, Nonyane stated that she intended setting a trend and owning her space as a black entrepreneur plying their trade in the soft-drink industry.

“I have conducted my research on the soft-drink sector in Zimbabwe and am proud to announce that there is a healthy demand for my product, more especially among major distributors, supermarkets and spaza shops. I also have identified my direct competitors in this regard and I am aiming to break their stranglehold in this sector. My product possesses superior health benefits, it does not have an after-taste and it can be served either at room temperature or chilled,” she giggled.

The 58^th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) began on Tuesday, 25 April 2017 with a total of 367 direct exhibitors participating. The five-day event will include business-to-business exchange as well as the ZITF international Business Conference. This year’s trade fair, running under the theme, “Harnessing Linkages for Industrial Development,” would be officially opened on Friday, 28 April 2017.