Setso – Serving Mogodu From A Can
Who would have thought one day we would be canning Mogodu ( tripe) and even exporting it to the world. That’s just what Setso is doing…
Summarise your business:
We do Food Processing mainly focusing in extending shelf life of traditional products. We started with canned beef tripe/Mogodu in Two flavours chilli n plain
Why does it suit you?
We have the requisite experience, over 15 years in canning industry. We have also outsourced a service of contract manufacturing from Botswana Meat Commission.
Where did you get the idea from?
At first people could not believe that a product like serobe could be canned for a long period . We wanted to show them that it was possible. it is no secret that Batswana like serobe. Therefore we wanted to do something that could maintain and promote our culture while giving Batswana an opportunity a hassle free way of enjoying their favorite meal.
How did you get started? Did it take much investment?
We started with research and development ( R&D) of the product which took 4 years to complete. We financed the R&D from our own pockets as directors of Dune Food Products (DFP) . During R&D we involved different stakeholders to enable the process to run smoothly. After that we did some samples to test market, both locally and internationally. This was done with the assistance of Botswana Investment & Trade Centre
How did you find and grow your customer base?
We used shows, open days and expos to market our products. This includes events such as the NFTRC Open Day in Kanye and during LEA SMME conference in Gaborone. We used this to get feedback from consumers who from a diverse background.
What’s been your biggest challenge so far?
It has not easy. We encountered a raft of exhausting challenges on the road to where we are now. Initially we found it hard to find retailers who would carry our product. Then just like in any business, funding is one of our biggest challenges. We need capital to take our business to next level.
Where do you see the business in five years’ time?
We want to have our own factory so that we can produce enough product which will enable us to penetrate the regional market.
Any advice for those who want to venture into agribusiness especially with a ground breaking product
Perseverance is the key. They must be prepared to fund their business in the initial stages. Some processes like Research and development are pricey and most financial institutions don’t fund R&D. If required please engage relevant authorities before you go commercial. Get all the certification. You don’t want to make a costly mistake skipping a step only to be forced to pull your product off the shelf.
Finally, I urge Batswana to explore all the opportunities available whether small or big, you never know, your could be a proud owner of a multinational in the near future.
