Viola Maina resigned from NMG to launch Gooseberry Delight Limited, which processes gooseberries in Uasin Gishu County. She began buying the fruits cheaply and reselling them, but now produces items like jam and juice. Her business has grown despite Covid-19 challenges.
Viola Maina worked at Nation Media Group from 2003 to 2017 before resigning to focus on value-adding gooseberries. She established Gooseberry Delight Limited in Ilula, Uasin Gishu County, starting by buying the fruits for Sh30 per kilogram and reselling at Sh40 from one farmer. As farmers increased production, she encouraged value addition to reduce spoilage.
She promoted her business on social media and secured a large order of 500 crates from a Nairobi supermarket, boosting operations. The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted activities, but recovery began in September 2020. “I got a call from someone wanting to export... I went to Kitale and loaded the car to take to Nairobi,” she recounted, adding that she sold at Sh160 per kilogram for substantial profits.
Later, she received a 400-kilogram order from a nutritionist at a Nairobi food company. To expand, she attended a one-week training at Kirdi for Sh10,000, learning to make jam and juice. She now employs 15 people and collaborates with Kalro, Kirdi, and the county. She buys gooseberries at Sh50 per kilogram, cleans and dries them before processing into syrup, jam, and other products sold for Sh130 to Sh270.
Rain-fed farmers harvest 100 kilograms weekly, while irrigated ones reach 250. A key challenge is acquiring drying equipment. Some products are KEBS-certified, with syrup pending approval. They partner with Kalro for Colombian and Brazilian seeds and sell seedlings at Sh8 each, fitting 2,500 per acre. Products were showcased at ATF in Eldoret, Mwanza in Tanzania, and Uganda. She has invested about Sh3 million, with two new directors each contributing Sh2 million.