CHICHI Eriobu is the founder/CEO of the popular Ukwa production company. Ukwa is an Igbo word for Breadfruit; it’s eaten roasted or boiled.
On her Facebook page, she shares how she started the business, the challenges and the prospects. Excerpt:
” I know you think we’re not popular, it didn’t matter my dear, we’re getting there.
We process, package and export one of Naija’s best local food, Ukwa. Ukwa is a local food from the Eastern Nigeria. It is considered an elite food, but we have managed to make it accessible and available for everyone.
Our current products are Dried Ukwa, Roasted Ukwa Snack, Ukwa Poundo and Ukwa Flour (processed only on demand).
You can find our Ukwa products in over 30 retail stores in Lagos and Abuja. And we have a stockist in Onitsha, Anambra.
We have retailers in Australia, London, Scotland, and we newly onboarded a distributor in Canada.
We also run a takeout Kitchen called UKWA KITCHEN. We launched our Ukwa Kitchen in March 2022.
We wanted to serve those who’d prefer cooked Ukwa, those who are experiencing Ukwa for the first time, and every other Ukwa lover and non-lover (because some people no like Ukwa, but we’re still here for them.
Our business was started first from my One room self-contained apartment in 2016. We failed the first time. But started again 2018.
When I changed apartment in 2020, we used my sitting room for solely the business. However, in 2021, we moved our business to its own space.
▪︎Chichi Eriobu, Founder/CEO, Ukwa production company
We have grown from zero to where we are now.
Before we began to plan to sachetize Aki na Ukwa, we did a well researched market survey.
I personally travelled to three different states where we hoped to penetrate the market.
One of such states was Kano State. We did market survey in both North, West and Eastern part of Nigeria.
Using our then existing pack sizes or Roasted Ukwa Snack, we were able to determine the next line of action if we wanted to reach a wider consumer.
Sachetization was the answer we came to.
Before we launched in September, I had concerns of market acceptance, even though our survey proved a waiting market.
Our business was started first from my One room self-contained apartment in 2016. We failed the first time. But started again 2018.
Yesterday, those concerns got cleared from my eyes. Because, we now have a queue of supplies to be made. It is small, yes. But its a proof of what we know. That gradually, the demand is growing.
One of our Retailers in the North have her supplies getting to her by this weekend.
And she’s already making a down payment for another batch just to be on top of the queue.
We have people buying from Canada, London and United States. I’m humbled.
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No matter how financially challenging it is, I know that this is our sowing season, and the harvest time is near for us.”