We chat to Zukiswa Mnyanda, who created her own brand of delicious homemade ginger beer
What type of product/service do you make?
I have my own brand of homemade ginger beer.
How and when did you decide to start your business?
I started in 2022 with unbranded packaging bottles. In 2023, I decided to create branding for my bottles.
What makes your brand so special?
It is a natural ginger flavour with a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, making it distinct from other ginger drinks. It is made with carefully selected, fresh and natural ingredients, ensuring great taste and quality.
Do you work alone?
Yes, I work alone, and I have two sales assistants.
How has the public supported your business since you started?
I must say, the support from my clients has been amazing, especially during the festive season with Imigidi (initiation homecoming ceremony). Spar in Cambridge has been amazing in terms of promoting my brand by stocking my ginger beer on their shelves.
Are there any challenges that you have encountered in your line of work, and how do you overcome them?
Some of the challenges I am faced with include not having my own fridges at Spar. The ginger beer needs to be at -4°C. This means I have to keep going to the stores and exchanging the bottles that have fermented. Another challenge is not being able to acquire the right permits to sell my ginger beer anywhere.
I sell at the robots, and I have a few locations, but it would be great to have a central location where I can sell without a hassle.
It is expensive to courier the ginger beer to other locations and it’s tough to ensure that it is packaged correctly.
Aside from the ginger beer, is there anything that your brand offers (or plans to offer)?
I also do purified water (Mnyanda Water).
What are some of the goals or future plans that you have for your business?
My biggest goal is to be able to sell my ginger beer all over the world. I would like it to be easily accessible to anyone and everyone. It would be great to have factories across the country because we do have people who are interested but there is no way of getting ginger beer to them.
What advice do you have for someone who is also interested in starting their own business?
There will never be a right time to start. My advice is to just do it. Whatever your vision is, just start. The right time is today. Don’t be afraid of [facing] the challenges.
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
I wish that small businesses could get more support from government organisations to assist us.
Where can our readers find you? (contact details/social media)
Phone: 071-456-8784, Whatsapp: 084-726-3196, Facebook: Mnyanda Ginger Beer, Instagram@theylove-mnyanda-ginger
