The Top 7 Benefits of Selling Your Own African Food Brand Products
The Benefits of Selling Your Own African Food Brand Products
Natively practiced—it has flavor, it has diversity and there is an ever-growing international interest in African food. This implies benefits of selling your very own brand of African food things could be an unbelievably successful organization. So whether you want to market directly to the diaspora or bring African flavors closer to home new eager palates await.
In this article, we will be bringing to you seven (7) major advantages that you can derive from making and selling your African food products. For an Investors, there is a lot of returns values that can be created ranging from making money, to having a long-term loyal customer basis, and also use their platforms as media channels to promote African Culture globally.
________________________________________
Table of Contents:
1. Africa Emerging as a Growing Food Exporter to the World
2. Increased Brand Standing and Higher Margins
3. Scalable Product Offerings
4. Authenticity is at the Core of Customer Loyalty
5. Take Full Control Of Branding And Marketing
6. E -commerce and international markets are a completely untested area for them.
7. African farming Made whole and in the process their cultures too
8. Conclusion
_______________________________________________
1. Well, the demand for African food products globally is growing.
African food is growing in popularity around the world, and this is one of the most important reasons why selling your African food brand can be lucrative. Over the last 5 years, giant markets like America and Europe down to the Middle East are starting to express more appetite for African food — which is a good sign(gulp!)
Appeal of Unique Flavors
Some of the trends that are being seen in the market is more exotic bold flavours offered in comparison to what we have seen up until now. African food has abundant spices, loads of texture and really big flavors; a change from the flavors you know. Plates like jollof rice, fufu, suya, egusi soup and plantain chips are made for the masses abroad.
Ethnic Foods and the Diaspora
In addition, the African diaspora has spread around the world to drive this increasingly large demand. A large proportion of millions of Africans in the diaspora consistently desire high-quality traditional African food products from their home countries. From African groceries to restaurants and online retailers, the yearning for a piece of home remains prevalent.
Organic & Health Food Trends
The already natural gluten-free, plant-based and organic properties most African food products possess definitely add up to an advantage in the nowadays health-conscious consumer context. Cassava, yam and plantain are whole foods that intrigue the health & wellness community that is in search of healthier eating habits.
• ADVANTAGE; The market is growing and consumers love African foods either for its authentic taste or health benefits.
_____________________________________________
2. The Importance of Brand Differentiation in Achieving Higher Profit Margins
Starting your African food brand enables you to uniquely separate your products from the competition, allowing you to determine pricing, branding and command premium rates.
Unique Product Offering
When you sell products that are branded, it gives something unique to your company. For example, creating a spice blend with your brand: “Nigerian Suya Spice” or “West African Jollof Seasoning,” makes you stand out. Meaning your brand will become synonymous with true African taste to the customer.
Custom Pricing
Instead of reselling unbranded products you can sell from your own brand which makes a way for you to charge premium prices based on your product quality, design & packaging and exclusivity. And your profit margins are much better this way. Being able to customize allows you to change prices according to the audience and demand of your specific market.
Value Addition
Usually, customers may want to pay a higher price for some branded and well-packaged or curated African food products that offer convenience or gourmet variety. Some of the products like pre-packaged ready-to-cook meals, spice blends and gourmet snacks can earn you more margins keeping your returns in check.
• Advantage: Better profits margins can provide you with more income and get the ability to offer special products that produce a splash within the industry.
________________________________________
3. Less Product Offerings_PRESS_RELEASE_Billon
Having your own African food brand gives you the liberty to select which products you would like to offer. This adaptability enables you to respond fast on consumer needs and market trends which most definitely will result in a more competitive and versatile brand ownership.
Catering to Various Markets
Selling a variety of products to cater for different demographics Having your own African food brand enables you to sell products that cater for differing customers. For example:
Diaspora Market : Those who want to reconnect with their heritage through traditional foods e.g yam flour, egusi and dry crayfish.
Health-Conscious Market: Launch a set of gluten-free cassava flour, plantain chips or millet-based snacks.
Vegan Market – Promoting the vegan side of African meals e.g beans porridge, akara or plantain dishes.
Products by Season or Trend
Based on seasonality and trends, it is easy for you to modify what you are offering whether its an item or a service. Such as festive bundles for the holidays like Christmas or Ramadan, featuring ingredients to make some of the most popular African dishes in family sizes: jollof rice, goat pepper soup, puff-puff.
• Pure benefit: A flexibility to your products allows you to keep up with changing market demand and remain a contender by providing what people want when they want it.
_______________________________________________
4. Authenticity and Customer Loyalty
Customers buying African food items, generally want the real deal. They want products that truly reflect Africa, whether they hail from the African diaspora or just food enthusiasts looking to be adventurous with their flavors.
Cultural Connection
Customers that relate to your brand in terms of authenticity when it comes to the products they use are likely to keep returning. Show the roots of your products, tell traditional way to make it and show about how did you come up with the idea of creating that brand is more connected to cultural pride than before and try to build trust.
Quality Assurance
Ensuring quality and sourcing ingredients directly from African farms or suppliers keeps the customers coming back. Consumers will return to brands they can trust to provide fresh, flavoursome and ‘real’ products.
Social Responsibility
Further enhance customer loyalty through engaging in social responsible initiatives like Fairtrade, sustainable farming or giving back to the community. Customers are delighted to know that they are contributing to support African economies.
• Business owner benefit: Authenticity leads to loyality then, that translates to loyalty equals repeat customers and long-term satisfied customers.
________________________________________ Do You Call it Water Or Something Else?
5. Unobstructed Branding and Marketing Control
MAYO When you have your African food brand its completely yours and that means total control on how to brand and market your restaurant. This will help you align your products with the preferences of your intended market, and distinguish your brand in the market.
Brand Description
You can create a story behind your brand that will highlight your African roots alongside a high quality product youreferenced in the last point. Show profile: Whether you express more about your journey, where ingredients come from, or what the food represents culturally, you will connect on a higher level.
Strategic Marketing
If you control your marketing, then you can market for the life of them—all day, all night—till the cows come home if that is what you like to do. For instance, you can:
Social Media: interact with customers by using Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok to share your recipes on how you prepare meals, some secret ingredient or even how amazing is the life behind the brand.
• Influencer Work: Collaborate with food bloggers and influencers to market your ingredients to a bigger, new group of customers.
• SEO: Create content on your website or online store that talks about how eating African food could be beneficial and people wanna read it!
• Pro: having complete control of your brand allows you to make strong impressions on your consumer base and attract them to what makes your distinct as a brand across other producers.
________________________________________
6. E-Commerce and International Expansion
E-commerce is the fastest growing retail channel and with your own unique African food brand you can potentially sell in online and global markets. The key is to build a brand that is not just meant for local customers but your product can also be shipped across the world by implementing specific strategies.
Online Sales Channels
There are lots of platforms where you can sell your stuff — Amazon, Etsy or your own website. This enables you to target customers in different African communities around the world such as the USA, UK, Canada etc.
Global Shipping
You can avail worldwide shipping when you collaborate with logistics and shipping firms. It is a bit difficult because you will have to do with export regulations, if there are any but the ability to enter into international market could be something that can take you high.
Global Expansion Possibilities
Once you have build your brand in the home market, African-Spice can consider going international by growing partnerships with stores that are abroad and/or distributors servicing the ethnic food sector.
• Pros: E-commerce & International merchant pool — your building can scale to pursue new growth opportunities and even new revenue streams
———————————————————————————————
7. Linking African Farmers and Celebrating African Lifestyle
Support African farmers, artisans, and suppliers: One of the most fulfilling advantages that result from establishing your own brand is the opportunity to support the continent’s food producers. When you source ingredients directly from Africa, you help boost local economies and agree with local farmers to ensure ethically-sourced materials.
Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing
Support those who abide to Fair trade and make sure that African farmers are paid fair wages. This self-empowerment serves to provide a positive effect on their lives, with their communities being able to feed off the rekognition learnings.
Preserving African Culture
It also allows you to share knowledge about Africa, our culture and culinary traditions. Some of the stories you share about your ingredients, recipes and brand will help to deepen Africa’s cultural appreciation.
• Pro: It is business in kind that will enable you to help support African farmers by buying their crops, and get people to become more interested in African culture.
____________________
Conclusion
One of the best things that you can do to take advantage of the growing taste for African food and earn great money while at it is to start your own African food brand. It would allow for a lot of product flexibility, better margins, brand control and global expansion in B2B Commerce. In as much as you are making money, selling your own African food brand is also promoting the African culture which will go a long way, and at the same time empowering local farmers with an added incentive of being a rewarding and impactful business.
To learn how to start selling your own African food brand products click here to watch our youtube videos