Idea 8 of 52 - Mango - Value addition + Storage
From February through to April seems to be the period the Mango trees produce their juicy succulent naturally sweet fruit. The Mango trees are also abundantly present in various states in Nigeria.
The Mango fruit is high in nutrients, rich in taste and flavor and is a favorite fruit for some people, but there are some challenges to face in its growth-harvest-market cycle. They include; attack of microorganisms, short shelf life, poor handling during transportation and storage.
The Idea
a). Transportation
There are villages or locations with loads of Mango trees. If one can identify these locations, and charters a truck to transport the mango fruits from where they are in abundance to the market where other retailers could buy, then one would make a cut for logistics (middle man) services provided.
b). Storage
Due to the short shelf life, ripe mangoes that don’t make it to the end consumers on time would go bad and be wasted. One can set up a Business around buying the unripe mangoes, keeping it, and storing it in a way that would increase its shelf life, so that in 4-6 months time when the most of the Mangoes are out of the Market, the stored Mango fruits could be released and sold at premium price.
Tips for storage
To freeze: (1) Wash, peel and slice mangoes; (2) Place mango slices in a single layer on cookie tray in freezer; (3) Once slices are frozen, transfer to airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags and return to freezer.
Freezer time shown is for best quality only — foods kept constantly frozen at 0° F will keep safe indefinitely.
Storage in Refrigerator will increase the shelf life by 5-7 days when ripe while freezers can preserve the mango fruits for 10-12 months
c). Mango Smoothie
Instead of leaving Mango fruit to ripen and get bad, one could add value by making a smoothie drink, packaging it and selling it.
Here is a recipe for Mango Smoothie by -Sarah Copeland
Ingredients
1 cup chopped ripe mango
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1/2 cup ice
1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
Directions
Place the mango, milk, ice, yogurt, and honey in a blender.
Blend until smooth and frothy.
Idea Summary
Logistics
Look for Mango farmers or locations with large concentrations of mango trees.
Search for Markets or Mango fruit retailers
Get in touch with them, and find out the quantity they would need.
Be sure to know the quantity you can supply.
Rent/Buy a truck for the transportation (logistics)
Agree on price with the farmers, and the Retailers.
Charge your logistics, sufficient enough for running cost and a reasonable profit
Collect from the Mango fruit farmers, supply to Market
Mango Smoothie (bottled and labeled)
Look for Mango farmers or locations with large concentrations of mango trees.
Search for Markets for your packaged smoothie (Shoprite, Spar, etc.)
Get in touch with them, and find out the quantity they would need and how much you can produce and supply.
Arrange for your delivery to them (logistics).
Fix your price for your smoothies, sufficient enough for running cost and a reasonable profit
Collect from the Mango fruit farmers, make your Packaged Mango smoothie, supply to Stores.
2. The Business
Value Proposition: Logistics service for Mango fruit farmers, ease of transportation of harvested Mango fruits to market. Packaged (bottled) Mango Smoothie.
Customer Segment: Mango retailers at markets, departmental stores.
Distribution Channels: Vans/trucks, or other vehicles that can transport the harvested Mango fruits or the produced Mango smoothie.
Customer Relationship: Direct
Key Activities: Selling, Food processing, negotiating, food products logistics, customer service, delivery etc.
Key Resources: Truck, Workforce (driver, drivers mate, etc.), Food processing assistants, Sales team
Key Partners: Mango retailers, Mango Fruit Farmers, Government regulatory agencies, Traders and Food Manufacturing Associations, 3rd party logistics etc.
Cost Structure: Truck purchase or rental, Staff pay, work related equipment, licenses (NAFDAC) and registration, etc. Be sure to understand all the cost implications before going into this.
Revenue Stream: Payment for logistics service + Sales of Mango Smoothies
3. Competition
Mango trees can be found in many cities and villages in Nigeria, and just as you can go into any of the Businesses highlighted here (logistics, Storage or Mango smoothie), so can others. This increases the possibility of more competition for your Business. So stay competitive, you would need to work on having a strong competitive advantage, whether in quality of service delivery (product made), lower prices or just serving a niche location.
4. Risks
Seasonal fruit – can prolong shelf life as highlighted earlier.
Storage should be rightly done or the Mango fruits could go bad or lose nutrients
Poor handling during transportation can damage the fruit.
Government intervention (Policies + taxes)
Summary
We have discussed how you could take advantage of this seasonal Mango fruit to create a Business either through transporting the fruits to the retailers or where they can be processed, storing them for later sales months later, or processing and packaging your own Mango smoothie brand.
So until next week, Stay inspired…
Links
Storage http://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/17635
Smoothie Recipe- http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/mango-smoothie
For more information, comments or feedbacks, get in touch.
Twitter: @Mrebis
Email: mrebis1@gmail.com
