AT THE HEART OF ALOSA GROUP
The family-run enterprise that conquered BDC’S Business Den
Last month, local startup, Alosa Group, beat off competition from 243 other hopefuls to walk away with the first ever Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) Business Den Award.
The Group, a Conglomerate that consists of two companies, Alosa Briquettes and Alosa Feeds, won a cool P500,000 as part of the prize.
The family-run enterprise is under the capable command of 25-year-old Samuel Ntshiwa, who serves as Alosa Group CEO.
His younger sisters, Ludo, 22, and Tshegofatso, 23, are at the helm of each of the businesses.
Alosa Briquettes produces briquettes from biomass charcoal mixed with raw materials while Alosa Feeds manufactures livestock and poultry feeds among others.
“It is a family business and the name Alosa was derived from the prefixes of our parents’ names, Alois and Samantha,” revealed Samuel, explaining ‘Alosa’ means to grow and take care of something until it is mature, which is exactly what the company aims to do.
“This group of companies is in a start-up phase, with the feeds manufacturing launching soon. We are in the process of procuring the machinery and securing supplies, then we will launch the briquettes business,” he continued.
The Tsamaya native added the formation of the group was inspired by the need to create local trade through manufacturing.
“Our manufacturing sector is not strong, the need to boost it and create a resilient one motivated these ideas,” he highlighted.
Samuel revealed that after intensive research and in-depth analysis of the market, including dissecting export and import statistics, they realised there is a
need for the product.
According to the young CEO, the vision is to grow the group into a formidable business in the next 10 years and incorporate as many companies as possible.
These will range from agriculture, property, services and more manufacturing operations.
“The vision is to incorporate as many manufacturing businesses as we can under the group, which will result in boosting the sector in Botswana and increased contribution to the GDP,” Samuel predicted boldly.
The Beng Mining graduate from Botswana International University of Science and Technology ( BIUST) described the recent BDC win as the Group’s ‘greatest milestone’ to date.
“It provides an opportunity for funding, recognition and ultimately growth. It is also an opportunity for partnerships from different stakeholders. The win also is a confirmation of a good business plan, therefore starting up a business and running it with the plan will ensure profitability venture,” said Ntshiwa.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation alumni is confident Alosa Group will create a huge valuechain, which in turn will create more job opportunities.
The business currently has five permanent employees but Ntshiwa forecast the number to grow by seven more employees after the launch.
As part of their prize, Alosa Group will remain in the Business Den for 18 months, with BDC providing constant monitoring and evaluation, playing a mentorship role until the project is fully established.
Alosa Briquettes produces briquettes from biomass charcoal mixed with raw materials while Alosa Feeds manufactures livestock and poultry feeds among others
Kindly help me here with advice.
My cousin recently bought a laptop from a furniture store in Maun and within the first few weeks, it started having problems with the charging system. She returned it and yesterday they called her to come collect it but now it comes with scratches on its cover. When she asked about them, they said it was because it was transported to the Technician without its box. Is that really a good thing for them to say? Is there anything she can do, like getting an exchange for a new one or refund because now it is stressing her. Your advice would be much appreciated, Sir.
Is that really a good thing for them to say? Obviously not.
Is there anything she can do? Yes. She can get angry.
Firstly, the store was obviously required to fix the laptop as it was still under warranty. At least they tried to do that.
However, Section 14 (1) (b) of the Consumer Protection Act says that when a supplier like this one “undertakes to perform any services for or on behalf of a consumer, the consumer has a right to … performance of the services in a manner and quality that consumers are reasonably entitled to expect”. I think it’s reasonable for a consumer like you and me to expect a repair done under warranty NOT to involve further damaging the product being repaired, don’t you?
Their feeble excuse that it was transported without its box is just silly. They should have found another box. They’re a furniture store, aren’t they? They should be experts in packing. They should be Olympic Gold Medal quality packagers. It’s simple unacceptable that they were so careless that they caused new damage to an already faulty laptop.
I suggest that we both contact the store and explain this to them using very simple, short words so that even they can understand that they needed to take some care with your property.
Whether they replace the laptop, fix it or give her a refund is up to them but they need to choose one of those options very quickly.