We want to construct a purpose-built chilli factory in Rwanda to produce much larger volumes of chilli mash, preventing farmers from losing potential income on export-rejected chillies (wonky fruit).
During the past couple of years, as we ramped up chilli production in Rwanda, we realised that our export manager was harvesting 500kg of chillies for a 400kg export. As Rwanda's Standards Bureau improved the quality of chillies leaving Rwanda, smaller or misshapen chillies were being rejected.
To combat this, we moved our mash production to a small Rwanda FDA-approved facility in Kigali. Initially, this was to process our wonky chillies, but as time passed, we realised that the opportunity was much more significant and that we could help all Rwandan farmers achieve a fair price for all of their chillies, wonky or not.
The demand for our Rwandan mash skyrocketed in 2022, meaning that on occasion, we had to harvest chillies especially to produce more mash. But with a bespoke facility in Rwanda, we could allow farmers to deliver their wonky chillies directly to us for processing. At this site, a climate-controlled warehouse will allow us to store mash in Rwanda for the whole fermentation cycle before exporting it to our UK warehouse for distribution.
With this ambition, in 2022, we purchased a plot of land in Rwanda's Bugesera Industrial Park. We also began purchasing equipment to send to the new factory, but construction costs are slightly beyond our reach in the current financial climate.
This is where we need your help! We're looking to raise an additional £60,000 of funding via our loyal UK fan base, customers, family and friends to cover the construction costs.
Please help us to help Rwandan farmers achieve their dreams of a better life by supporting our Rwandan Chilli Factory and, at the same time, earn some great perks along the way
