HOW TO START A PACKAGED FOOD SALE BUSINESS IN NIGERIA

The food industry is one of the biggest in the country. Food is of course very important to daily living for everyone and as such it’s no surprise that the industry provides a lot of business options and also bring about ways for individuals to make money. Engaging in any business that involves food is surely always going to be a hit especially if the products are well consumed and are quite popular in the country. Though preferences might come up, but there’s certainly a market for almost every food material available in the country today and that is why engaging in such business will definitely not be a bad idea.

The packaged food business, just like the name implies, simply involves the sale of packaged food materials to individuals or customers who will be looking to get the products. So basically, these packaged foods can either be homemade or even something that has already undergone processing in an industry. They are well packaged and then delivered to customers who will be willing to get the product after the product must’ve also gone through marketing and has been fully introduced to the market. The business is not a new business in the country though it’s not very popular as only a few people are practicing but again like I’ve mentioned above, as long as the product has a good demand, you’ll surely get customers

Packaged food materials such as packaged garri and sugar, which is even very popular in the market are one of the many products that can be used for the business. Some of these packaged garri and sugar even come with milk or snacks as a plus. The goal is bringing something different and something that will be totally pleasing to any customer who might want to get it. Another example is the packaged beans powder, which can be used to make local food like akara and moi-moi, are also pretty much very well known in the country. Asides taking a look at these already popular options, entrepreneurs can even come up with other materials that can be packaged and then sold to customers who will be willing to get them. The product or material just has to have a good demand.

The business can either be operated in a small scale or large scale format. As a small scale business, individuals don’t neccesarily need a big place or even a shop to be able to fully operate the business. They only need the materials, packaging material and then a small space, which might even be at home, where they can carefully package the goods and then have them sent out for delivery to customers. As it’s also in small scale, only small portions will be produced by the entrepreneur. On the other hand, the large scale aspect is a much larger aspect of the business. Here, individuals or entrepreneurs will need to get a big place, a shop or even a factory where the things can be well processed and produced. This absolutely depends on what the entrepreneur wants to use for the business but whatever it is, it will be produced in large quantities.

One of the main reasons why the business is such a good business option is surely the demand. When you take a look at the examples or options provided above, you’ll find that they’re are popular food products and will definitely bring in customers. It can not be stressed enough that when it comes to food, an essential for everyone, it’s almost hard to not get customers and make your profit. Even, consumers are always about getting something that in one way or another make things easy and comfortable for them and with a packaged food material, it cancels out a number of other processes that could’ve taken place if it was not packed.

The business is not a really difficult one to start and can even be started by almost anyone as long as they know what they’re doing, they know all the business requires and of course, they have sufficient capital to be able to adequately run the business. You don’t need any form of educational qualifications or prior experience or special skills at all in running the business as it can simply be operated in a somewhat easy manner. You might need training if you’re not well knowledgeable about the business and the process of going about packaging the products. All these you can surely find online and with platforms like YouTube, you can watch how it’s done from start to finish.

In the next sub heads, I’ll be discussing the steps involved in starting up a packaged food material business in Nigeria and some of the things that might prove important during the course of running the business to ensure that you’re doing the right thing and also making profit and being successful in the business you’re starting.

1. RESEARCH

No matter what you’ve heard someone saying about a business and how well success is assured or how lucrative it would turn out, always try to do your own research. The research will not cost anything except your time and that time will prove to be well spent when the business starts and the successes starts coming in. It is important to do a thorough investigation about the business since you’re going to be investing your money into it and you’ve never been involved in the business. Some hours of research won’t hurt.

The research is always meant to give you an idea of what to expect and the challenges ahead to be faced. It teaches future entrepreneur how the business works and what success means. It shows the risks involved and the ways to tackle them. It also gives ideas on how to sustain the business and work towards more success. Imagine missing out on any of the mentioned points, it’s more like being less equipped about something especially something you plan to spend money on.

There are experts in the business, of course, so also look to advise from these individuals as they are most likely the best bet for reliable information on the business. Take note of even the smallest things during the research period and pay close attention to how to stay and survive in the business. The research is as important as anything in the business.

2. WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN

A business plan needs no introduction. It is equally as important as some of the other processes or things involved in the business. After a comprehensive and thorough research has been conducted, entrepreneurs must now put all their ideas into paper after, of course, deciding to start the business. The business plan will cover things like the way you plan to operate, the cost of several things, how you plan to market your business, future projections and also contingency plans.

The business plan serves a number of purposes. In cases where individuals might need to get investors or even get a loan, it will prove useful as it will contain all that needs to be known concerning the business. It is also going to serve as a point of reference for the proposed business.

3. CAPITAL AND LOCATION

The capital is always important to the start of every business and it ensures that things can be bought and some things can be started in relation with the business. The cost of starting this business is not really high depending on the scale or size of the business you’ll be working with. For location, you might not need it for a small scale business but if you feel like you really need it, it’s not a problem to get it. You’ll certainly need it for a large scale aspect since you’ll be producing more.

4. GETTING THE MATERIALS

For every packaged material, there are certain products that make it up and it’s now time to get such products. You can visit the market to get places where you can get the products. Ensure you get quality products and also have variety of options when you shop in the market in case your main supplier or seller is not around or is out of stock of whatever products you need.

5. MARKETING AND SALE

Whether it’s a new product or an old one, you’ll need to advertise and take it to the market. Ensure your prices are cheap and affordable for customers. Also make sure it is well packaged and branded well. You can also advertise through social media and if you’ll want to take orders from there too, it’s also nice though you’ll need the services of a dispatch rider or a logistics company to help you with that. Word of mouth and referrals also make good options for getting customers.