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“We saw an opportunity to supply a product that will make it convenient for people to meet their daily fruit and vegetable needs” – Busisa Ntshongwana

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Images: Supplied
Images: Supplied

Busisa founded the company in 2014 with a good friend Zonke, who has since left the company; she talks with us about her journey in the health and lifestyle business.

How did you decide to start the business?

I started the business with my previous partner, who is also a good friend of mine, I came up with the idea and after much thought, she seemed like the best person to go into business with, she is smart with a good work ethic, which I thought would complement my passion and drive.

Why a juicing company?

I had been juicing a lot at home for my family and I found that it was something I enjoyed doing, but the idea came after I noticed how great the benefits were and realising that it was not popular in the country and I really wanted to get it out there to the people as I am passionate about health and wellness.

Why the name Lovi Juice?

The name comes from Lotus Vida – which comes from the Lotus flower, representing purity and rising above the water throughout its lifetime, hence Vida (Spanish word for life time).

How did you discover there was a need for such a company?

We noticed that there was a shift in the people’s lifestyles, globally, people had developed a taste for healthier living, and we saw this as an opportunity to supply a product that will make it convenient for people to meet their daily fruit and vegetable needs and after analysing the market we noted that there were very few companies offering cold pressed juices.

Who comes up with the recipes?

I consult with nutritionists to determine the recipes as well as the benefits of each combination of juices. There is also a whole lot of research that goes into it from my side.

What are the benefits of the juice?

Our juices are made from raw fruits and vegetables with no added preservatives or added sugars, meaning that each bottle is packed with nutrients in their own concentrations. That is what the consumer gets from the juices, raw nutritious fruits and vegetables with no additives.

Who is your target market?

I’d like to say that every single person is our target because of the benefits of the juices; everybody can benefit from them as they transition to a healthy lifestyle. But we mainly supply to events hosted by wellness companies such as wellness days, we also supply to fitness groups for boot camps and private people that are on a weight loss journey or those that have chosen to follow a healthier way of life.

What have been the challenges?

Getting and staying in business has been a challenge for me because there aren’t many companies that are willing to take a chance with a small company like mine. So it has been a journey of trying to prove that we are good enough.

What have been your highlights so far?

Corporates trusting us enough to give us business and also some of the companies that have stuck with us and helped us grow from strength to strength. As well as the opportunity I have had to meet and interact with my customers, has to be one of my best highlights.

What are you hoping to achieve with the company?

I’d like to see the Lovi Juice grow to incredible heights and be a household name to see the juices in canteens, fitness centres, and airports would be a great achievement and something that I plan to start achieving now in 2018. But not only that, but to create awareness amongst our people that healthy eating is not for a certain class of people, anyone can choose to eat healthier. If you cannot afford to buy the juices, grow your own patch and have fresh fruits and vegetables daily, that is my main passion with this company.

 

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