Africa-Press – Namibia. The hard work of a young Swakopmund couple who took a leap into agri-processing has paid off. Frans and Constance Shivute yesterday produced their first official batch of locally made peanut butter from their small factory in Swakopmund.
New Era had the opportunity to visit their operation and taste the product, which will soon be available countrywide.
Frans, a mechanic and full-time mine employee, said the idea was born during the Covid-19 period when he questioned how he could contribute to Namibia’s agricultural sector.
“Our leaders always call on Namibians to become producers, not just consumers. We had that passion to create something of our own,” he said.After market research and speaking to food industry experts, the couple realised that very few locally made products make it to supermarket shelves. That sparked the idea to produce natural peanut butter using nuts sourced from northern farmers.
“We decided on peanut butter because the peanuts we use are grown locally. We want farmers to get real value from what they produce,” Frans explained. “We speak to farmers directly, check the nuts ourselves and only use clean, good-quality peanuts. Everything is roasted, ground, and packaged here. It’s all natural,” he added.
Their company, Langa’s Agri Business Investment, currently employs four people, a number they hope will grow as demand increases.
“This project is not just for us,” Frans said. “We want to create jobs and ensure farmers benefit too. The response so far has been positive and motivates us to push harder.” he added.
Constance, who manages product development and operations, said they have four flavours on the market.
“We offer crunchy unsweetened, crunchy sweetened, smooth sweetened, and smooth unsweetened,” she said. “Many Namibians are becoming more health-conscious, and our peanut butter has no preservatives, no additives, and no hidden ingredients. Just peanuts — with natural options for those who prefer a little sweetness,” she added.She added that their long-term vision is to build a strong Namibian brand and explore export markets.“We want people to proudly say this is Namibian peanut butter. We are building something that lasts,” Constance said.
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