Food Girl BW finds niche in corporate catering
As we close our 60 minutes interview, Atang Kemodimo, the founder of Food Girl Bw, boldly stated: 'I don’t think I will ever go back and practice computer engineering. This is because once you are into business, the welfare of those you have employed fall into your shoulders. It is hard to leave them.”
Young Kemodimo, runs the trail blazing Food Girl BW, a start-up catering business operating in the city of Gaborone, Broadhurst to be précise. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer Engineering from Botho University, way back in 2017. Like the harsh reality of most of graduates today, Kemodimo, found herself passing time at home with little or no prospect of ever finding a job.
She was forced to change tact, lest she found herself being a statistic within the country's unemployment lot, now hovering at well over 20 percent of the population. “For years, I have been doing catering to raise my living allowance and pocket money as a student. After finishing school, and without employment, I then decided to venture into catering full time,” she told The Midweek Sun on Monday.
As they say, the rest is now history. In October 2019, months before the COVID -19 pandemic hits our shores, the company was formally registered. Botswana’s food services sub-sector, which is worth millions of Pula, is highly competitive, as both formal and non-formal traders (mostly SMEs) are fighting for the same piece of the pie. As a new player, what is Food Girl BW bringing to the table that is different from others?
“We have found a niche by serving corporates. Our competitive edge has always been our high quality service standards. This explains why we continue to maintain the same customers that we started with,” she said confidently, adding that they continuously train staff on latest standards and food handling procedures which are key for safety. The company, among others, provides mouth- watering dishes to corporate events & meetings such as board sessions, strategic retreats, workshops, trainings among others.
Blue chip companies that Food Girl BW has serviced include Old Mutual Botswana, De Beers Botswana, Access Bank Botswana, FNB Botswana, and a host of other entities such as government ministries and parastatals. She has heaped praises on the private sector for supporting the company from day One. “We do get jobs from government ministries, but the private sector has been more understanding and supportive,' said Kemodimo. Perhaps the biggest highpoint of the emerging company so far was when they were given a rare opportunity to prepare executive meals for President Mokgweetsi Masisi and former President Ian Khama during some of high level government functions. “We are very proud to have served the two Presidents.
This has been a good reference to us as a youth and 100 % citizen-owned company. This reference has surely brought us more business,” said a content Kemodimo. She was quick to point out that they have strategic relationships with many other companies in the catering sector, including , Native Events, owned by former Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2020 participant, Newman Ramatokwane. Food Girl BW, is currently operating more like a mobile restaurant-meaning they cook their meals at home, and drive out to serve corporate clients in the various locations within Gaborone and outside. The plan is to have fully-fledge place where they can also have sit in customers. She is buoyant that, now that the COVID 19 is over, and the economy is gaining traction, more and more business will come their way.
The company now have ten (10) permanent employees. Kemodimo has told this publication most of her staff members, come from Broadhurst, and a semi densely populated location in Gaborone. “These are the people I have lived with over the years. I am happy that I am now empowering them,” said the thirty year old Mabeleapudi native, who lost both her parents at an early age. “It has been hard (since the departing of her parents), but I have pushed myself to the limits,” she said. Food Girl BW plans to diversity revenue streams. However, it is still early days.