LocationsFrom Sweet Tooth to Sweet Success
November 26, 2024
Scoops N Giggles serving ice cream to UNDP's Mandla Ginindza.
Scoops N Giggles is a homemade ice cream brand founded by best friends Zandile Mabaso and Lee Mashwama, who turned a sweet idea into a business four years ago. The venture began when Mashwama developed a sweet tooth during her pregnancy, prompting Mabaso to bring fresh fruit from her father's farm to experiment with ice cream recipes. Sharing their creations with friends and family inspired the duo to launch their start-up.
"I knew no one at the time who produced homemade ice cream, and I thought this would be a great opportunity," Mabaso recalled.
They built a loyal customer base, starting with pop-ups at farmers' markets and eventually catering for parties. Their breakthrough came when a food buyer from Pick N Pay, one of Eswatini's leading retail outlets, sampled their ice cream and decided to stock it.
"We were always sold out at Pick N Pay because so many people enjoyed our ice cream, which was exciting for us," said Mabaso.
However, their excitement was short-lived when Pick N Pay stopped stocking their product due to the lack of a safety standards certification from the Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA). This posed a significant setback for the young entrepreneurs, whose vision includes exporting their ice cream. For many Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), obtaining such certification is prohibitively expensive because Eswatini relies on South African laboratories for testing. Although the informal market has been welcoming, gaining access to large retail outlets remains challenging.
"Supporting local MSMEs, like Scoops N Giggles, to access markets through quality certification is at the heart of UNDP Eswatini's work on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country"Henrik Franklin, UNDP Eswatini Resident Representative
UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Henrik Franklin, having a chat with Scoops N Giggles founders, Lee Mashwama and Zandile Mabaso.
To address this issue, a partnership between SWASA, the SME Unit, and UNDP Eswatini's Accelerator Lab, along with other stakeholders under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Trade, led to the creation of the Ingelo Local Certification Scheme. Launched on November 13 by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Hon. Manqoba Khumalo, and UNDP Resident Representative Henrik Franklin, this initiative aims to provide a trusted certification process to ensure product quality and improve MSMEs' access to mainstream markets. Scoops N Giggles is one of 20 small businesses selected to participate, with certification expected by mid-2025.
As a recognition of their journey and growing potential, Scoops N Giggles was invited to serve their ice cream at the UNDP Eswatini staff get-together on Friday, November 22. Hosted by Franklin, the event celebrated an eventful year of challenges overcome and milestones achieved. Amid laughter, games, and good food, Scoops N Giggles' ice cream was a highlight of the celebration, offering a sweet treat as staff recharged for the year ahead.
UNDP staff at their get-together.
"To be invited by the Resident Representative to serve our product to UNDP staff has boosted our confidence, and we hope it inspires confidence in other potential clients," said Mabaso. "We're also grateful to UNDP for supporting the Ingelo Certification Scheme, which will help us access formal markets and, hopefully, export our product."
Franklin said UNDP was privileged to have this women-led start-up company serving delicious, high-quality ice cream at the team's lunch.
"Supporting local MSMEs, like Scoops N Giggles, to access markets through quality certification is at the heart of UNDP Eswatini's work on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country," he said.
As they look toward achieving certification and expanding their reach, Scoops N Giggles remains a beacon of inspiration for small businesses aspiring to scale new heights. With their sights set on exporting homemade ice cream, Mabaso and Mashwama's story is a testament to the resilience and creativity driving Eswatini's entrepreneurial spirit.