Lao made success falling from the tree
Lao made success falling from the tree
An innovative Lao entrepreneur is turning the common coconut into an in demand value added product that is generating considerable customer interest both domestically and from overseas.
Owner of Sunshine Brand Virgin Coconut Oil, Mr Malisa Bousatry said that her health and beauty product has begun to gain recognition from consumers in France who want to use it in food and as a traditional treatment in skin care.
It all started when Ms Malisa gained a master's degree in food technology from Vietnam. After she came back to Laos she wanted to manufacture some products that she could distribute to domestic and export markets.
She also wanted to make healthy products, so she decided to study about the production of coconut oil because it is used in many countries for its health giving properties.
Initially, Ms Malisa only produced small quantities to test the local market. After receiving such a positive response from customers to her virgin coconut oil she increased production.
Ms Malisa invested about seven to eight million kip and began producing it in her house on September 2012 in Xokkham village, Xaysettha district, Vientiane.
The coconut oil has proved so popular with consumers that she is selling it through many retail outlets around Vientiane.
The appeal of virgin coconut oil is that it has multiple uses. It can be applied to moisturise and soften hair, to moisten skin or used to massage the body. Moreover it contains high levels of vitamin E and it is turning around perceptions that coconut oil is not good for your health.
She now uses about 50 to 60 kilogrammes of coconuts per week, and also plans to increase production and distribute the coconut oil into other provinces and via online retail websites.
Sunshine Brand Virgin Coconut Oil is extracted from 100 percent fresh coconuts with no chemical substances added. It also has a nice smell and can be used as a cooking ingredient.
The prices of the product range from 30,000 kip for a small bottle, 56,000 kip for a medium and 130,000 kip for her largest bottle. She says she can sell almost 100 bottles per week. On top of this the business has received orders of 500 bottles of virgin coconut oil from France.
However she has trouble keeping up the supply of her coconut oil to cope with customer orders. Ms Malisa detailed how she is increasing production to meet demand in the city, provinces and for export enquiries.
The entrepreneur said she thinks the coconut oil is becoming popular because of its pure quality, nice fragrance and attractive packaging.
“At present about 40 percent of my customers are Lao while foreigners make up the other 60 percent,” she explained.
Sunshine Brand Virgin Coconut Oil is sold at markets, mini-marts and beauty salons in the capital and the provinces.
vientiane times
