A Coconut In a Success Story
Three years as an entrepreneur, Deogratius Kapalata is doing very well as a virgin coconut oil producer. The transition from being a coconut supplier to mama ntilies (local cooks) and neighbours for their daily use to purchasing up to 300 coconuts straight from farmers for producing 80 t0 100 litres of coconut oil a month has been extremely challenging yet very fulfilling;
I mean who would have thought a Master’s degree holder straight from Tokyo University would pick a coconut business over an office job, either way Deo has mastered this business and succeeded in so many ways.
While KP is a brand popularly known for its coconut oil, they have two other products and the aim is to expand making products for different uses that people will consume on a daily basis. With the help of his brother they have created a name for themselves by making quality and affordable virgin coconut oil and what they have accomplished throughout their journey is very evident.
“We are still growing as a brand and there is so much to improve but being able to cover 90% of our production using our current machines to putting up an office and employ people is such a big win for us.” - Deogratius Kapalata, KPLT Traders Founder and CEO
Along their entrepreneurial journey that includes losing customers due to the quality of their coconut oil, KP coconut oil has improved while giving affordable prices to its customers in such a way that their customer base has spread so wide in different places as they have agents in 12 regions in Tanzania . Most of the people purchased KP coconut oil through referrals but reached a wider market through online shops such as Kiafrika where they have received orders and made sales countless times through the website and given KP recognition.