We have again gained acknowledgement for our excellent performance in the export of palm oil. On Saturday 11th October, Ms Adjoa Kusiwaa Boateng, Head of Human Capital, for Homefoods Ghana graciously accepted the National Export Achievement Award 2008 in the gold category at an impressive ceremony held at the Banquet Hall, Accra.

Homefoods Ghana has already won several prestigious international awards namely The Otherways, Top Quality Customer Satisfaction Aptitude Seal for High Quality Performance, Golden Award for Business Prestige, Geneva. Best Customer Satisfaction, Switzerland 2007. National Export Achievement Award (Silver Award Winner 2007).

”This is a great honour for the Homefoods team. We do our best and it’s wonderful to be recognized for excellence. We are even more excited about what the future holds for Homefoods, particularly with regards our wonderful new brands of food products.”

— Ms. Boateng

HOMEFOODS CALENDER GIRLS AND TOTS

The sky looked uncertain that morning. At some point, the rain dropped through the sparkling sunlight. For some reason, I still felt great about the day. This was despite the fact that we were running forty five minutes late. The rentals company left one of the canopy legs and had to go back to collect it.

Whilst I attempted shortening a shaggy bob, Steve our photographer called to say his car had broken down.

“Call me back” I said, still absolutely pretty optimistic.

I arrived at 12.59 and there were already cars parked at the Owls Nest School grounds.

“Gosh, my models were on time.” So was Steve.

The children were already clambering on and off the slides. Hagar’s children nestled themselves into a little house and a little princess stood in the grey coloured plastic castle waiting for her prince in a white Ferrari (horses are too slow). A slightly soft football rolled back and forth on the huge lawn.

We tried calling our other photographer Nana Kofi, he was supposed to be doing the candid camera bits. No matter, Steve began to shoot.

I sat on a bright blue mat, touching up my calendar girls with chocolate brown face powder and glittery lipsticks. I gave Akosua a soft look, she likes to look natural. Golda perked up with a dash of bright red lipstick and brown eye shadow with a slight sheen.

Anagha was being rather coy and Akosua’s toddler, Nana Kofi ran away from Steve whilst looking back to make sure he could still see him. Nana Kofi turned up and we knew the day was complete. We got some absolutely beautiful shots. Ama was in the castle and Pappoe was asking to visit. Anagha eventually smiled brightly at her mom. Pamela lay flat on her back with Tristan and Timothy, their curly heads touching.

Lunch was served, after all that is what Homefoods is about. Of course, there was red red using the Homefoods palm oil on the menu. How could there not be?

— Franka Maria Andoh
PR Executive for Homefoods Ghana
The PR Journal – October 11th 2008

Last year, Homefoods Processing and Cannery Limited launched a new range of gourmet food products for their discerning health conscious clientele. The new products include a delicious range of Roiboos Spreads, Syrups, ‘Extra Fruity’ Jams and Jellies and spices that line up on the shelves of Shoprite supermarket. The company is broadening its product range into Fruit Juices and Snacks.

Eleven years on and the company has evolved from the kitchen table to the filling plant with trading partners in South Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Homefoods now exports into Europe, the Republic of South Africa and the United States. A consistent commitment to excellence has garnered several prestigious local and international awards.

Over a three year period, the company’s purchase of gari in the Eastern Region, specifically Adeiso reached 3,000,000 USD. This created financial empowerment for many locals allowing them to better cater for their families.

A classic business success story, Homefoods Processing and Cannery Limited was started by Felicia Twumasi. A product of Holy Child School, Cape Coast, UST and Harvard Business School, she began working from her kitchen table with the vision to create, build and establish a food processing company. The company’s mission was to focus attention and creativity on basic food ingredients, fusing flavours and spices from around the world and providing related services for a growing ethnic foods market abroad. It took one inspiring idea of exporting a product that was non perishable but essential to cooking. This product was palm oil, the rich red oil harvested from fruits of the palm tree. The first Homefoods container left the shores of Ghana to Europe in 1997.

Felicia Twumasi sums up her success simply. Apart from braving the challenges that face any business, she salutes the Homefoods team. “To be truly successful one needs good people,” she says. “As CEO of Homefoods, I believe not only in my business but the people who come in every day to make it a business. Leadership to me entails allowing my people to grow, be creative and innovative, combining intellect and idiosyncrasies to face challenges by devising solutions in their various roles. I offer the support, advice and direction and as a result of this strategy we have evolved from the kitchen table to the factory floor and beyond.”

— Maria, PR

At Homefoods we are constantly evolving and looking at ways to improve on the quality of our products. In October 2008, we were awarded a grant of USD 9,000 by the Business Development Fund (BDF). These monies were for implementation of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) programme.

We are currently in this process which forms part of our aim to produce good, safe, quality food products and to monitor each stage of our production line. The HAACP processes when completed will create even more confidence between our Homefoods and its customers.

The system is geared towards improving already existing processes in place to eliminate any chemical and biological hazards that can occur in the different stages of food processing. This is done by using key actions known as Critical Control Points (CCPs). This ensures an increased level of food safety in both our supply and production chains. The project initiated in January 2009 will be completed in May 2009.