Fruits are sources of many essential under-consumed nutrients such as potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C and folic acid. Fresh fruits especially are a great option for breakfast, snack or dessert. Most fruits are sweet and ready for you to eat without preparing a recipe. With the rise of lifestyle diseases, many people would love to have access to organic produce. This need presents an opportunity for upcoming entrepreneurs to cover the gap.
Unlike many business opportunities that require a substantial amount to start, you can kick off your fruit vending business with as little as 1000 bob. Here is an in-depth guide to help you kick off your entrepreneurship journey;
Location of your fruit parlor
Look for a busy street or pathway with high human traffic. The direct consumer base for a fruit parlor are motorists and pedestrians. High human traffic equates to more sales for you. If you are starting on a tight budget, you may consider a mobile kiosk or kart. Display your fruits and blended juice in a neat, attractive manner that attracts customers.
If you’re starting capital is 30,000 or more, look at acquiring a stall within a residential area, supermarket or eateries. Having a stall near eateries means you will get most sales during lunch hour. For a fruit vender in a residential area, sales will be high during evening hours when people have downed their tools for the day. Factoring in time will help you decide on the appropriate location.
Licensing for your business
It’s brilliant for any entrepreneur to legalize his/her business. Get a single business permit from your respective County Government. Depending on the location and your county, the single business permit will cost you anything between Ksh. 3000 to Ksh. 10,000 per annum.
Moreover, you need a food hygiene license and food handler’s certificate. Since you are handling food, your stall will undergo through inspection by a public health official before getting a food hygiene license. For a small vendor, you will only be charged between Ksh. 300 to Ksh. 1000.
Food handler’s certificate is given only when it has been ascertained that a food handler is free of disease. This certificate is a must have because then it goes to show that you are legible to handle human food. This particular certificate only cost Ksh.600.
Fruit Supplier
Fruits are your product of trade. To set you apart from your competitors, look for a dependable organic fruit supplier. Avoid using middle men to acquire fruits. That will risk you getting rotten produce or laboratory enhanced produce.
A recommendable fruit supplier can be one who owns an orchid. This way you will be sure that they are getting their produce directly from the farm. Consequently, you can choose to partner directly with farmers. This way you get fresh produce and grow their farming venture.
Must Have Equipment;
Cutlery
Knives, forks, cups and bowls are a must have. You can decide to get disposable ones for guaranteed hygiene. You can additionally get reusable cutlery from an open market, utensil store or supermarket near you. If you are going for the latter, buy a sizeable water tank to help you maintain them clean and melamine salad bowls to make your presentation neat. The trick here is to settle for quality and friendly priced items.
Blender
A good blender will be the saving grace for your business in ways you might not know. The best part is that there are many brands and types to choose from. A good blender range from Ksh. 1,500 to Ksh. 12,000. You can purchase two averagely priced blenders for a start. The second one will come in handy when the other one disappoints you.
Plastic Chairs
No one wants to enjoy a fruit salad while standing. As such, purchase a couple of plastic chairs or a bench for you eat in customers. One plastic chair range between Ksh. 450 to 500. You can equally get a bench the costs around Ksh. 1000.
Display Shelves
The lifeline of a fruit parlour lies in the owner’s ability to attractively display the fruits and juices. This can be possible if you get cardboard and glass shelves to help you market your product. In case you are using a cart, you do not need to buy display shelves. You only need to maintain it as neat as possible.
In a nutshell, fruit vending business calls for high levels of neatness. Be clean and have fresh produce always. No matter the circumstances, never sell stale produce to your customers. Be consistent and you will see how profits will work in your favour.
By Belindar Momanyi.
