Recognising the need for African products to be showcased globally, African Food Changemakers created the Scaling Export Program (SEP) to empower African agri-food SMEs. This program is a beacon of hope, building their capacity to export healthy, nutritious agri-food products across Africa and access international markets. The transformative power of the SEP, achieved through training, market exposure, trade linkages and business support, is evident in the fantastic testimonials from the 2023 cohorts released into the international market. This series is titled 'Our impact journey- one year after SEP'.

In our first episode, we spotlight Vivyen Ayodele-Bamisaye, the CEO and Founder of Macariusville Dates and Foods Limited. Like every entrepreneur, Vivyen has a driving force behind her business- a mission.  Her company stands out in the market by producing superfoods like date powder, tiger nut powder, sweet potato flour, and finger millet, which are transformed into minimally processed, ready-to-eat delicious products. What truly sets her company apart is her vision of elevating these unsung heroes, superfoods of African origin, from niche status to a global mainstream diet. This global impact is a source of pride and optimism for the future of African agri-food products.

Macariusville Dates and Foods Limited embarked on its export journey in small quantities to some countries, but it was not without its challenges. The first hurdle was shipping cost, followed by the need to negotiate favouritism deals. This is where the knowledge gained in SEP proved invaluable. The 'Negotiation skills class taught her to understand the psyche and culture of the people she was dealing with, especially as they were in their own space. She said, "That way, in your negotiation, you can create a win-win scenario that benefits you, the seller, and the buyer". The SEP equipped her with these skills and instilled resilience to see her vision come to life.

Reminiscing on the lessons learned from the SEP, she reiterates the value of the lesson on negotiation and how it has transformed the exporting arm of her business. Furthermore, she highlighted the lessons on building credibility by demonstrating integrity, maintaining consistency and ensuring top-quality products. She also learnt about shipping terms and conditions and, perhaps most vitally, the network of like-minded entrepreneurs she could meet, some of whom she has maintained business relationships with.

Thanks to her SEP experience, Vivyen shares two significant successes that have significantly impacted her business. First, the program instilled in her the confidence to pitch and secure a distributor in London, United Kingdom. The second success was the invitation by African Food Changemakers under the SEP to its members to attend the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York in June 2024. This opportunity allowed them to exhibit their products and network with a broader audience. The event was organised by the United Nations Agency for International Development (USAID) and gave them a spot in the African Fine Foods Pavilion created by USAID. This means they now have access to their products in the United States market, opening them to numerous opportunities in Africa and globally. These successes are a testament to the effectiveness and potential of the SEP.

Macariusville has ambitious plans for the future. They aim to establish a consistent export footprint, making their products available and mainstream outside Nigeria. Their vision extends to fulfilling large orders and having their products across the continent, including the United States and the United Kingdom. Vivyen's determination and vision are a source of hope and optimism for the global future of African agri-food products. Speaking on their connection with the Scaling Export Program (SEP) and, in extension, African Food Changemakers (AFC), Vivyen acknowledges the benefits being part of the community has afforded her and her business- from the relationships to the exposure and constant opportunities provided.

Viyenv has this word of advice for young agriprenuers looking to start:

"Dream big. Take every challenge as a stepping stone because the truth is that you will never really know how far you can go until you start. So look out for opportunities to grow your capacity, learn, understand what needs to be done, and have a good understanding of your business, the products and the markets you're trying to enter. What do they want? How do they want it packaged?  What is important to them? Understanding these key factors can differentiate success and failure in the agri-food sector."

In conclusion, Vivyen's journey with Macariusville Dates and Foods Limited is a shining example of the impact that African Food Changemakers and the Scaling Export Program can have on African agri-food SMEs. As we celebrate the successes of our SEP cohorts, we remind ourselves of the immense potential within the African agri-food sector. This potential is theoretical and a reality that entrepreneurs like Vivyen are turning into success stories. We look forward to continuing to support and empower entrepreneurs like Vivyen to achieve their dreams and change the narrative, one superfood at a time. The future of the agri-food sector is bright, and we are excited to be a part of it.