HWMIIA Classics: How this entrepreneur built an instant noodles business in Zambia
Monica Musonda applied lessons from Aliko Dangote to launch a homegrown instant noodles company in Zambia.
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Interview with Monica Musonda
FOUNDER and CEO, JAVA FOODS
Lives in: Lusaka, Zambia
Before starting her own business, Zambia-born Monica Musonda, a lawyer by training, worked in Nigeria for Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man. She has described the experience as equivalent to doing an MBA.
After many years in law, she transitioned into business and, in 2012, founded Java Foods, the company behind the Eezee Noodles brand of instant noodles. Today, the company sells more than four million packs a month and exports to neighbouring countries.
Jaco Maritz spoke to Musonda about building the business – and the lessons she took from her time working with Dangote.
Topics discussed during the interview include:
What she learned from working with Aliko Dangote
Why she chose instant noodles as her first product
How she got the business off the ground with limited experience
The toughest parts of building Java Foods
What she would do differently if starting over
Watch the full interview below:
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