This archive report was first published on 29 October 2019.
From Hobby to Business: Two Women's Journey in Lactation Baking ¶
On October 29, 2019, Business Daily Africa featured the story of Hannah Murage and Karen Mrema, two women who turned their hobby of baking lactation treats into a successful business, Lactacare Kenya.
When Hannah Murage had her baby girl, she struggled to breastfeed due to low milk supply. In a mission to boost her milk, she researched natural galactagogues, which led her to experiment with lactation treats. However, the initial results were not as successful as she had anticipated.
She then involved her friend Karen Mrema, an environmental scientist and communications expert, to help her figure out how to bake lactation cookies. Together, they came up with lactation cookies and muffins, which they initially shared as gifts with friends who had delivered. As word spread, they started receiving orders, and their business took off.
After taking orders, they dived back into research to find an alternative that would be more readily available than the pre-ordered baked goods, with less sugar and fat content. They formulated Lactacare lactation tea, which was tested and launched in October 2018.
Lactacare Kenya was formed to create a safe community for breastfeeding mothers. The company helps mothers confidently walk their lactation journey, even when they are not purchasing their products. They also provide a hub of lactation information, troubleshooting lactation problems, and creating a community of mothers for other mothers.
The company started with a small budget of Sh20,000 and has since grown to sell products all over the country and beyond. They use social media, referrals, client testimonies, and influencers to market their products. Despite facing challenges, such as scepticism from potential customers and power outages during baking, the duo has persevered and grown a community of trusting mothers.
