This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
Elizabeth's journey with Bdelo began when she was studying in the USA in the early 1990s. She was fascinated by how her South American and Caribbean friends enjoyed what was essentially ugali crust, referred to as Nacho or tortilla chips/crisp by the Mexicans. This realization sparked the idea of creating a healthy maize tortilla chip that would cater to the Kenyan market.
After returning to Kenya, Elizabeth co-founded Bdelo with her husband Daniel. Despite the challenges they faced, including establishing a market in Kenya and dealing with unfair competition from imports, Bdelo has grown into an internationally recognized brand. The company has developed 11 varieties of tortilla chips and has plans to expand into new markets.
Elizabeth's experience as a consultant in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic has also taught her valuable lessons about adaptability and resilience. She has learned to split roles with her husband, allowing each other to take the lead in areas where they excel. This has helped them navigate the challenges of running a business while working full-time jobs.
One of the key factors that has contributed to Bdelo's success is its focus on quality and customer satisfaction. The company has developed a strong network of distributors and has won several awards, including two African Foodex awards in 2019. Elizabeth's advice to would-be entrepreneurs is to have a good business idea, check their attitude, have a good business plan, network, work hard, have integrity, and have grit.
