Local tea brand hits shelves

• SHANTE MAHALIENAMIBIA imports over N$60 million worth of black tea every year, and ensuring that a local brand is established within this industry is what led four young Namibians to launch a premium tea brand called Yetu.

Although the tea is grown in Zambia, having it packaged for the Namibian market and under a local brand, is testament that economic integration in Africa is taking place regionally.

Over the years Africans have relied on imports from Asia, and the West, but according to the Yetu team, it made sense to partner with a credible African supplier. This saw Namibian company, Pestana Investments collaborating with the Zambian company, Yatu Foods.

Tea is one of the most prevalent and affordable beverages consumed globally, and the rising demand for tea is considered one of the significant components of the worldwide beverage market growth. Over the last three years, Namibia has imported tea (including green tea) worth over N$217 million.

The coffee and tea market in Namibia is worth over N$160 million every year.

The Yetu brand was officially established and branded in Namibia last year, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the team faced several delays in taking the product to the local market.

Pestana Investment member Benaja Shikesho told The Namibian that the team saw that there was a gap in the Namibian tea market, as most of the brands sold in the country are from South Africa. .

“We approached a university friend that runs a food distribution company, Yatu Foods, in Zambia and that’s when we decided to collaborate to create the Yetu brand which also translates as ‘Ours’ in both Oshiwambo and an indigenous Zambian language,” said Shikesho.

The company plans to officially launch the brand by next Wednesday, as soon as they secure a retailer as they are still in negotiations with some of the major local companies.

Email: shante@namibian.com.na

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