Partners in Food Solutions

05/01/2022

Because volunteering is a work of heart, it takes a special person willing to dedicate their time and expertise to help others. "I came to DSM, in part, because of the partnership with Partners in Food Solutions (PFS)," said David Montgomery, an account manager for fresh dairy at DSM Bright Science Brighter Living. "I am passionate about creating sustainable food systems, and I believe I could have the most impact by volunteering with an organization with these values." Click the link to learn more about David and the skills he's developed through volunteering with PFS.

David Montgomery joined DSM in January 2021 as an Account Manager in Fresh Dairy for North America. In his role, David supports sales through commercial planning, training, and customer trials.

04/30/2022

Because volunteering is a work of heart, Ardent Mills' Sr. Director of Operations Bill Boyden decided to step outside his comfort zone and support Tomato Jos, a tomato processing company in Kangimi, Nigeria. “I literally had no previous knowledge of tomato processing at all. So, Tomato Jos may have wondered why I was asking a lot of simple questions,” said Bill, but sometimes it’s the simple questions that reveal the most important answers. Click the link to learn more about Bill's volunteer experience with Tomato Jos!

Sometimes it’s the simple questions that reveal the most important answers. That’s what Ardent Mills’ Bill Boyden discovered while working with Tomato Jos, a tomato processing company in Kangimi, Nigeria. The company was formed to process locally grown tomatoes - in season for only a short tim...

04/20/2022

Because volunteering is a work of heart, Cargill's Victoria Rau chose to work with Stawi Foods and Fruits Limited to help them improve their business plan. “We realized we were at a critical point in the company’s journey and in order to continue growing we needed to address some key issues,” said Eric Muthomi, the founder and CEO of Stawi Foods and Fruits Limited. “We needed to review our product range, our pricing structure, what market/channels we could add for distribution, and how we could lower our raw material sourcing costs to increase our overall return.” Click the link to keep reading how Victoria and other PFS volunteers helped Stawi Foods and Fruits Limited identify new market solutions!

Stawi Foods and Fruits Limited is a Kenyan based milling company that specializes in the milling of cereals and dried fruits to produce nutritious, pre-cooked and fortified porridge flours for children. Eric Muthomi, the founder and CEO of Stawi Foods and Fruits Limited, started the company to suppo...

04/13/2022

Because volunteering is a work of heart, Carol Jeffrey-Smith has dedicated her time over the past 5+ years to supporting African food businesses and helping them thrive. "My main motivation for volunteering with PFS is the opportunity to meet new people, learn from other volunteers, and watch the clients grow through this experience," said Carol. "It is a real privilege to share in the client’s journey." Check out our blog to learn more about Carol's role as a Client Lead at PFS! The Hershey Company

Carol Jeffrey-Smith has been a volunteer with PFS since 2016 and has been involved in six volunteer activities. She also serves as a PFS champion and is a valuable part of the Hershey-PFS partnership.

04/12/2022

Because volunteering is a work of heart, for the past year Henrique Oliveira has been supporting Profate Investments Limited, a family-owned dairy farm located in Tanzania, as their project manager (client lead). "It's a journey, a challenge, and an eye-opening experience," said Henrique about his time volunteering with Partners in Food Solutions. Motivated by his interests in supporting small businesses in developing countries, Henrique wanted to use his skills for good and volunteer his time with PFS. Keep reading to learn more about Henrique's volunteer journey! Bühler Group

“I never thought I would collaborate with Kenyans and Tanzanians, those countries seemed so distant,” said Henrique Oliveira, a marketing director at Bühler. “Now my perspective of the African continent has changed completely.” Motivated by his interests in supporting small businesses in de...

04/07/2022

In an effort to improve Forest Fruits' food safety and quality, General Mills volunteers Natalia Faiden and Tomomi Fujimaru shared their skills and expertise to help the company become HACCP certified. Located in Lusaka, Zambia, Forest Fruits is one of the leading producers of organic honey and beeswax in the country and is committed to improving the livelihoods of farmers – sourcing honey from over 7000 traditional beekeepers near the Zambezi River. Click the link below to learn more about how Forest Fruits reached this important food safety milestone!

Located in Lusaka, Zambia, Forest Fruits is one of the leading producers of organic honey and beeswax in Zambia. Committed to improving the livelihoods of farmers, Forest Fruits sources honey from over 7000 traditional beekeepers near the Zambezi River that utilize sustainable farming practices. For...

04/06/2022

Even during another year of uncertainty and challenges, our volunteers continued to show up and show care for each of our clients. With record demand for volunteer support from our clients, we're grateful to have a committed network of expert volunteers who are up for any challenge. Thank you to all of our volunteers for the continued support over the years, and for showing up when it matters most! General Mills, Cargill, DSM Bright Science Brighter Living, Bühler Group, Ardent Mills, The Hershey Company, Smucker's

03/22/2022

Santhi Ramesh, Chief Marketing Officer - International at The Hershey Company, knows a thing or two about leading a global marketing campaign. Santhi attributes her success to having a support system of friends, family, and colleagues who encouraged her to use her skills and be bold. Santhi is now using her skills and expertise to mentor two entrepreneurs in Africa. She says building the future generation of leaders and sharing her skill set is one way she can uplift women. Santhi is mentoring Molly Abende, a production manager at PFS client Burton and Bamber Co. Ltd in Kenya. Santhi says her mentees are "ambitious, highly resourceful, eager to learn, with a can-do attitude, and are looking for help." To hear more about Santhi's role as CMO at Hershey and her mentoring experience, check out the full Entreprenista podcast!

‎Show Entreprenista, Ep Launching a Global Movement for Women with Santhi Ramesh of The Hershey Company - 7 Mar 2022

02/04/2022

Yesterday's United Nations FAO report on food security around the world is alarming. A reminder that both acute and chronic food security is a reality across Africa today. As this article points out, global supply chain issues, adverse weather conditions and rising energy costs are increasing the struggle for the world's poorest to have adequate food. Strengthening local food processing capacity is an important part of improving food security and sustainability now and in the future.

The prices have climbed to their highest level since 2011, according to a U.N. index. It could cause social unrest “on a widespread scale,” one expert said.

01/24/2022

Join us tomorrow, January 25th at 11:00 am CST for an insightful discussion on the importance of value addition and the food processing sector in a vibrant African economy. Hear from top industry leaders on policy priorities and promising initiatives already in place. To sign up, click the link below!
https://share.hsforms.com/1v5u-bHaLTxOt8o67EFEICQ4y6n5

12/23/2021

Wishing you and yours peace and a world of good wishes. We hope you enjoy the rest of 2021 and we look forward to connecting with you in the new year! - The PFS Team

12/03/2021

In honor of International Volunteer Day on December 5th, we want to recognize our amazing volunteers for their time and commitment toward improving food security in Africa. With over 1300 volunteers from around the world, our reach and impact is unmatched. Thanks to your dedication, together we have been able to serve more African entrepreneurs and solve more food challenges than ever before. Today, and every day, we are grateful for your partnership and contribution toward making the world a better place for all. General Mills, Ardent Mills, Cargill, DSM Bright Science Brighter Living, Bühler Group, The Hershey Company, Smucker's