Libuseng Molato
The agricultural sector in Lesotho is witnessing a remarkable success story with Diva’s Cottage, a dairy processing business founded by Lintle Ntaote and Mafusi Nyathe Rasheleng. This dynamic duo has brought a fresh perspective to dairy products, making significant strides within just one month of operation.
The brains behind Diva’s Cottage
Lintle Ntaote, a single mother from Ha Mantšebo, turned adversity into opportunity. After dropping out of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology to care for her newborn, Lintle’s entrepreneurial spirit remained undeterred.
“Limkokwing broadens your perspective. Their famous tagline ‘thinking outside the box’ changed my mind-set and made me see opportunities in every problem,” she said.
In 2022, while renting a place with a dairy cow, Lintle observed that leftover milk often went to waste. “I thought, what else could be done apart from selling ordinary milk? That’s when Diva’s Cottage Cheese Spread was born,” she explained.
Her curiosity led her to read cookbooks and master the art of making quality cheese spread with a longer shelf life.
“This idea consumed me. I started making cheese spread daily for my household, and they loved it. I shared the idea with almost everyone, but no one believed in it. Maybe they thought it was too far-fetched for someone like me to start a cheese spread business,” Lintle expressed.
She was determined to create something unique in the market and, with faith and perseverance, her product was a success from the first launch.
Mafusi Nyathe Rasheleng, a 38-year-old teacher by profession, always had a passion for entrepreneurship. Despite several failed ventures, including bath salts, she never gave up.
“I decided to venture into food production. Peanut butter came to mind because my grandmother taught me how to make it. I perfected it over time,” Mafusi narrated and noted that her entrepreneurial journey took a positive turn when she met Lintle.
“Last month, I saw Lintle’s post about aprons. We decided to help each other advertise our products. As we talked, we discovered we shared the same vision. Lintle told me about her cheese spread idea, and I shared mine about peanut butter. That’s how Diva’s Cottage was born,” she elucidated.
The Journey began
Diva’s Cottage started in early June, and by the end of the month, they were ready for their first launch at a local flea market. They introduced both peanut butter and cheese spread, gaining immediate traction.
They were selected to host a stall at Maseru Mall Flea Market during His Majesty’s birthday celebrations, offering three-day specials to customers.
“The event at Makoanyane Square on July 5th, 2024, was overwhelming. King Letsie III and the Minister of Tourism bought our cheese spread, and we received immense support. Basotho were surprised to find a locally produced cheese spread and loved it,” they shared.
Their success wasn’t just in sales, but also in networking.
“Within a month, we are already seeing doors of opportunity opening. This confirms the power of God at work, and we are committed to growing the Diva’s Cottage Cheese Spread brand,” they said.
Dealing with Challenges
However, the journey has not been without challenges. Making peanut butter requires a specific machine, not just a regular blender, as nuts are hard to crush, they explained noting production is low.
“We only produce a few bottles because it takes time. Nuts are expensive, and we wish they could be grown in Lesotho to make them more affordable. This machine issue has caused us to pause peanut butter production and focus on cheese spread for now,” they explained.
Future plans
As for the cheese spread, the main challenge is the cost of bottles. “Our way forward is to secure all necessary business documents and get our products on shelves throughout Lesotho and even in South Africa,” they concluded.
Diva’s Cottage is a testament to the innovation and resilience within Lesotho’s agricultural sector, demonstrating that with creativity and perseverance, local entrepreneurs can transform challenges into thriving businesses.
