Snl24 | Meet Mpho Mahaswa the lady who took Ghemere to the shelves of major SA retailers

Founder of Ghemere, Mpho Mahaswa (35) comes from a small town called Burgersfort in Limpopo.

We all have that one auntie or gogo who makes the perfect ghemere for family gatherings. But what happens when they are not around?

In a time when younger generations often lose touch with traditional African customs, preserving these cultural gems becomes even more important. This is where Mpho Mahaswa’s story begins.

Ghemere, a beloved drink at many South African gatherings, essentially inspired Mpho to start a business. She noticed that the traditional method of making ghemere, which involves fermenting ginger and tartaric acid for 48 hours, was becoming a lost art.

Realising the demand at weddings and family gatherings where everyone looked forward to having ghemere with scones, Mpho saw an opportunity. “Why not mass-produce this and make it a household brand?” she thought. Her vision was to make ghemere accessible for everyone to enjoy at any time, not just on special occasions.

Leaving her stable job as a chemical engineer was not an easy decision. Both Mpho and her husband were frequently traveling for work, which left them with little quality time together and a challenging environment to raise their kids. The need for a change was clear, and Mpho decided to take the leap of faith, sacrificing her corporate career to start the business.

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The recognition of Ghemere as an award-winning brand at the Youth- Owned Brands Awards was a significant milestone for Mpho. It validated her efforts and the quality of her product, especially considering the calibreof competitors in the industry.

However, the journey was not without its challenges. In the early days, selling ghemere was difficult because many people believed they could make it themselves. Convincing people to validate and recognise her brand took immense effort. Mpho recalls her first market experience in Boksburg, where she returned home without a single sale. Transitioning from a corporate job to struggling to sell even one bottle was frustrating.

A turning point came when Mpho adopted a reselling model, which helped build brand credibility. Resellers, who believed in her product, became instrumental in spreading the word and generating sales. The real breakthrough, however, came when Ghemere secured its first shelf at Food Lovers Market.

Mpho bravely presented her product to the franchise, which was so impressed that they ordered 100 bottles. From making Ghemere in her garage in buckets to supplying it for various major retailers.

Mpho’s background in chemical engineering and her experience in the production space played a role in her ability to navigate the beverage industry. Although she never envisioned herself in this field, her first internship in a production environment sparked a love for industrial spaces. This experience, combined with her work at a gas company producing food industry gases, subtly guided her toward the food and beverage sector.

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Running a beverage business comes with its unique challenges. As a solo entrepreneur initially, Mpho had to manage all aspects of the business, from finance to marketing, often feeling overwhelmed. Brand validation was another hurdle, as convincing customers to buy something they believed they could make themselves was tough.

Today, Ghemere offers various products to cater to different needs. For large events like weddings, there is a 5-litre concentrate that, when mixed with water, yields 20 litres. For families, there is a 2-litre concentrate, and for general retail, there is a 3-litre ready-to-drink option.

She aims to empower and impact the community through her program, The Power Girl, which focuses on hiring young women from townships, providing them with employment and empowerment opportunities.

She envisions her brand in retailers across the country, exporting to neighboring countries, and ultimately going global. “We’re taking ghemere to the US,” she laughs, eager to share this South African tradition with the world.