Honeybadger Primary Cooperative
| Business Location: | Rural |
| Province | Free State |
| Branch: | Lejweleputswa |
| Business Start Date: | |
| Busniess Type: | Co-operative |
Business Dynamics and Challenges
Business Activities:
Produce frozen French fries and vegetables
Challenges/Needs:
❖ Lack of business skills such as cooperative governance, financial management, business planning, administration, and marketing.
❖ Lack of access to formal markets for their products and services.
❖ They had no business plan and marketing strategy.
❖ Low market reach and inadequate marketing tools.
❖ They could not access funding due to non-compliance.
❖ They do not have access to export opportunities and international markets.
❖ They are not HACCP accredited, and their products were not SABS approved.
❖ Inadequate equipment (office or operational)
Intervention Insights and Results
Intervention Details:
The cooperative members wrote to Seda in 2021 to request assistance with addressing the challenges they were experiencing. A Business Advisor was assigned to provide guidance, mentorship, and advice to assist the cooperative to realize their vision.
Outcome Details:
❖ The cooperative was referred to the Tokologo Local Municipality to request permission to use municipal land for their operations.
❖ The cooperative accessed funding from Globalec to the amount of R 1.5 million.
❖ The cooperative was then assisted by Seda to get their products tested and approved by the SABS.
❖ The cooperative also accessed funding through the Seda Cooperative Development Support Programme to the value of R1.34 million and from the Department of Agriculture to the value of R1.58 million.
❖ The cooperative’s turnover increased by 53% between December 2023 and January 2025.
❖ The cooperative’s market increased to supplying customer from Bloemfontein and Kimberly.
❖ The cooperative has increased their productivity and profitability.
❖ The cooperative is now operating 70% off-grid and electricity bill has drecreased.
❖ The cooperative employed four (4) more people on a temporary basis.
❖ The cooperative increased service offering by introducing fast food.
❖ The cooperative managed to build an additional storage refrigerator and a fast food café on the premises.
❖ The cooperative accessed funding from Globalec to the amount of R 1.5 million.
❖ The cooperative was then assisted by Seda to get their products tested and approved by the SABS.
❖ The cooperative also accessed funding through the Seda Cooperative Development Support Programme to the value of R1.34 million and from the Department of Agriculture to the value of R1.58 million.
❖ The cooperative’s turnover increased by 53% between December 2023 and January 2025.
❖ The cooperative’s market increased to supplying customer from Bloemfontein and Kimberly.
❖ The cooperative has increased their productivity and profitability.
❖ The cooperative is now operating 70% off-grid and electricity bill has drecreased.
❖ The cooperative employed four (4) more people on a temporary basis.
❖ The cooperative increased service offering by introducing fast food.
❖ The cooperative managed to build an additional storage refrigerator and a fast food café on the premises.
Client Feedback
Client Comments:
The support provided by Seda and it’s stakeholders has assisted our cooperative to be fully operational and opened more doors for future developments.
