Homegrown idea turned business success in the organic food sector

Reshma Akhter, a 35-year-old woman from Bagerhat, Khulna, in southern Bangladesh, is the founder of Tahsin Food Industry, a business that produces locally made apple cider vinegar. Reshma’s journey to entrepreneurship has been far from conventional. Married at the age of 13 while still a student, she became a mother of two sons by the ages of 15 and 17. Once her children grew older, Reshma resumed her education through an open university course.

During the COVID-19 lockdown. Reshma was inspired by a well-known online dietitian who highlighted the health benefits of apple cider vinegar. She realized that the product was imported and very expensive and, she started looking out for a recipe and began making apple cider vinegar at home. Encouraged by friends and relatives, Reshma decided to turn her small-scale production into a business. 

While researching for other entrepreneurial initiatives, she discovered that the Institute of Marine Technology in Bagerhat was going to conduct entrepreneur development training under the ILO’s Skills 21 project supported by the European Union (EU). This initiative supports partner TVET Institutes to provide entrepreneurship training using ILO training tools such as Know About Business (KAB) and Start and Improve your Business (SIYB), along with their green extensions.

The training provided Reshma with essential skills on how to get a trademark, complete legal paperwork, obtain certification from the Bangladesh Standard and Tasting Institution, and establish a dealership to roll out her products to market. Armed with this knowledge, she officially launched the Tahsin Food Industry.

With the entrepreneurship development training, I have learned ways to increase the range of my business. Now, little by little, I will apply those tips to grow my own company.

Currently, Reshma’s business distributes apple cider vinegar nationwide through dealerships and online platforms. Tahsin Food Industry employs 12 full-time staff and an additional 50 seasonal workers. Her business produces over 5,000 bottles of 460 ml apple cider vinegar per batch (every three months), with a monthly sales turnover of approximately BDT 2,500,000, among other organic products.