The Outreach Snack Shop

In addition to the Maama Muzungu Poultry Farm, I have establish another business in Lugazi on behalf of the kids. I am pleased to present the town’s first snack shop, The Outreach Snack Shop.

kids playing in front of TOSS

Me in front of TOSS

The snack shop opened for business last week and we are still ironing out a few procedures and protocols, and are in need of some equipment to make our kitchen more efficient, but the business is off to a great start and the community response has been overwhelming. As I pass through town people will yell Good work! Thank you for the shop!

Sharon preparing in the morning

The community has embraced the establishment in part because there is nothing else like it in Lugazi. Snacks are sold in town, but are done roadside by sole proprietors carrying plastic containers of their homemade products, or at a table at the open-air market. And the quality of product already on the market is generally pretty low: chapatti (similar to tortillas) covered in grease, samosas with little filling, pancakes left too long over the flame. The Outreach Snack Shop, unlike its competitors, has a trained cook and two cooking assistants, a salesperson and a delivery girl wearing uniforms; fresh products displayed behind a custom-made glass case and warmer; snacks served in paper bags soon to be bearing the logo I designed, rather than in old newspaper as is customary in here in Uganda; and a beautifully designed and painted shop with a separate kitchen next door. Judging from the community’s reaction and our sales thus far, I believe we will be able to grow as planned and purchase tables and chairs for the area at the foot of our store, creating the town’s first patio eatery as well.

our fantastic head chef, Florence

I never thought I would be a small business owner, much less one in Africa, and am more than busy learning to be a shop owner, stabilizing the business, sorting out my visa (finally got it approved!), overseeing the poultry farm, trying to still take photos and blog and of course spend time with the kids. I brought them to the shop a few days after we opened and told them it was theirs. Eyes wide, mouths age, they stared at the paintings on the walls and at the food behind the case, not knowing what to say. Then I gave them another surprise: I put large photographs of them on the store wall next to the entrance. They were ecstatic!

Even though its been several days, each time they visit the shop they still point at their pictures and exclaim their names: Ogola! Nabu! Rachel! Aggie! B2! Peanut!

kids playing in front of shop with their pictures behind on the wall

Beatrice getting her first snack at TOSS