Product Formulation, Process Development, and Commercialization of Nutritious Peanut

Cookies- HomeTech Foods, Uganda

GP3M Team Members, Dr. Manjeet Chinnan, Dr. Wojciech Florkowski and Dr. Anna

Resurreccion with NARO Investigator, Ms. Margaret Masette; and Industry Partner,

Ms. Grace Aluoch, HomeTech Foods

HomeTech Foods- Manufacturing Facility Visit with Dr. Chinnan, Grace Aluoch, Margaret Masette and Dr. W.J. FlorKowski

Research Planning Meeting – Dr. Florkowski, Grace Aluoch, Margaret Masette and Dr. Anna V.A. Resurreccion

• It is estimated that 38% of the children are stunted in Uganda and 45.5% of Ugandan children below 5 years of age were stunted, while 23% were under weight.

• The formation of a public-private partnership involving the USAID Peanut CRSP GP3M Team and the National Agricultural Research Laboratory of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) together with Industry Partner, Hometech Foods in Uganda, resulted in the development of a Nutritious Peanut Cookie targeted toward improving the nutritional status of school-age children in Uganda.

• Hometech Foods is a small enterprise established and managed by three female-entrepreneurs. The enterprise is engaged in the manufacture of baked goods but also includes fruit juices and jams in their product line. Baked goods, with limited nutritional value, have been part of the company’s product portfolio.

• The GP3M Team’s household survey identified cookies as a product with market appeal.

• The research was on development of a suitable formulation and process optimization, focusing on selection of peanut varieties, the incorporation of peanut testa to result in a more nutritious product, and the effect of increasing the proportions of peanut meal in the formulations.

• A commercial oven and infra-red temperature gauge were purchased with project funds to be used in the cookie trials.

• Peanut testa resulted in a darker color that was unfamiliar to consumers and was not incorporated in the final formulation. In addition, sensory tests indicated that increasing the peanut meal to 40% also increased acceptability and the cost of production.

• A final formulation was selected that was based on consumer sensory tests performed at central locations in Uganda. The baking parameters for the cookie were likewise optimized.

Nutritious Peanut Cookies

• The technology was transferred to Hometech Foods and the product was commercialized.

• Hometech Foods reported selling 1,000 packets per week to no more than 3 outlets selling to parents and school children generating 1 mln Uganda shillings in sales and employing three workers. The primary Nutritious Peanut Cookie buyers are parents of school-age children.

• During the Uganda Manufacturers Association International Fair, October 4-10, 2012, the product was exhibited for sale and featured consumer taste tests to entice consumer sales. Most of the 250 consumers rated the cookies as highly acceptable (Like moderately to like extremely) and rated it highly on their intent to purchase it. Several consumers purchased the product available for sale.

• Before the product can be distributed nation-wide, a certification from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) as the guarantor of consumers has to certify the safety and quality of the product. The cookie is undergoing certification and production of Nutritious Peanut Cookies will likely expand because of the strong indicators of demand.

The University of Geeorgia’s Global Peanut Product Processing and

Marketing Team (GP3MT) with Hometech Foods Employee.

HomeTech Foods entrepreneur, Ms. Grace Aluoch at product launch,

Uganda Manufacturing Association’s Fair With GP3M Team’s Dr. Anna V. A Resurreccion and Dr. Manjeet Chinnan

Most of the 250 consumers who participated, rated the cookies as highly acceptable (Like moderately to like extremely) and

rated it highly on their intent to purchase it.

Products sold out quickly