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Yanaya aims to redefine eating well

by Kudakwashe Vhenge

By Trevor Makonyonga 

With the current economic woes in Zimbabwe, people always yearn for business ideas just to keep the hope going. Then there is a creed of people who transform the ideas to reality. They turn the hope into belief and find a place in society and occupy it. 


One such person who has managed to broaden her ideas beyond hope and belief is 28 year old Nyaradzo Dhliwayo. If one is a Zimbabwean on Twitter then certainly they would have met with colorfully packaged Yanaya smoothies.


Yanaya has become a part of many Zimbabweans’ lives and the packaging of the brand is pretty outstanding. 


Bustop TV caught up with the founder of Yanaya, Nyaradzo Dhliwayo, who spoke about her business journey.


“I had been vegan for 2 years and vegetarian for 3 years and I struggled whenever I went to eat out because there weren’t any places that offered good vegetarian meals. I realized getting healthy, nutritious natural tasting food was a struggle not only for myself but for many people in Zimbabwe. So that inspired me to create a space for someone who is health conscious to enjoy a meal out.” 

Now that its Valentines season award winning hip hop artist Mudiw ahood surprised two single female junior doctors with Yanaya products, Nyaradzo seemed to answer why their brand has been trending like that by outlining the aims of the business.


“Yanaya aims to share delicious, wholesome, plant-based food that fuels and energizes without compromising flavor, taste or satisfaction. Our chef-driven healthy menu features locally-sourced ingredients in their most natural form to create inspired dishes, made 100% by us daily. We are passionate about feeding our customers hearty, nourishing meals made from whole ingredients that have a positive impact on their overall mind body and health. At Yanaya our goal is simple- to redefine what it means to eat well and promote a heathier happy lifestyle.


“We are serving a niche space for healthy food as part of our mandate to promote healthy living. Though we have tried to narrow down our primary market to healthy lifestyle enthusiasts and those with varying health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, we have discovered there is a growing population who are being aware of what they eat and how they live. This has become our secondary market.

“Our menus are high in nutritional as well as detox benefits. We have all kinds of customers ranging from those conscientiously trying to lose weight and those who just can not resist our delicious offerings. Our smoothies have been trending in town with notable celebrities having already endorsed our product line.”


The unique thing about Yanaya is that the founders only deal with local producers. The founder said that patrons who eat from their place support a business that keeps the local farmer afloat.


“I am a firm believer in supporting local producers and improving value chains. The biggest hurdle for our farmers pertains to post harvest losses, so much perishable agriculture produce goes to waste because our farmers do not have many ready off takers like us who are willing to apply fair conditions when transacting with farmers.

“This is why at Yanaya our procurement policy is 100% local. All our natural ingredients are sourced from local farmers. So whenever our patrons eat from us they know they are buying from a business that is keeping local farmers employed.

“Having previously worked for one of the largest local seed houses, my desire is to improve Zimbabwe’s value chain. After all our farmers are renowned for their mostly fresh tasting organic produce that is not genetically modified.” 


Inspired by Nigerian, Ada Osakwe in the business, Nyaradzo holds religion and family in high regards. 


“It’s difficult for me to pin point one person, I draw inspiration from my Christian values and principles. So I look up to Christ first and foremost for inspiration and guidance.  As concerning people who have shaped by resolve, I would say my father, my husband as well as Nigerian restauranteur Osakwe. I consider my father as a legend, as he is one of my greatest sources of wisdom. He is also my greatest motivator.”


Apart from being a restaurateur, Nyaradzo Dhliwayo is a photographer and a designer with an honors degree in the fields from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

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