Refilwe Nkome-Mokoena turned a cherished childhood memory into a growing agro-processing business. Inspired by her late mother’s gemere recipe, she founded Nkome Ke Monate in 2019, which produces a range of ginger-based treats.
Nkome-Mokoena grew up with many aspirations across different fields. When she eventually chose a path, she pursued chemical engineering and later added a BTech in project management, skills that would later shape her journey into entrepreneurship.
Balancing life as a mother and a working professional, she still felt a strong desire to fulfil a long-held dream of building her own business.
That vision became Nkome Ke Monate, an agro-processing business focused on ginger-based products.
From heritage to health
Nkome-Mokoena grew up watching her late mother, Gladys Nkome, prepare a refreshing non-alcoholic ginger drink known as gemere. It was so loved in the community that it was often finished before the next day.
Growing up in a home surrounded by strong women who encouraged her to try new things really shaped her. She says traditions like these are slowly being forgotten as the world moves faster and people rely more on store-bought products.
In 2019, she found herself reflecting on her upbringing in Garankuwa, Tshwane. She remembered the sense of community, unity, and sharing that once defined her neighbourhood.
Inspired by those memories, she decided to turn her mother’s gemere recipe into a business.
“I then branched into producing a variety of ginger products after realising its health benefits, which became even more evident during the Covid-19 era,” she says.
“Ginger has important health benefits. It is highly beneficial due to its high concentration of gingerol, a compound with powerful medicinal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.”
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Ginger innovation with a taste of home
Nkome-Moekoena holds a qualification in chemical engineering from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and a BTech in project management from Tshwane University of Technology. She says her academic background helps her understand business regulations and the requirements involved in producing food for human consumption.
“I source ginger from retail stores and markets, check it for freshness, and hire temporary workers when the workload increases.”
Today, Nkome Ke Monate produces ginger beer, ginger jam, ginger sweets, and ginger ice cream.
The journey did not happen overnight. With the support of a trusted circle, Nkome-Mokoena started small, asking family and friends to taste her products. Their feedback encouraged her to keep going, one step at a time.
Nkome Ke Monate’s vision is to become one of the leading companies, not just in Gauteng, but across South Africa and neighbouring countries, and eventually in the UK and Europe.
“Driven by a love for exquisite cuisine and sustainable practices, we aim to redefine culinary boundaries with our ginger products,” says Nkome-Mokoena.
She adds that her products have undergone the process at the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and were tested for safety. “SABS checks whether the products are safe for consumption and provides nutritional information for the product.”
She also notes that the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) provided funding to test the products.
Strengthening her brand
She adds that the business seeks to create a pleasant, enjoyable, and sociable experience through high-quality, refreshing products.
“Our goal is to provide the best possible value to customers who care about quality, making sure every rand spent on our products is well spent.”
The products are sold in various sizes, from 350 ml bottles to 10-litre containers. “Now our unique products include ginger ice cream (125 ml and 2 litres) and ginger jam (250 g).”
These products are sold to the public, corporate clients, and mini markets, areas where the market appreciates readily available, high-quality ginger products, according to Nkome-Mokoena.
She envisions expanding the range to include new flavours and infusions, strengthening relationships with local farmers and suppliers, increasing the company’s online presence and e-commerce capabilities, and exploring export opportunities within Africa and beyond.
Nkome-Mokoena shares advice for aspiring brand makers:
- Focus on what you know and master it.
- Embrace innovation and try new ideas.
- Show up and share your brand.
- Be patient; the start may be slow, but keep going.
- Protect your uniqueness and stand out.
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