Nutri’zaza, the Success Story of a Social Enterprise

What is Nutri’zaza ?

Nutri’zaza is a social enterprise specialising in fortified foods to fight chronic malnutrition in Madagascar. It provides locally-made, affordable products accessible to Malagasy families regardless of social status. The company was created in 2013 to extend 14 years of infant nutrition projects. As a social enterprise, all financial profits are reinvested. This helps Nutri’zaza maintain and expand its action against malnutrition.

To operate, Nutri’zaza collaborates with many stakeholders to supply, produce and distribute its products. It also works with laboratories and a French NGO to design formulas. Key partnerships include:

• GRET, the French NGO that created the flagship product Koba Aina, a fortified porridge.
• Taf and La Chocolaterie Robert, which manufacture and supply products.
• Local companies and associations.
• Support from the Malagasy government and mayors.

Nutri’zaza also has an Ethics and Social Monitoring Committee. This body includes state partners, NGOs and research laboratories, ensuring Nutri’zaza pursues its social mission.

“Koba Aina”, the flagship product

Nutri’zaza’s flagship product is Koba Aina, an infant flour designed to ensure equal nutritional opportunities for Malagasy children. Like all Nutri’zaza products, it is fortified and complies with strict national and international standards.

Operating and distribution

Nutri’zaza covers all of Madagascar, reaching more than 32,000 children daily. With 37 baby restaurants and activity in 153 neighborhoods, the company has expanded its impact in ten years.

Nutri’zaza’s special features

One of Nutri’zaza’s distinctive features is its strong social commitment: 

• In terms of price: The company strives to keep the price of its products as low as possible so they can be accessible to as many people as possible, and manage to do so without compromising the quality and standards of the products. 
• In terms of jobs and proximity: the network of animators has been created to ensure daily access to their products, while at the same time offering decent work to women from underprivileged neighborhoods, with wages 8% higher than the national average.

Nutri’zaza’s development path

To develop, accelerate and sustain its growth and its model, Nutri’zaza has benefited from various funding, especially grants allowing the company to carry out research and have time to reflect on the development of new products.

• A first subsidy in 2013 from the AFD (French Agency for Development consisting in funding Technical Assistance to move from a status of project to sustainable business.
• A second grant from the European Union to finance an R&D and innovation phase. During this period, Nutri’zaza expanded its products range to reach a wider target audience.
• A third AFD funding in 2022: to finance the scaling-up of Nutri’zaza to ensure long-term distribution and maximize the impact throughout Madagascar.

Key figures for 2023

Targets for 2026

Nutri’zaza has set itself some ambitious targets: The social enterprise aims to triple the number of children reached each day to 90,000 -representing sales of over 2 million euros and 100,000 million meals distributed in the final year (2026). 

Another objective of Nutri’zaza is to get the public authorities more involved in the malnutrition cause by establishing a specific regulatory and legal framework for social enterprises in Madagascar. This SSE (Social & Solidarity Economy) status does not currently exist, which means that Nutri’zaza pays the same taxes as a conventional company, while trying to offer the lowest prices with lower margins than others. This is a crucial step as it would reduce charges and taxes for social enterprises, thus promoting their development and positive impact on society.

ScaleChanger support

In 2021, ScaleChanger had the opportunity to work with Nutri’zaza to conduct a thorough analysis of the organization with a view to scaling up for more impact. We analyzed the company’s business model, its financial management, organizational and operational model, its products, distribution, production chains and finally the ecosystem. The results of the study enabled Nutri’zaza to secure the third round of funding, enabling the company to achieve its impact ambitions.