Bonolo Monthe and Olayemi Aganga, co-founders of Maungo Craft
Gaborone, Botswana
Great Taste case study
Olayemi Aganga, director and co-founder of Maungo Craft, started entering Great Taste in 2019. Him and his team, mostly made up of women from local communities, first heard about the scheme through international food trade publications and peer companies that they admire, so were inspired to start entering their own products. They received two 1-star awards in 2025.
He says: “Entering Great Taste is a privilege, and an opportunity to measure ourselves against the best. From our earliest days at farmers’ markets to exporting our jars of wild-fruit preserves internationally, Great Taste has provided invaluable feedback at every stage. Being part of the scheme has helped us to share the story of African ingredients – with pride. Every star earned shines back on the passionate and talented women who craft each batch.
Great Taste has provided invaluable feedback at every stage... Every star earned shines back on the passionate and talented women who craft each batch.
“For us, entering Great Taste is a moment of possibility – a chance to stand on a global stage and say “we are here”. One star alone can help to catapult a small African brand like ours beyond measure. It validates the soul we pour into our jars and honours the communities behind them, it’s not just recognition – it’s transformation.
“Our previous wins with Great Taste have been truly transformative, they have elevated Maungo Craft’s visibility and credibility, unlocking access to global platforms, including CNN, Bloomberg and the BBC, but beyond the headlines, they have sparked international curiosity and opened doors to new markets.
For us, entering Great Taste is a moment of possibility – a chance to stand on a global stage and say “we are here”.
“More important than anything, these accolades build trust, especially with buyers who seek innovation grounded in a strong sense of place. Each award reaffirms what we’ve always known: that indigenous African ingredients like the Morula (internationally known as Marula) and the Lerotse Melon belong on the world’s finest shelves.
It has helped us to position our brand as a serious player in the gourmet food space. It has helped us to spark conversations and bring our produce to new audiences with credibility and confidence.
“Receiving our Great Taste awards has helped to amplify our visibility and validate us on a global scale. It has helped us to position our brand as a serious player in the gourmet food space. It has helped us to spark conversations and bring our produce to new audiences with credibility and confidence. From a business perspective, it has strengthened buyer confidence and opened up new distribution opportunities, it has offered us a platform to scale sustainably – without compromising our roots”.
