Entrepreneur winner Nutrivita is back in business with a major mission [WATCH]

After the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns shut down their nutrition business in March last year, the Nutrivita ladies have bounced back with a bang, recently winning the iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Entrepreneur business accelerator competition.

Maxi-Lee Machado launched the business in 2019, and she was later joined by business partner, Xoli England.

They produce and supply a range of nutrient rich, plant-based beverages, supplements and superfoods.

But the 36-year-old mother of three had to close shop after only 5 months when Covid intervened.

Having time for reflection, she said she realised the importance of feeding children healthy food.

“Too often children are not fed nutritious food because the focus is usually on simply filling the tummy,” said Maxi.

She wanted to make a greater impact than owning a small juice retail store in Ballito.

Her grand plan is to eventually feed a million children, and to achieve that she needs a business to ensure sustainability.

One percent of all their sales goes towards Happy Healthy Human, a foundation they founded to pursue their mission of providing plant-based food to poor and vulnerable children.

Currently, they are feeding 500 children around KwaDukuza.

She said she met Xoli in a restaurant when they both were having lunch with their children.

As the children connected, so did they and soon they realised they shared a similar vision. They reopened the factory in July last year.

At the time they only had five employees, but have since grown to employ 36.

“Both of us wanted to make a difference,” said Xoli, who had just moved back to South Africa after being out of the country for many years.

“I have a strong desire to give back and I love community outreach programmes. So when Maxi shared with me her dream of feeding a million children and asked me to join her, I did not hesitate.”

They say they learnt a lot from the Entrepreneur competition, but most importantly formulated a business plan which they did not have.

“Our business was run through pure love and willingness to make a difference, but now have a 40-page business plan we can use when sourcing funding,” said Maxi.

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