Making money through brewing Kombeza yogurt.

By: Monalisa Chiulika//MALAWI

In a country like Malawi, where the dairy industry continues to face longstanding challenges from low production capacity to unstable supply chains, Dinge Mdingase Chirwa Tewete, the managing director of Kombeza Foods has risen as a remarkable force of change.

Through her vision and resilience, she has shaped Kombeza Foods into one of most respected, high quality and community empowering dairy brands, particularly celebrated for its signature product dubbed ‘Kombeza yogurt.’

After launching her company eight years ago and enduring turbulent market conditions along with a brief operational pause, Dinge’s return to the industry marks not only a business resurgence but also a powerful symbol of hope for women entrepreneurs within agro food processing sector in Malawi.

Starting with a dream to deliver affordable, nutritious dairy products while uplifting rural farmers, Dinge founded Kombeza Dairy Ltd in 2017 in Blantyre.

Speaking in an interview, she said her goal was to provide fresh and locally produced yogurt that Malawians could trust and afford.

She explains that the business idea was born from her journey as a mother preparing porridge for her three children using raw cassava and sweet potatoes mixed with powdered milk.

Later, she experimented with cooking cassava porridge using fresh liquid milk and fruits creating a surprisingly delicious blend that sparked the idea for yogurt production.

From that moment, Dinge confidently stepped into her era of being her own boss.

At its peak in 2018, Kombeza Foods produced over 2,000 litres of yogurt per day is an impressive leap from the 30 litres produced daily during its initial year.

Kombeza products found their way onto the shelves of more than 30 leading supermarkets such as Shoprite, Sana Cash ’n’ Carry, Chipiku, and City Mall, reaching nearly 10,000 customers every month.

The company sourced milk from over 200 smallholder farmers and employed more than 25 workers, injecting an estimated MK3 million into the local agricultural economy monthly.

Despite its promising growth, Kombeza Dairy Ltd encountered major setbacks between 2019 and 2021.

Supply chain disruptions, an increase in production costs, and the devastating impact of the COVID 19 pandemic limited operations drastically.

“The pandemic forced us to pause operations as restrictions limited movement and our farmers struggled to maintain consistent milk supply,” Dinge explains.

Mrs. Chirwa, mother to the visionary founder, proudly reflects her daughter.

“I have always believed in Dinge’s determination and hard work. Seeing her build Kombeza Foods from the ground up while balancing her roles as a wife, mother, daughter, and active community member fills me with joy. She not only created a successful business but also empowers many farmers and women in our community,” she said.

She concludes that her daughter’s achievements are not only a family blessing but an economic gain for Malawi

In his remarks, Dr. Phindu Kambewa, agribusiness lecturer at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), notes that Dinge’s enterprise strengthens the dairy value chain by creating reliable demand for farmers’ milk and promoting nutritional awareness through her products.

He adds that, like other yogurts, Kombeza contains essential nutrients such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, calcium, and vitamin B12. According to the Malawi Dairy Industry Association, local yogurt producers experienced a 40% average drop in output during the pandemic with smaller operators like Kombeza being hit the hardest.

In 2023, after restructuring operations and securing a MK15 million loan from the National Bank of Malawi (NBM), Kombeza Dairy Ltd made a strong comeback.

Dinge expanded distribution to 50 retail outlets, bringing production back to 75% of pre-pandemic levels within just six months.

“Reviving Kombeza was about more than business; it was about restoring hope and proving that women led enterprises can thrive, even in challenging markets,” she emphasizes.

Dinge’s impact goes beyond revenue. She employs 15 full-time staff 70% of them women and actively trains female farmers in modern dairy production techniques.

“Supporting women along our supply chain is crucial to sustainable growth,” she says.

Local dairy retailer Charles Kananji adds, “Kombeza yogurt is especially popular among youths and children because of its quality and cultural familiarity.

“Dinge’s determination encourages other small businesses to keep pushing forward.”

Dr. Jamu, an agro food processing analyst predicts a promising future for Malawi’s locally made dairy products, as consumers increasingly prefer homegrown brands. With Kombeza Dairy Ltd introducing new flavored yogurts and preparing to launch a probiotic line by 2025, Dinge is well positioned to capture an even larger share of the market.

“The key will be scaling production without compromising quality,” advises Dr. Jamu.

“Dinge’s journey demonstrates the importance of adaptive leadership in Malawi’s growing agro processing sector. Many entrepreneurs should emulate this approach to succeed.”

From modest beginnings, through pandemic induced challenges, to a powerful revival, Dinge Mdingase’s journey with Kombeza yogurt stands as a shining example of innovation and resilience within Malawi’s small business sector.

Her efforts prove that female entrepreneurs can drive economic progress, empower communities, and transform industries one bottle of yogurt at a time.