BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE – What started as a simple attempt to recover money spent on fuel has grown into a promising family poultry business, attracting thousands of followers, loyal customers and recognition for female entrepreneurship.
For poultry farmer Nozizwe Ginindza, the journey of ButterNice Farms was never part of a carefully drawn-up business plan.
A little over three years ago, Ginindza and her family left Manzini City Centre and relocated to the scenic Mkhondvo area, where they decided to experiment with farming and enjoy a different way of life.
At the time, keeping chickens was simply a family hobby.
“We knew we didn’t know what we were doing, but we decided to do it anyway,” Ginindza recalled, describing ButterNice Farms as “the hobby that went absolutely out of control”.
What changed everything was something many families can relate to — the rising cost of living.
As household expenses increased, Ginindza began looking at the chickens differently. Whenever she travelled to Manzini, she started selling Makhaya chickens, hoping the proceeds could at least cover the fuel used during the journey.
It was a modest idea with a practical purpose.
However, the chickens soon began paying for much more than fuel.
Customers responded positively to the farm’s products and word began spreading. Some of the people who bought chickens during those early deliveries remain ButterNice Farms customers today.
For Ginindza, building that loyalty has come down to treating every customer seriously and maintaining standards in quality, cleanliness, freshness and presentation.
The farm processes chickens according to customer orders instead of keeping them frozen for long periods, an approach Ginindza believes gives customers fresher products.
“We really go all out to ensure that the food that we bring to your table is not only processed fresh, it’s processed in the moment as per order,” she said.
From those humble beginnings, ButterNice Farms has gradually expanded beyond selling whole Makhaya chickens.
Its products now include chicken portions as well as eggs for consumption and incubation, while the family continues exploring ways of making Makhaya chicken products accessible to a broader customer base.
Among the breeds receiving particular attention at the farm is the Exclusive Porch Chef Kukus, a Southern African dual-purpose bird valued for egg production, growth, free-range qualities and its suitability for the dinner table.
But perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the ButterNice Farms story is that the enterprise has become more than a business for Ginindza — it has become a practical classroom for the next generation.
Her 15-year-old daughter, Aphiwe Magagula, already carries the title of Marketing Director.
Aphiwe assists with customer orders and communication, giving her valuable first-hand experience in dealing with customers and understanding how a family business operates.
Her involvement demonstrates how small family enterprises can expose young people to entrepreneurship, responsibility and leadership long before they enter the formal workplace.
ButterNice Farms has also connected the family with customers from different walks of life — from households buying chickens for family meals to company executives.
Its story has attracted considerable interest online, with more than 13 000 followers keeping up with what Ginindza affectionately describes as the family’s “little experimental journey”.
The progress has not gone unnoticed.
ButterNice Farms was also selected by FNB among the best female entrepreneurs in the Hhohho Region, giving further recognition to a venture that began without a sophisticated business strategy.
Ginindza’s experience offers a simple but powerful lesson for aspiring entrepreneurs: sometimes the beginnings of a business opportunity are hidden inside an everyday problem.
For her family, it was not a major investment announcement or a complicated business proposal that started the journey.
It was a hobby, a few chickens — and a fuel bill that needed to be paid.
(Courtesy Pics)
