Ecuadorian sisters learn to manage their business and design growth strategies

Two sisters in Quito, Ecuador, Yesenia Flores and Diana Flores, 31 and 37 years old respectively, decided to start their business in July 2019 with a gender focus and the intention to provide employment opportunities for women victims of gender-based violence. Yesenia is a business administration engineer and Diana is a food engineer, so they also wanted to design an environmentally friendly business: their products do not have chemical additives, they reuse compostable materials, and are biodegradables and/or packaged with reusable material.

In 2021, after the pandemic, Yesenia and Diana received the Generate your Business (GYB) and Start your Business (SYB) training and then put this knowledge into practice. They prepared a business proposal and conducted a market analysis to assess their potential clients. Their business is dedicated to the production and marketing of jams from citrus peels, fruit preserves, and healthy snacks made with Sacha inchi seeds.

The SIYB program taught us how to better manage our business and design strategies for growth.

Yesenia Flores

To continue growing their business, in 2023 they participated in a training on the “Improve your Business” (IYB) module. Currently, their business has met the formal requirements to operate (municipal permits, food handling certificates, and a single registry of solidarity-based economy, among others). Currently ALIMMPLUS provides candied fruits to two of the country’s major bakeries and a pizzeria. Their business generates the source of employment for three female employees, contributing to the livelihoods of three families. ALIMMPLUS plans to hire one more woman in 2024.