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Investor Login Area - A Deeper Look

Mor Nutritional Products (Pty) Ltd

Limpopo Province

 

 

Contact Details

Tshepiso Seloane | +27 66 345 6558 | tshepiso@mornutri.co.za
 
Thushego Mathabatha | +27 64 545 8158 | thusego@mornutri.co.za
 

Investment Range Required


R5 Million - R20 Million

Type of Investment Required


Capital Expenditure
Infrastructure Funding
Working Capital

PROJECT REVENUE GENERATION

Mor Nutri is a revenue-generating enterprise with an established market presence and demonstrated financial viability. For the financial year ended 30 April 2024, the company recorded revenue of R493,900, representing a robust 72% year-on-year increase from R286,720 in 2023.

The business maintains an exceptionally strong gross profit margin of 88.89%, indicative of effective cost management in direct production and premium product positioning. This healthy margin substantially contributes toward operational expenses while supporting reinvestment in growth initiatives.

After covering all operating expenses, the company achieved a net profit margin of 7.22% for the 2024 financial year, representing a significant turnaround from the previous year's loss position. This transition to profitability reflects improved operational efficiency, effective cost control, and growing market traction.

Financial projections based on secured letters of intent and pipeline opportunities indicate continued strong revenue growth, with anticipated annual revenues reaching:

R691,460 in 2025
(40% growth)

R968,044 in 2026
(40% growth)

R1,355,262 in 2027
(40% growth)

The company maintains a conservative financial structure with minimal leverage (debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08) and strong liquidity (current ratio of 8.69). This financial prudence provides resilience during growth phases while minimising financial risk.

A comprehensive business plan with detailed financial statements and projections is available for review, demonstrating the enterprise's sound financial management and commercial viability.

SUPPORT TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND WOMEN

Employment Composition:

The company maintains a workforce of 90% youth and 70% women, directly addressing two particularly vulnerable demographics in the Limpopo labour market. This employment creation provides stable income and skill development opportunities in a region with limited formal employment options. Beyond direct job creation, the company's growth trajectory includes plans for 20 positions by 2027, further extending community economic benefits.

Women's Cooperative Partnerships:

Structured relationships with women-led cooperatives create additional economic opportunities through stable purchasing agreements for indigenous ingredients, particularly prickly pear. These partnerships have increased participating women's incomes by an average of 30% while developing valuable business skills and market access. The company provides technical support and quality guidance that enhances cooperative capabilities beyond the direct purchasing relationship.

Youth Skills Development:

Mor Nutri implements comprehensive skills transfer programs for young employees, developing capabilities in sustainable agriculture, food processing, quality control, and marketing. These transferable skills enhance long-term employability and entrepreneurial potential beyond current positions. The company also mentors young agricultural entrepreneurs from surrounding communities, extending impact beyond direct employees.

Community Knowledge Sharing:

Regular workshops on sustainable agricultural practices and nutritional awareness reach approximately 200 community members annually. These initiatives enhance community capabilities while preserving indigenous knowledge systems by integrating contemporary scientific approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on engaging women and youth in these knowledge-sharing activities to support intergenerational continuity.

Gender-Responsive Business Practices:

The company implements policies that specifically address women's needs, including flexible working arrangements for mothers, menstrual leave provisions, and prioritising women for advancement opportunities. These approaches have created a work environment where women thrive professionally while balancing family responsibilities, as evidenced by 90% female employee retention compared to industry averages of around 70%.

Economic Multiplier Effects:

Beyond direct employment and cooperative purchases, Mor Nutri generates significant economic multiplier effects in surrounding communities. Employees' wages circulate through local businesses, while the company's local procurement practices support additional community livelihoods. This broader economic impact strengthens community resilience and reduces vulnerability to economic shocks.

Social Infrastructure Support:

The company allocates a portion of profits to support community infrastructure, including contributions to educational facilities and community gardens. These initiatives enhance the broader social environment while building goodwill and community ownership of the enterprise's success. The approach creates mutually reinforcing relationships rather than extractive business practices.

The integration of community support throughout business operations creates a sustainable social impact that grows proportionally with enterprise success rather than treating community benefit as a secondary consideration or corporate social responsibility afterthought.

DOES THE PROJECT PROMOTE SMMES?

Yes, Mor Nutri actively promotes Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) through multiple intentional mechanisms embedded in its business model:

Supply Chain Integration:

The company has structured its supply chain to incorporate multiple small enterprises rather than relying exclusively on large commercial suppliers. This approach includes:

  • Sourcing complementary ingredients from small-scale farmers
  • Purchasing prickly pear from women's cooperatives
  • Engaging local service providers for logistics and support services
  • Procuring packaging materials from regional small manufacturers

Distributor Development:

The multi-level marketing distribution model creates entrepreneurial opportunities for independent distributors who market and sell Mor Nutri products. The company provides these distributors with product knowledge, marketing materials, and business development support, enabling them to establish viable micro-enterprises with limited initial capital requirements.

Technical Support:

Mor Nutri provides substantial technical assistance to its SMME partners, enhancing their capabilities and long-term viability. This support includes:

  • Agricultural guidance for small-scale farmers
  • Quality control training for cooperative suppliers
  • Business skills development for distributors
  • Market access facilitation for complementary product manufacturers

Market Linkages:

The company leverages its established relationships with hospitality clients to create market access for complementary SMMEs that might otherwise struggle to reach these institutional buyers. This approach creates mutually beneficial relationships where Mor Nutri enhances its offering while supporting SMME growth.

Knowledge Transfer:

Systematic sharing of business processes and technical knowledge builds SMME capabilities beyond immediate transactions. This knowledge transfer enhances long-term entrepreneurial capacity in surrounding communities, creating broader economic resilience.

Cooperative Formalisation:

Mor Nutri has supported the registration and formalisation of three women's cooperatives, enabling these entities to access broader markets and support programs. This formalisation creates sustainability beyond the direct relationship with Mor Nutri.

Growth Pathway Demonstration:

By showcasing the successful evolution from micro-enterprise to established company, Mor Nutri provides a tangible growth model for emerging entrepreneurs in the region. This demonstration effect inspires aspiration while offering practical guidance on scaling approaches.

The company's community embeddedness creates an entrepreneurial ecosystem that stimulates additional SMME development beyond direct partnerships. This catalytic effect multiplies economic impact by creating complementary businesses serving growing market opportunities.

PROJECT FUNDING OPTIONS

Mor Nutri is open to multiple funding structures to support the requested investment of R770,256 with a preference for arrangements that align investor returns with the company's integrated commercial and impact objectives. The preferred funding options include:

Equity Investment:

Senior Loan:

Lease Finance:

Equity participation would enable investor alignment with the company's long-term growth trajectory while providing capital for immediate expansion priorities. The company is prepared to offer a minority equity stake with appropriate governance representation, creating a genuine partnership approach rather than merely a financial transaction. This structure would allow investors to participate in the enterprise's projected growth while supporting its biodiversity conservation objectives. A structured loan facility with reasonable interest rates and appropriate tenor would provide the necessary capital while maintaining the current ownership structure. The company's strong gross margins and improving cash flow position support debt servicing capabilities, particularly as capital investments enhance operational capacity and revenue generation. A 6-12 months grace period before the commencement of repayments would enable the company to implement expansion initiatives before beginning debt service. For equipment-specific portions of the investment, lease financing arrangements offer advantages through reduced upfront capital requirements and potential tax benefits. This approach would be particularly suitable for delivery vehicles (R250,000) and certain processing equipment, allowing the company to access necessary operational assets while preserving capital for other growth priorities.

The company welcomes discussion regarding hybrid financing structures that combine elements of these approaches to create optimal alignment between investor requirements and business needs. Regardless of financing structure, Mor Nutri commits to transparent reporting on both financial performance and impact metrics, ensuring accountability for commercial returns and conservation outcomes.

INVESTMENT CASE

ORGANISATION & GOVERNANCE

Mor Nutritional Products (Pty) Ltd maintains a lean yet effective governance structure appropriate to its current scale while providing robust oversight and strategic guidance:

Leadership Team:

The company is led by co-founders Tshepiso Seloane and Thushego Mathabatha, who hold 50% ownership and are active directors. Both bring extensive knowledge of moringa cultivation, processing techniques, and market development. Their complementary skills span agricultural production, product formulation, financial management, and stakeholder relationships, creating a balanced leadership approach.

Organisational Structure:

The current team comprises 15 staff members organised across key functional areas:

  • Cultivation and Raw Material Processing (5 staff)
  • Product Formulation and Packaging (4 staff)
  • Quality Control and Regulatory Compliance (2 staff)
  • Sales, Marketing and Distribution (3 staff)
  • Administration and Finance (1 staff)

With the proposed investment, this team will expand to approximately 35 staff by 2027, with particular growth in production, distribution, and quality control functions. The expansion will maintain the company's commitment to youth employment (90%) and women's representation (70%).

Advisory Relationships:

The leadership team is supported by formal advisory relationships that enhance strategic capabilities:

  • Academic partnerships with Wits University and the University of Limpopo provide scientific guidance
  • Agricultural Research Council offers technical support on cultivation practices
  • GIZ partnership provides guidance on certification and compliance processes
  • Local business mentors contribute commercial expertise

Operational Policies:

The company has established comprehensive policies governing key areas, including:

  • Financial management and control systems
  • Quality assurance protocols
  • Environmental management practices
  • Community engagement approaches
  • Staff development and welfare

Expansion Governance:

To support the planned growth trajectory, the company is prepared to enhance governance structures through:

  • Formation of a formal advisory board with relevant expertise
  • Implementation of expanded reporting and accountability mechanisms
  • Development of more comprehensive risk management frameworks
  • Regular strategic reviews to ensure alignment with evolving market conditions

This governance approach provides appropriate oversight while maintaining the operational flexibility needed for a growing enterprise in a dynamic market environment. The structure emphasises accountability to stakeholders while supporting the company's integrated commercial and impact objectives.

CAN THE PROJECT BE SCALED & CAN IT BE COPIED?

Mor Nutri's business model offers substantial scalability through multiple dimensions while creating replication potential across similar ecological and social contexts:

1. Scalability Pathways:

Production Scalability: The cultivation and processing systems are designed with modularity that enables incremental expansion without proportional increases in overhead costs. Moringa's perennial nature allows for sustained harvest increases as trees mature, while the processing approach can be scaled through additional equipment without fundamental process redesign. The requested investment in dehydration and packaging equipment will increase production capacity by approximately 50%, with further expansion possible through similar incremental investments.

Market Scalability: The multi-channel distribution approach creates diverse growth pathways, including:

  • Deepening penetration within the hospitality sector beyond current clients
  • Geographical expansion of the distributor network beyond current regions
  • Development of e-commerce capabilities to access national consumers
  • Export potential for premium markets once certifications are secured

Product Line Scalability: The established research partnerships enable continuous product innovation and line extensions based on the core moringa ingredient. The company has identified several complementary product categories with substantial market potential, creating opportunities for revenue growth without fundamental business model changes.

2. Replication Potential:

Geographical Replication: The cultivation approach is well-suited to similar semi-arid regions across Southern Africa, creating substantial replication potential in areas with comparable growing conditions. The business model could be effectively implemented in parts of Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, and neighbouring countries, including Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.