Solidity Trade has released it’s Fall 2009 informational brochure containing important information about or Organic Unrefined Shea Butter, including our pricing and certification. Please feel free to click on the following link to take a look at our brochure: ST Brochure Fall 2009 Organic Unrefined Shea Butter
“Bringing new solutions to old problems in the shea butter industry market.”
The Solidity Trade team is proud to announce that we have successfully received organic certification of our Shea Butter Village, inspected and issued by the ECOCERT organic inspection company. This excellent news will enable us to bring more opportutnities to the cooperative in Tamale, Northern Ghana. As the financial sponsor of the Shea Butter Village, Solidity Trade is continuing to pursue a strong partnership with SEKAF Ghana, which has been responsible for the supervision of the organic certification and are is now aiming for the next milestone: Fair Trade Certification.
Over the past year, we’ve witnessed a strong call for organic-oriented produce from the market and possessing such a certification will help ensure the quality, transparence, and traceability of our products to our buyers. Unrefined shea butter is a great product that is gaining increased recognition across the globe. This certification will certainly spur the growth of the Shea Butter Village cooperative and enable us to create hundreds more jobs in that region over the course of the next few months.
To download our organic certificate, please click here.
The color of unrefined shea butter depends on the types of shea nuts used: in general, shea nuts will vary in color from near-white to yellow. The 21 uses and advantages of unrefined shea butter include the following:
Shea butter primarily comes from the West African region, however there are increasing varieties in East Africa coming to market that are softer and smoother than the West African varieties.
Solidity Trade is currently sourcing some new funds in order to optimize its value chain. The aim of this fundraising effort is to increase both the quality and the quantity of shea butter produced. We are working diligently to reinforce the value and efficiency of each of our business in order to facilitate the entire production process.
In lieu of refining shea butter in Europe (a model that most companies have followed), Solidity Trade has decided to refine its products directly in the areas where they are produced. Refining products at the source implies an important investment of both time and energy to make the project a success. By bringing investment to the source, Solidity Trade hopes to create numerous jobs and establish a need for a more qualified workforce. Solidity Trade has also decided not to use hexane nor acetone – chemical solvents used to extract butter from shea nuts and for fractionation. Hence, both the production and the refinement processes will remain completely organic and will not pose a risk to the environment. Solidity Trade values the idea of quality over quantity and strives to adopt the best industry practices to satisfy our customer’s expectation.
Our strategy of value chain optimization is highlighted by the following features: increased market reactivity, the ability to considerably increase or decrease production to respond to demand, adapt our product to the needs of the market, This strategy will not only render our production more efficient and flexible to market demands, but it will also enable us to diversify our product offering. Shea butter is just a beginning and we do hope to be able to produce a variety of oils and butters.
At Solidity Trade, our vision is to be present during every step of the production process, from when shea nuts are harvested from the field, to the time our customers are applying the product to their skin.
Earlier this month, Solidity Trade Co-Founders Lam Tran and Fabien Nervais met with Dr. Hunter from the American Shea Butter Institute (ASBI) in Atlanta to obtain the results of a Shea Butter quality assessment offered by the organization.
During grade analysis, a number of tests are performed to determine the level of important ingredients and various other measures to assess quality. The Shea butter is then graded and scored based on these results. Solidity Trade’s first container of Shea Butter achieved Grade B certification and scored “excellent” in 30 of the 33 metrics used during the testing process. Solidity Trade and its affiliated partners are dedicated to continually improving quality and look forward to further working with ASBI to test and certify our Shea butter. To view and download a copy of the report please click the following link: May 2009 ASBI Certificate
In its search for development the company SEKAF GHANA is looking for an intern for 3-4 months. The company has built a strong reputation in the shea butter industry in West Africa and has set up a co-op creating jobs for poor women in rural areas. It is looking for a competent graduate school student willing to participate in the development of the company as a support for the business partners of the company.
Job Title: Administrative Assistant
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Requires strong computer and internet research skills. Also calls for flexibility, excellent interpersonal skills, project coordination experience, and the ability to work well with all levels of internal management and staff, as well as outside clients and vendors. Possesses advanced computer skills along with the ability to train others on system usage. A premium paid for specific industry or market experience. Extensive software skills are required, as well as Internet research abilities and strong communication skills.
Location: Tamale, Ghana
Food, transportation and accomodation cost is taken care by the company SEKAF GHANA.
To apply for this opportunity, please send your resume and contact phone number to: contact [at] soliditytrade [dot] com
Within 4 years the Shea industry has effectively doubled in size, which is great news for the West African markets. To address this growth, USAID’s West Africa Trade Hub is holding a conference in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso at the end of March to explore investment opportunities and discuss challenges and strategies for this growing market.
To learn more about the Shea 2009 conference, please visit:
www.globalshea.org
