The cleaning detergent sector is dominated by large brands, which is a reality that manufacturer Lufuno Rasoesoe wants to change with her products. A brand that has attracted customers with its simple yet attractive design, Rasoesoe believes that Africa is ready for African-owned brands. Rasoesoe developed an interest in the detergent sector while she was still selling herbal tea for weight loss.
While under the guidance of an incubator in Tshwane, she acquired money little by little and launched Tosh Detergents in March this year. According to Rasoesoe, Tosh Detergents manufactured cleaning detergents and sanitisers. Her range of products includes two types of dishwashing liquid, a washing detergent, fabric conditioner, toilet bleach, glass and window cleaner, and a multipurpose cleaning liquid.
“The antibacterial dishwasher gets rid of germs and is just like a sanitiser, whereas the normal dishwasher only strips the grease or stains off the dishes without the antibacterial element,” she said. “The washing detergent is gentle on hands and is also good for when you use a washing machine, and is a better option than the powder, which leaves powdery residues on clothing.”
Rasoesoe told Vutivi News that she started her business after realising that the market was saturated with products owned by large foreign corporations. “This encouraged me and created in me a desire to see many local products competing with the big brands,” she said.
“We as African people need to excel and compete alongside multinational corporations because we have the capability to do so,” Rasoesoe said that her products were SABS tested and approved through the incubator. They are distributed at a Spar in Tshwane, as well as B&Bs, hotels and resorts in Limpopo, Gauteng and the North West. She also plans are listing them on Takealot before the end of November.
Rasoesoe said people were ready to support local businesses. “Many of them come straight to me and tell me that they buy my products because it is owned by an African and for me this made me realise that Africa is ready to embrace their own and that such products are overdue,” she said.
“This, coupled with my biggest achievement being signing a distribution deal with Spar in under six months, proved to me that African companies can really leave a mark in this sector.
