Customer testimonials
Baby food made with organic fruits and vegetables from Reunion Island: the CTCPA accompanies Mamilafé
20
May
Published on : 20/05/2022
Founded by Maïa LAINÉ, Mamilafé manufactures and markets baby food made of organic fruits and vegetables from La Réunion. The CTCPA has accompanied the company on all the technical and sanitary aspects. Maïa LAINÉfounder, tells us about this support.
How was the Mamilafé company born?
After more than 15 years in mainland France, I came back to Reunion Island in 2017 with my 6-month-old son. Just at the time when we can start the food diversification! But I quickly realized that the local offer was non-existent. We only had access to imported products. However, Reunion Island is full of well-known local products (Victoria pineapple, letchi, mango...) and interesting products to process! That's when I saw this "lack" as an opportunity.
The turning point for my project was when I signed up for St. Peter's "Start-up Weekend" in 2018. I pitched my idea in front of over 200 people. A dozen people joined my team to work on the project and we won second prize!
In 2019, I participated in the Innovative Business Creation Contest of La Technopole in Saint-Denis. Mamilafé won the second prize, the tropical bioeconomy prize awarded by Qualitropic and the public prize! These two events confirmed that my idea could work.
It took me one year to make this project a reality. Four associates joined me in this adventure and the Association of Producers Transformers Farmers (APTF) welcomed us in its shared laboratory.
We were lucky enough to receive funding through France Active's "Emergence" program. They allowed us to develop the product prototype and to call upon engineering and training services.
Finally, Mamilafé has obtained the "Initiative Remarquable" label, awarded by Initiative France, the leading network of associations for financing and supporting businesses in France. This label distinguishes the responsible actions of the companies supported by Initiative Réunion.
Mamilafé has launched its first marketable range in December 2021!
Tell us about your products...
I cook our products and heat treat them myself in the shared laboratory of the Association de Producteurs Transformateurs Fermiers (APTF).
We buy our produce from local organic cooperatives. We only use seasonal fruits and vegetables from Reunion Island, of superior quality in order to preserve their organoleptic and nutritional qualities. Preserving the love of the land is very important to us, we want to value the Reunionese resources.
Our little pots are intended for professionals of the early childhood (nursery schools, micro nursery schools, nursery assistants...) but also for private individuals, in particular parents of course. Our first range is adapted to babies from 4/6 months with a single taste to start with.
They are distributed in direct sale via our website and also in several points of sale in Reunion Island. Currently, we offer 14 recipes such as the small pot with chouchou, zucchini, pineapple and sweet potato, beet chiogga ...
At Mamilafé, we have at heart to educate the little Reunionese to the local tastes with recipes that are inspired by the culinary tradition because the culture also passes by the kitchen / the taste!
How did you hear about the CTCPA?
I had a lot of exchanges with the co-processors of the shared workshop of the Association de Producteurs Transformateurs Fermiers (APTF). They recommended me the CTCPA, in particular for the validation of the scales.
At Mamilafé, we needed support in heat treatment, product conservation and the use of the autoclave. On its side, the Association of Producers Transformers Farmers (APTF) had to enable its members to operate the autoclave. The CTCPA was thus able to mutualize our needs!
Given the health context, we were able to start the theoretical training in February/March 2021 online. Mickaël BELLER (Technology Project Manager at CTCPA) then came to Reunion Island in August 2021.
What did you think of the CTCPA's support?
When Mickaël Beller started training us, we immediately noticed that we became more efficient! He brought us the right methodologies and the technical explanations necessary to move forward. Our first recipes were validated and released at the end of November!
Thanks to the support of the CTCPA on the heat treatments among others, we were able to release our first marketable range.
We were trained to operate an autoclave, to the temperature scales. Mickaël BELLER also made the cartography of the autoclave and the oven used for sterilization and pasteurization. This was useful for the APTF. Some members were able to pass their accreditation at the same time. So it was really very enriching for everyone!
We really want to thank the CTCPA for their support and for the follow-up that does not stop after the service.
CONTACT MAMILAFÉ :
CONTACT CTCPA:
- Mickaël BELLER - mbeller@ctcpa.org
- CTCPA Auch - auch@ctcpa.org
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