dos margaritas (quinoa complete nutrition bar)

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dos margaritas (quinoa complete nutrition bar)

Quito, Ecuador
Year Founded:
2011
Organization type: 
for profit
Project Stage:
Start-Up
Budget: 
$250,000 - $500,000
Website:
http://www.dosmargaritasfunctionalfoods.com/
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

Our company develops and sells functional snacks; these are snack products that provide tangible health benefits to our customers. We have developed a cereal bar with quinoa as its main ingredient and we aim to create a social, economic and nutritional impact by selling our products to the end user.

About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

Children from families with low incomes, especially in the developing countries, lack complete nutritional food intakes. This problem produces effects that do not let children develop their whole potential resulting in poor academic and physical development and general unhappiness. In both developing and developed countries, people are tackling problems of obesity due to poor food choices.

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

We develop and sell a product (quinoa cereal bar) that has 90% of the required micronutrients (without additional micronutrients) for children from 5 to 12 years old. Quinoa is a high quality protein (all proteins in proper proportion – similar to mother’s milk) and brings essential nutrients that help children get the nutrition they need to thrive. In addition, we have a quinoa bar designed for retail sale in the natural food stores (currently looking for funding to start implementing our US entry market strategy) that will be sold to customers who enjoy quinoa, gluten free benefits, specially improve their metabolism, which helps tackle obesity.
Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.

We are looking to reach children in the Andean region in the short term and globally in the long term, and positively impact their lives by a) working with farming communities to ensure that they are paid fairly for their quinoa and have access to skills training related to quinoa production and their micro business b) supply our product to institutional food programs in the region first and globally in the long run, by working with the communities themselves to sell them our product as part of the benefits of our quinoa supplier relationship. c) raise awareness among young people and adults who have problems with obesity and buy our quinoa bar designed for the natural retail stores that helps them regulate their metabolism.

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years.

When children eat products full of micronutrients (powder) it may be good for them in terms of nutrient intake. Nevertheless, the bio-availability of our product is much better because it has 90% of the required micronutrients in it naturally; also because Quinoa is a high quality protein grain and helps the body to take in all the necessary macronutrients and micronutrients, therefore improves customer metabolism helping them to tackle not just malnutrition but also health problems like obesity.
Sustainability

Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability?

Our sustainability plan is based on the following information about our company financials: • Initial required investment: US$ 250.000 – US$ 500.000 • Gross margin per unit (quinoa bar, selling to US market): 61% • Gross margin per unit (quinoa bar, selling to food programs market): 7% • Key Growth driver is develop our brand based on product origin and quinoa benefits

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?

Some companies have products to feed vulnerable children and they work with different institutions. Our product brings to these children is the bioavailability that gives them better chances to intake all macro and micronutrients. • Sale and Market in USA, Europe, Central and South America and Asia • Market to quinoa lovers and gluten free food markets • Develop Partnerships with key institutions like World Food Program and other international NGO’s that work to end children malnutrition in the world • Increase sales through key Partnerships increasing the number of children reached
Team

Founding Story

Our company started with a very strong belief that we have a role to play in changing the future of our region (Andes region, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador). Juan is the founder and is a former athlete. Juan had to overcome mental and physical challenges in order to be successful. Juan is passionate about quinoa and it was when he was studying in Chile that he realized he could support development his country and his region (Andes) by “adding value” to local raw materials. He also saw a trend towards healthy eating and a way to provide nourishment to kids and adults both in Latin America and in developed nations. We want to give our children a better food and chances to thrive. We have faith that we can make our dream a reality.
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