Fruit for sustainability — not only powder teams up with single mums to save ugly fruit

Startup not only powder collects “ugly fruits” that have been removed from shelves but are still edible from suppliers, and turns them into dried fruits and nutritional powders with innovative freezing technology. Sustainable and environmentally friendly, it has found its niche in the F&B industry with huge economic potential. “Freeze drying can preserve 97% of the nutrition in fruits. We also mix fruit powder with ‘superfood’ powder, such as chia seeds and tiger nuts.” Founder Fioni explained that fruit powder is not only handy and nutritious, but also versatile, which can be made into drinks, spreads for bread, and flavourings in ice cream. “By incorporating environmental concepts into daily life, they become simple practices for everyone.”

A small pack of nutritional powder carries a big mission. Besides health, environmental protection, efficiency and technology, Fioni also emphasised on sustainability and social responsibilities towards every resource and decision she made. However, running short of manpower earlier, the company could only engage in short-term projects. This year, taken by surprise, the company received the Seed Funding from The Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund of Impact Innovation Lab, to carry out social innovation projects that support women’s employment. Ethnic minority women and young single mums find it  particularly difficult to find jobs, as they are less competitive in qualifications, and less adaptive to the working hours of full-time jobs with children. Unemployment makes it harder for such families to escape poverty. In view of this, Fioni hired them for dried fruits production, operations and sales under her social enterprise, hoping to create job opportunities that allow them to juggle family and work, while developing new skills.

“Back then, we did not have the strategy to engage in social issues, and felt that social innovation projects were unaffordable for startups, but now we know partnership is the key.” Through Impact Innovation Lab, Fioni got in touch with various non-profit organisations, including HKYWCA and Mother’s Choice, which helped in recruitment, to reach their target audience and realise the project. During the 6-month Incubation Period, not only powder hired 20 disadvantaged women, and provided them with over 90 hours of training. The addition of new blood has brought unexpected insights to the company. “Our product branding is healthy, but we overlooked children as one of our target groups. Now with employees that are mums, we possess the parents’ perspective, which strives for convenience and efficiency. For example, they look for dried fruits in family packs, with health benefits to children clearly stated on the package.” In fact, family packs can reduce packaging waste and costs, opening new doors for the business. 

After the 6-month Incubation Period, not only powder has gained enough confidence and experience for more, new plans with other NGOs are under discussion. From joining Impact Innovation Lab, to connecting different groups, a bigger network and stronger community has formed. “One person cannot do it all, or last long. Different organisations may have different aims, but together, we can create synergy.”

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Ms. Angie Zhou

Education Specialist

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Angie Zhou is an Education Specialist at MIT App Inventor. She was the founder and CEO of Dreams Come True in Shenzhen, where she developed online coding courses for kids. She also has previous curriculum development, teaching and staff training experience at First Code Academy in Hong Kong.