How To Start a Plantain Chips Business In Nigeria

Plantain chips are one of the most well-liked snacks available on the market today and you can undoubtedly find them there.

It was something that was typically connected with large snack food corporations or particular brands that are known for producing products of this kind.

At this point in time, it has evolved into something that almost anyone can make at home provided they have the necessary skills.

These days, snacks are available in a wide variety of forms; they are not restricted to pastries, cakes, and other traditional sweets.

It now includes snacks that are made at home, such as plantain chips, chin chin, coconut chips, and many more items of a similar nature.

The discussion of plantain chips, which will take place in the following paragraphs, is, however, the primary focus of this article.

PRODUCTION OF PLANTAIN CHIPS

The frying of the plantain chips themselves is the step in the production process of plantain chips that is the least difficult of them all. It’s almost exactly the same as cooking a meal in the kitchen by yourself.

There is no particular education, training, experience, or other prerequisites for doing so that we are aware of.

All that is required of you is to get your head around the fact that you are going to start a business, to remain dedicated and committed to the activities involved in the manufacturing process, and to have patience while you wait for your first profit.

A production setup for plantain chips can be accomplished in exactly the same way as described. Even the equipment that is required to get the business off the ground is not prohibitively expensive and can be easily acquired from the market.

Low-cost businesses include plantain chip production. You can start a business with as little as 5,000 naira, and if you sell enough, you’ll make money.

PLANTAIN CHIPS

Plantain, a member of the banana family, is the main ingredient. It contains healthy fiber. Everyone loves plantain chips. It’s refreshing for young and old.

Whether you’re going small or large scale, you will need a bowl for the plantain, a frying pan (conventional or deep), a frying spoon, a sieve, and a plantain cutter.

Manual and electric plantain cutters exist. Both are easy to use, but the electric design is faster and saves time. Choose based on your budget and planned resource spending.

As soon as everything is set up, you can begin producing plantain chips. As previously stated, plantain is the primary ingredient in the manufacturing process. It could now be ripe or unripe plantain, but the unripe ones are usually used.

Then you can make your own unique plantain chip recipe, with a special twist on the flavor and appearance. This is relevant to the product promotion that this article will continue to cover. Plantain chips are ready to enter the market and earn you the desired profits during the marketing stage.

In the following sections, I’ll walk you through the steps to start a plantain chips production and sales business, as well as a brief step-by-step procedure on how to get the final product, the plantain chips, which will eventually be packaged and sold in the market for consumers.

RESEARCH

In any business, research is critical. It shouldn’t take too much of your time, but if you need to do research, know that it will be time well spent if it yields all the data you need to launch your business. Obtaining information about a company is simple these days; all you need is a phone and an internet connection.

Take your time researching the plantain chips industry and deciding if it’s something you want to pursue; there’s a wealth of information available online about how and why to get into the business.

Seek knowledge from industry experts or professionals for reliable information. After you have completed your research, you can decide whether or not to write a business plan for your entrepreneurship venture.

CHOOSE WHAT YOU CAN DO

Because of how cheap it is to get started in the business, even a modest investment will do. And, if you start small, you can complete all of the production processes from the comfort of your own home, with no stress or difficulty.

The cost of equipment is also lower because you will most likely use household utensils to fry the plantain.

In contrast to the home-based operation, a commercial plantain chip factory may be required for mass production. There will also be a need for workers, which adds an additional cost after securing the location.

With the intention of producing on a large scale, it will be necessary to purchase equipment that will generally make the process faster and less time-consuming. There will be workers, and they will undoubtedly be the ones to operate the equipment.

PURCHASING INGREDIENTS AND EQUIPMENT

This is determined by the business’s capacity. If you’re starting on a small scale, the items you’ll need to buy will be in small quantities, and you may not need to buy any equipment. If you can’t afford cutters, you can cut the plantain with knives instead.

You can also use your regular frying pan at home. For a large-scale business, it is necessary to obtain all necessary equipment.

There is a daily production level that must be met, so you must obtain items that will ensure you meet the target. The cutters must be purchased; if you can afford them, an electric cutter is recommended.

SALE, PRODUCTION, AND MARKETING

At this point, everything needed to make the product is on hand. It should not be difficult to do because it is similar to normal frying. Although you may need to add some sort of special recipe to differentiate your product from the competition.

Once that is completed, you are ready to enter the market and make sales, but you do not simply throw the plantain chips into the market; who will buy them? This is where branding and packaging marketing approaches come into play.

You must package your product in such a way that it will attract customers, as well as include your logo and contact information. Plantain chips that have been appropriately packaged and branded can then be sold in the market.

You can introduce your product to small shops, mini marts, confectionery shops, and markets. You probably already have a price strategy in mind, so the next logical step is to anticipate the resulting profit.

Here are a few suggestions for making plantain chips.

1. Purchase the plantain, ripe or unripe, as you have determined. Sort the plantains and discard any that will not make good chips. The plantains are washed to remove dirt before being peeled the traditional way with knives.
2. After that, the plantains can be sliced. You can either use knives or a cutter, depending on your budget.
3. To preserve and flavor the chips, salt, sweetener, or other additives can be added.
   The frying process gets started.
4. After that, the sliced plantains can be fried in either a regular frying pan or a deep fryer. The size of either one is determined by the amount of output you desire. Spices can be added after frying.
5. They are allowed to dry and cool before being packaged and shipped to market.

The production and sale of plantain chips is a lucrative business that can generate massive profits over time. More intriguing is that the business can be started with little capital and from the comfort of your own home.

There will undoubtedly be competitors in the market. Hence, how you beat them will be determined by your recipe, packaging, and marketing strategies.