Ghana: Fan Milk Plc. establishes 10 street vendors into business owners

Fan Milk PLC, Ghana’s leading dairy and Beverage Company, has strategically created sustainable jobs within its value chain by sponsoring ten street vendors to transition into full-time agents. This initiative is part of the company’s broader effort to support its commercial partners and enhance the distribution of its products nationwide.

The initiative, known as “Project Sankofa,” is designed to rekindle the excitement associated with Fan Milk products, which have been a staple in Ghanaian households for over 64 years. The project aims to boost sales and foster a sense of pride and ownership among those who have been instrumental in promoting the brand.

Fan Milk also introduced the “Right to Dream” Award Scheme as part of its effort to honor street vendors. This award is specifically created to honor loyal street vendors whose dedication and hard work have significantly contributed to making Fan Milk’s products accessible to consumers across the country. This initiative aligns with the goals of Danone, Fan Milk’s parent company, particularly under its Danone Impact Journey pillar of ‘Thriving with its People & Communities,’ which focuses on equipping and empowering individuals with the skills and capabilities needed for future success.

Lionel Parent, Managing Director of Fan Milk PLC, has been actively engaging with agents across the country, underscoring the importance of personal interactions to better understand and address the business needs of the company’s commercial partners.

“We are happy to bring back pride in our vendors and agents, who have been the key drivers of our business growth. For the first time, we have identified and rewarded ten street vendors by elevating them to the Agent category, making them business owners. By providing financial support and logistics, we are helping them become independent Agents. This confirms our heritage as a brand that grows alongside its partners. This is just the beginning of our plans to bring back pride through strategic engagements,” he said.

Agartha Baidoo, the first female to win the 2024 ‘Right to Dream’ Award, thus transitioning from a street vendor to an Agent after five years. She expressed her heartfelt appreciation to Fan Milk PLC for an empowering initiative that supports her dream to earn more income and support her family.

She commented, ‘As a street vendor, it has always been my dream to save enough and own a shop. This support from FanMilk is a dream come true. I am excited and encouraged because selling Fan Milk products has been my only business for so many years.”

Over the past two months, Fan Milk PLC has engaged with over 555 Agents across the country and 1,200 vendors in Accra to better understand their challenges. This initiative aims to revive our ambition to support sustainable employment, protect our brand heritage, while providing refreshing snacks to our cherished customers.