What started as a modest kitchen venture in Abuja in 2023 has gradually evolved into a promising food and beverage business with ambitions beyond Nigeria’s borders. Sally’s Pastries and Natural Drinks, founded by Mrs. Salome Alamoh, is gaining recognition for its homemade pastries and locally made healthy drinks inspired by Nigerian traditions.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Mrs. Alamoh recounted her entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of running a small-scale food business, and her vision of taking Nigerian natural drinks to the international market.
Operating initially from her home in Abuja, she began production on a small scale, serving a handful of customers. Over time, the business expanded through consistent quality and customer referrals, attracting patronage from schools, shops, and private event organizers.
Today, Sally’s Pastries produces a variety of baked items such as cakes, doughnuts, meat pies, and assorted small chops, which have become popular among customers for their freshness, affordability, and homemade taste.
The business has also built a strong reputation for its natural beverages, including zobo, kunu, kunu aya (tigernut drink), tamarind drinks, sugarcane juice, and fruit drinks made from watermelon and pineapple. According to Mrs. Alamoh, the drinks are carefully prepared using fresh and natural ingredients to encourage healthier lifestyle choices.
She explained that her passion for natural drinks was inspired by a desire to provide alternatives to sugary carbonated beverages while promoting traditional Nigerian nutrition and wellness.
Despite the progress, the entrepreneur admitted that funding remains one of the biggest obstacles facing the business. Limited access to capital has affected her ability to increase production capacity and meet rising customer demand.
Unstable electricity supply has also created major setbacks, especially in preserving perishable drinks. Frequent power outages, she noted, sometimes lead to spoilage and financial losses that impact the business.
To maintain quality, Mrs. Alamoh sources many of her raw materials directly from local bush markets where farmers sell fresh farm produce. She said buying ingredients in bulk and storing them properly helps sustain production while also supporting local farmers and traders.
Looking to the future, the founder of Sally’s Pastries and Natural Drinks says she hopes to grow the brand into a larger company capable of supplying corporate organizations and exporting Nigerian natural beverages to international markets within the next five years.
Driven by determination and belief in the global appeal of indigenous Nigerian foods and drinks, Mrs. Alamoh remains focused on building a brand that celebrates local ingredients while promoting healthier consumption habits.
