Perspectives June 2016 | Page 14

ESAFD BABY FOOD: BIG SUCCESS 13 Last July, Ethiopian firm GUTS Agro, in partnership with the 2SCALE project, launched Supermoms, a highly nutritious baby food made from a corn-soya blend aimed at helping low-income families and nursing mothers feed their children and prevent child malnutrition. After Supermoms' successful rollout in southern Ethiopia, GUTS Agro and 2SCALE devised a marketing plan – called the Likie model – with the goal of promoting Supermoms in the country’s northern regions, beginning in the town of Dessie in February. Skilled women micro-franchisees, affectionately called “Likie Ladies,” drive the work of the Likie model on the ground, helping engage potential customers and distribute products. In Dessie, the Likie Ladies initiated a five-day guerilla marketing campaign that featured well-known musicians promoting Supermoms in schools, marketplaces, and low-income neighborhoods. Every morning for a week, accompanied by the Likie Ladies, the musicians visited schools and provided infotainment centered around the product.