By 
Buttercup Farmhouse led by its innovative founder Ms Chantelle de Bruyn from the Free Sate got to showcase their health-focused vegetable products to a vast international market at the G20 Agriculture Working Group meeting in Durban, KwaZulu Natal.
De Bruyn disrupted the beverage sector as we know it, changing the order with her innovative invention of a coffee beverage made from butternut. The brave leap into uncharted waters was a solution to those who love their coffee but still want to remain healthy, opening a whole new market.
The business soon shot to celestial heights and is still climbing with great future plans on the cards. The Business Weekly was privileged to talk to the entrepreneurship rock star in the agro-processing sector.
The G20 provided a platform for a number of local businesses to exhibit their products during the meeting, where potential international investors can be exposed to their unique products.
“It’s truly an honour to be part of the G20 exhibitors. The platform brings together global thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers, and to be among them as a representative of Buttercup Farmhouse is both humbling and empowering. It’s a moment of reflection on how far we’ve come and a reminder of the impact we’re striving to make in the world,” said Chantelle de Bruyn.
Buttercup Farmhouse has over the years become an international brand making market inroads in some of the SADC countries; Chantelle de Bruyn has herself become an inspirational figure internationally, she has been invited to numerous international events as a speaker to share her expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship and motivate other women and youths in the agricultural sector.
The driven de Bruyn says being at the G20 opens doors for strategic global partnerships, investor interest, and market expansion. She says it gives them the visibility to showcase their unique, health-focused products to international stakeholders who are aligned with sustainability, wellness, and inclusive economic growth.
Chantelle de Bruyn says it is also a fantastic platform to learn from others and potentially collaborate on innovative solutions.
“We’re excited to have grown beyond South Africa’s borders. Our vegetable coffee products are currently exported to Namibia and we are in the final stages of expanding to Tanzania. We are also exploring partnerships in the United States and Europe, with promising developments underway,” said the tenacious de Bruyn.
Buttercup Farmhouse currently employs six people, with a focus on empowering women and youth through sustainable job creation and skills development in both the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
The palatable Buttercup Farmhouse vegetable coffee products are available at selected Food Lovers Market stores across South Africa. They are also accessible through various local markets and direct-to-customer channels, as well as Makro Nationwide through the Massmart channel stores, with their online sales coming soon to make it even easier to enjoy their range, which is still under development.
“We are working on expanding our product range to include a plant-based, eco-friendly energy drink, staying true to our mission of promoting health through innovation. We also aim to strengthen our export capabilities, increase local job opportunities, and invest in sustainable farming practices. Our goal is to continue pioneering the vegetable beverage space and make wellness more accessible for all,” said Chantelle de Bruyn.
