Linden agro-processor launches new product- ‘Cook-up in a Cup’!

By Abiola Archer

No longer is there need for the labour intensive process of cooking a delicious pot of Cook-up Rice! No more grating coconuts, pressuring peas and mixing everything together to the right texture for hours. With Taz Foods’ ‘Cook-Up in a Cup’, Guyanese can now enjoy this traditional meal in less than 30 minutes and still get that bursting authentic taste, that makes Cook-up rice such a delicacy. Customers have a choice of either microwave or stove-top packages and are guaranteed the same healthy wholesome flavours that are enjoyed from a regular pot of Cook-up rice. Taz Foods also recently launched a ready-to-make Pasta product.

Taz Foods is a Region 10 based agro-processing company, founded by Lindener, Tasmin Pellow. In her quest to expand and to roll out new products, ‘Cook-up in a Cup’ is the latest invention and Taz Foods is already working on new products. Her other signature products include bottled green seasoning, a luxurious garlic sauce and pepper sauces.

Speaking on her journey to becoming a budding agro-processer and entrepreneur, the 36-year-old Pillow, said she has been very proactive in trying to gain as much knowledge to better herself. She participated in several training programmes including those from the Small Business Bureau and the Board of Industrial Training. She is also a former student of the University of Guyana and the Guyana School of Agriculture.

After completing her studies at UG, Pillow returned to Linden, only to find a jobless market. She however took this negative situation and made a good out of it. “I came back to Linden full time only to find it hard to get a job so me with my enterprising self said let me look around for about two years. After not getting the type of job I wanted, at age 32, I took my then seven-year-old son and started the Guyana School of Agriculture to study Agro Processing”. Now she is one of Linden’s most recognised agro-processors.

Her products are sold in both wholesale and retail stores across Guyana at a very affordable cost. They are high quality and the packaging is superb and export-worthy. House-wives have testified on how flavourful her garlic sauce is, giving the perfect finish to any meal.

Her encouragement to potential entrepreneurs is to “just do it, take that first step, take it off paper or out your head and try it.”

Pillow said she has a realistic projection for her businesses and tries her best to stick to the plan. “Last year we had a three-year plan of exporting and we are on track to export with two Caribbean islands, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago and the next thing is to be in all the supermarket in Guyana.”