By Robert Kumwenda and Orchestra Kamanga
Healthy and Beauty Care Private Limited Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Macbul Latif has given out the reasons behind his idea to venture into business saying that it all started when he was in India thirteen to fifteen years ago when his friends had a similar business.
He said his friends had a manufacturing company in Bombay, the Capital City of India and were manufacturing cellodent toothpaste and fairness cream for the American market.
“The name of the company was Cello International. Having realized that none was doing it here in Malawi, l imported two containers one for cellodent and the other one for fairness cream and started marketing it,” he said.
The CEO said it was not easy at the beginning saying that it was a tough ride but he never gave up.
He said though it was very difficult he knew that nothing comes on a silver platter as such he imported more and did some promotions slowly things started catching up.
“I took the risk of importing new full machinery and started manufacturing the products locally here in Malawi. I choose Malawi because when you do something good you do it for your home,” he said.
Latif said currently plans are under way to grow the company in Malawi and expand it to the region of east and central Africa especially in Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe and all over Africa.
He urges their customers to continue using their products saying using them is the right choice and there are much cheaper and easier for them to budget.
“Am also urging them to promote our products to other consumers who can also save money by using them,” he said.
The H and B CEO further said that their products are good as other branded items similar to them if not better than them and affordable.
H and B products that have now become a household name for every Malawian consumer are cellodent toothpaste, fairness cream, body lotion, baby powder and H and B Candles.
In his leisure time the Hand B CEO said he enjoys playing cricket, squash, and volleyball and said he has played football and hockey as his minor sports.
His favorite food is steak but he also enjoys eating all kinds of food.
