OUR STORY
The Dawn of Senque
The idea for Senque emerged in the fall of 2017 when Adey became aware of two critical malnutrition issues in Addis Ababa. The first was the severe malnutrition among school-aged children, some of whom fainted in school due to a lack of nutritious food. The second was the growing risks posed by the expanding “fast food” culture in the city. Although Adey was an accomplished businessperson, she had no prior experience in the food industry. However, observing the rapid growth of the brewery sector, she saw an opportunity to upcycle two highly nutritious byproducts—spent grain and brewer’s yeast.
She began researching how to transform these byproducts into nutritious foods such as bread, crackers, and granola bars. Adey started developing recipes incorporating spent grain to fortify bread, which she tested at a friend’s restaurant. Her vision soon extended beyond small-scale production, leading to the creation of Senque, meaning “On-the-Go Snacks.” The core mission was to leverage brewery byproducts to combat malnutrition.
As Adey delved deeper into the project, she realized the potential far exceeded just producing a few loaves of bread. Harvesting and upcycling brewery and other agro-processing byproducts could provide a substantial source of nutritious food, helping to address the severe malnutrition problem in the country. She leveraged her network of friends in the United States to further develop the idea.
This led to early support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and collaborations with General Mills and Cargill, two leading food companies in the United States. With family and friends serving as focus groups, Adey used the grant and the collaboration with these companies to experiment with recipes until they achieved consensus on the ideal taste.
Since then, Senque has expanded and refined its product line, including four granola bar flavors and fortified bread. Significant milestones have been reached, including the acquisition of a production line capable of producing 36,000 granola bars per day. However, a lack of appropriate manufacturing space delayed the product’s market entry. Senque has now secured a large industrial shed with 1,000 square meters of manufacturing space, including 500 square meters of storage, in Dukem, 38 kilometers south of Addis Ababa. Senque plans to enter full scale manufacturing in November 2024.
Indulge in the wholesome goodness of our granola bars, crafted with your well-being in mind. Packed with high-quality ingredients, our bars boast a rich source of protein and fiber, promoting sustained energy and satisfying hunger cravings. We’ve carefully selected whole ingredients to create a nutritious snack that not only delights your taste buds but also contributes to your overall health. With minimal sugar content, you can enjoy a guilt-free treat that supports your wellness goals. Make a mindful choice for your health with our granola bars – the perfect blend of delicious flavor and nourishing benefits for a vibrant and balanced lifestyle.
Meet The Team
Adey Aferwork
Founder/CEO
Adey is the Founder and Managing Director of Senque, an accomplished entrepreneur with over twenty years of diverse business experience. Trained as an accountant, she has successfully led ventures in manufacturing, beauty salons, and various service industries. Adey’s ability to identify opportunities and transform them into thriving businesses underscores her entrepreneurial expertise and passion for innovation.
Deborah Gross
technical advisor
Dr. Deborah Gross is a professor of Chemistry at Carleton College, Minnesota, U.S.A. Her teaching and research interests lie in the study of ambient aerosol particles using real-time particle measuring instruments, such as the Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ATOFMS) to learn more about airborne particulates. I have been actively collaborating with Professor Nega on addressing the household energy problems in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I am also excited to work on developing nutritious food from brewery waste and ancient grains.
Haimanot Negussie
Marketing
Ms. Seblua Abebe is an engineer who joined the team two and half years ago on a related (www.healthy-fire-cc.com) project. She has now become a key person in developing recipes and tasting them in the target market we want to reach. She also handles all government-related requirements for this work.