Catherine

Catherine is a cereal entrepreneur. Along with her husband, Frederic, she runs her family business FRECA General Supply Company in Rwanda's northern province. Currently Catherine purchase raw grain inputs, processes them, and sells the finished products in her mini supermarket and to wholesalers.

Catherine has 4 permanent employees and 6 temporary ones, which increases significantly during the high season. In addition, Catherine works with 3,500 small holder farmers divided into 10 cooperatives to source the raw grain inputs..

Catherine and Frederic are a hard working couple, and they have created a successful small business. What is most impressive about FRECA is their financial systems. Most businesses in Rwanda struggle with accurate financial tracking, causing frequent cash shortages and suspensions in business operations, but not FRECA. Catherine and Frederic keep meticulous records and have a strong business plan to repay their loan.

Catherine is requesting support of 30 million rwandan francs so that she can purchase a new truck that will help her expand her business. Currently, her biggest growth constraint is transportation, and a truck would enable her to collect grains and sell finished products all across Rwanda and into southern Uganda. With projected business growth, Catherine will need to hire more permanent and temporary employees, which she is eager to do.