Tropical Dynasty exports a wide range of products. These are predominantly fresh fruit and vegetables that for the most part can be classified as tropical species. Some of the products are endemic to Uganda/East Africa, while others are originally introduced to Uganda. Tropical Dynasty itself has, as a result of high demand, introduced a few sub-‐species of certain product categories.
One of the most important products in terms of quantities and value is the Matooke, which is a firm and starchy type of plantain endemic to the central highland of East Africa. These are predominantly exported to European specialty shops that cater African migrants in Europe. This also account for a range of the other products that are predominantly cater different migrant communities of African, Asian or Latin American origin.
At current state, this is a highly competitive market with limited demand and Tropical Dynasty currently has sufficient access to supplies and expects to be able to ensure further supplies if demand should increase dramatically. We believe that this market will grow slow and steady, but nothing suggests any potential in vast and rapid expansion within these operations for the company.
The second most important product in terms of value is chili pepper, in particular, the red Habanero, which has been on dramatically increasing demand in recent decade. All chili products marketed in the same European specialty shops as above described products, but they seem to have a growing demand among all ethnic minority groups that these shops cater as well as ethnic European costumers that seeks these specialty shops for in order to acquire different variations of chili peppers. There is a particular demand for the red Habanero that Tropical Dynasty and Uganda can offer for reasons described below and Tropical Dynasty is currently facing massive challenges in terms of meeting the demands of the market for all of its chili products, but in particular the red Habanero.
At current level, the company have to reject more than half of all the orders due to lack of supply and this only account for the existing costumer segment – European specialty shops. In addition, several potential new consumer segments, including supermarkets and big retailers, have approached Tropical Dynasty inquiring about massive orders, in some instances exceeding current total production, but contracts have not been possible due to insufficient supply as well as lack of compliance with quality and safety standards for these markets.
Tropical Dynasty also exports a series of processed products such as, cooking oils, flour, spices, sauces, and Blue Band (margarine). All of these products contribute to a very small share of both total exports and export earnings. These are regional products that costumers typically acquire in relatively small portions and in any case in combination with the above described products.
From the retailers’ perspective these are specialized products that is highly priced, but not necessarily very profitable, in that they are sold in limited quantities, and typically they function to attract specialized costumers with in ethnic minority groups. None of these products have potentials in relation to operational expansion and further market penetration.