1. Product Formulation, Process Development,
and Commercialization of Nutritious Peanut
Cookies- HomeTech Foods, Uganda

2. GP3M Team Members, Dr. Manjeet Chinnan,
Dr. Wojciech Florkowski and Dr. Anna
Resurreccion with NARO Investigator, Ms.
Margaret Masette; and Industry Partner,
Ms. Grace Aluoch, HomeTech Foods
HomeTech Foods- Research Planning Meeting –
Manufacturing Facility Visit with Dr. Dr. Florkowski, Grace Aluoch, Margaret
Chinnan, Grace Aluoch, Margaret Masette and Dr. Anna V.A. Resurreccion
Masette and Dr. W.J. FlorKowski

3. • It is estimated that 38% of the children are stunted in Uganda and
45.5% of Ugandan children below 5 years of age were stunted,
while 23% were under weight.
• The formation of a public-private partnership involving the USAID
Peanut CRSP GP3M Team and the National Agricultural Research
Laboratory of the National Agricultural Research Organization
(NARO) together with Industry Partner, Hometech Foods in
Uganda, resulted in the development of a Nutritious Peanut
Cookie targeted toward improving the nutritional status of school-
age children in Uganda.
• Hometech Foods is a small enterprise established and managed by
three female-entrepreneurs. The enterprise is engaged in the
manufacture of baked goods but also includes fruit juices and
jams in their product line. Baked goods, with limited nutritional
value, have been part of the company’s product portfolio.

4. • The GP3M Team’s household survey identified cookies as a product with
market appeal.
• The research was on development of a suitable formulation and process
optimization, focusing on selection of peanut varieties, the incorporation
of peanut testa to result in a more nutritious product, and the effect of
increasing the proportions of peanut meal in the formulations.
• A commercial oven and infra-red temperature gauge were purchased
with project funds to be used in the cookie trials.
• Peanut testa resulted in a darker color that was unfamiliar to consumers
and was not incorporated in the final formulation. In addition, sensory
tests indicated that increasing the peanut meal to 40% also increased
acceptability and the cost of production.
• A final formulation was selected that was based on consumer sensory
tests performed at central locations in Uganda. The baking parameters
for the cookie were likewise optimized.

5. Nutritious Peanut Cookies

6. • The technology was transferred to Hometech Foods and the product was
commercialized.
• Hometech Foods reported selling 1,000 packets per week to no more
than 3 outlets selling to parents and school children generating 1 mln
Uganda shillings in sales and employing three workers. The primary
Nutritious Peanut Cookie buyers are parents of school-age children.
• During the Uganda Manufacturers Association International Fair, October
4-10, 2012, the product was exhibited for sale and featured consumer
taste tests to entice consumer sales. Most of the 250 consumers rated
the cookies as highly acceptable (Like moderately to like extremely) and
rated it highly on their intent to purchase it. Several consumers
purchased the product available for sale.
• Before the product can be distributed nation-wide, a certification from
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) as the guarantor of
consumers has to certify the safety and quality of the product. The
cookie is undergoing certification and production of Nutritious Peanut
Cookies will likely expand because of the strong indicators of demand.

7. The University of Geeorgia’s
Global Peanut Product Processing and
Marketing Team (GP3MT) with Hometech
Foods Employee.

8. HomeTech Foods entrepreneur,
Ms. Grace Aluoch at product launch,
Uganda Manufacturing Association’s Fair
With GP3M Team’s Dr. Anna V. A Resurreccion and Dr. Manjeet Chinnan

9. Most of the 250 consumers who participated, rated the cookies
as highly acceptable (Like moderately to like extremely) and
rated it highly on their intent to purchase it.

10. Products sold out quickly