 |
|
Last edited: 6 January 2023
|
The Togo Tilé store
Togo Tilé is a solar cooking business that was established in the first half of 2014 by Seydou Coulibaly in Togo, Mali. Togo is his native village and Tilé means sun in Bambara. In the summer of 2014 Solar Cooking KoZon concluded a two-year contract with him for a total of EUR 33,300 to cover start-up costs of the business, a workshop, production and transport equipment and wage costs.
In 2017, Togo Tilé had 30 permanent staff plus a number of production employees and saleswomen. It has opened outlets in Segou, Bamako and Sikasso. His ultimate aim is to reach nationwide coverage. Indeed the women are able to pay the cooking equipment with the money they save on wood which means that this equipment is also affordable for poorer women. But Seydou does also and in particular look for his customers among the urban middle class.
After his study trip to the project in Uganda, in August 2015, he trained project leaders from Burkina Faso and Senegal in using a business approach.
Most significant projects[]
Togo Tilés products for sale at a local market. Photo credit: Solar Cooking KoZon
- Continued success for solar cooking business in Mali - In 2014, Solar Cooking KoZon granted Togo Tilé, a Mali-based solar cooking business run by Seydou Coulibaly, an initial subsidy of EUR 13,300. Two years later, in 2016, it was an established business with 30 staff members, five points of sale nationwide, and an average monthly business volume of EUR 9,000. Helping the environment, is an important message presented at sales demonstrations and at schools and universities. For Togo Tilé, a contribution to the environment does not end with the sale of the product, as they continue to support and follow-up with their customers.
News[]
- January 2023: Togo Tilé, under the direction of Seydou Coulibaly, celebrates nine successful years of operation providing energy efficient appliances to the community of Togo, helping to mitigate the effects of deforestation.
- May 2019: The production of solar cooking products by Togo Tilé is still going very well. In the first half of 2018, the monthly turnover was around EURO 1800. In that period, Togo Tilé sold 4,737 heat-retention cookers, 499 solar boxes, 45 Water Pasteurization Indicators, 37 large parabolic solar cookers, 432 Improved combustion stoves, 421 solar lighters, but only 32 CooKits. There is much more demand for CooKits. Due to a shortage in supplies in polypropylene bags, Togo Tilé was unable to supply CooKits for a long time. The stock of bags has been replenished by Solar Cooking KoZon and sales of CooKits have increased again.
- April 2018: Togo Tilé's new workshop and ICS-shop in Segou is now ready and will be officially opened this month. There are 80 employees, all young and mostly women selling products in 17 locations throughout Mali.
Photo credit: Solar Cooking KoZon
Togo Tilé's products for sale in a market
- May 2017: Solar Cooking KoZon (SCK) stimulates ISC private enterprises - In 2014, Solar Cooking KoZon granted Togo Tilé, a Mali-based solar cooking business run by Seydou Coulibaly, an initial subsidy of EUR 13,300. Two years later, it’s a thriving business with 30 staff members, five points of sale nationwide and an average monthly business volume of EUR 4,000. The environment constitutes an important incentive; at sales demonstrations, and at schools and universities. Close attention is paid to the environmental aspects of solar cooking. For Seydou, a contribution to the environment does not end with the sale of the product. Togo Tilé continues to support its customers for some time after the sale, to ensure that the products are truly integrated in daily cooking, and to provide a lasting positive contribution to the environment. After extensive analysis of the business, Togo Tilé was selected by a government programme in Mali focused on stimulating private enterprise. A business expansion plan was established that included the construction of a bigger workshop and the acquisition of a saw and a welding machine. More information...
- September 2016: Solar Cooking KoZon reports that a sturdy solar box cooker developed by Henk Blok together with students of the Free University and the University of Amsterdam continues to be popular at the Togo Tilé retail store. Henk and Marjan Blok paid the start-up costs for the experiment with these boxes in Mali. Piet Sluimer, a member of the Techniques Work Group, has developed a cheaper cardboard solar box cooker (the smaller box on the right) which is also selling well.
Audio and video[]
- January 2023:
Cuisson solaire au Mali - Togo Tilé " Une activité qui rayonne"-2
Togo Tilé founder, Seydou Coulibaly, explains how the parabolic solar cooker is used, and provides a tour of their solar cooker and heat-retention cooker manufacturing facility. (video in French)
Articles in the media[]
- January 2023: Lutte contre la déforestation: La cuisson solaire, un trésor sous-estimé - (English version) - Malijet
See also[]
Contact[]
- See Solar Cooking KoZon.Solar Cooking KoZon