For Ama Ata Agyeman, entrepreneurship was never a question of if — only how. A natural entrepreneur with a deep love for cooking, her journey led her to build La Bonté Shito, a black pepper sauce proudly made in Ghana and rooted in tradition, quality, and passion.
Speaking on the Just4WomenAfrica Podcast, Ama Ata shared how her love for food, people, and storytelling transformed into a brand she now confidently calls “the best black pepper sauce in Ghana.”
Born an Entrepreneur, Drawn to Food
“I believe I was born to do this,” Ama Ata says. With a passion for cooking and a genuine appreciation for good food, starting a food business felt like a natural path. Shito — a staple in many Ghanaian homes — stood out as the perfect product.
What inspired La Bonté was simple but powerful: creating a sauce that could be enjoyed with almost anything — from traditional meals to everyday favourites like fries — while maintaining authenticity and quality.
What Makes La Bonté Shito Different
In a market filled with countless variations of shito, La Bonté stands apart through intentionality and purity. According to Ama Ata, every ingredient used is:
- Purely organic
- Carefully selected
- Made without preservatives
- Prepared with consistency and care
Beyond ingredients, she emphasizes love, goodness, and human connection — values reflected in the brand name La Bonté, meaning goodness. For Ama Ata, food is not just about taste; it is about connection — to culture, to people, and to shared experiences. The result is a truly homemade taste that resonates deeply with customers.
Varieties to Suit Every Taste
La Bonté Shito is available in three varieties:
- Normal
- Mild
- Extra Hot 🌶️🔥
While the mild and extra hot flavours are top sellers, Ama Ata also offers customised options for customers who want chunky textures or specific spice levels — a flexibility that reflects the brand’s customer-first philosophy.
Early Challenges Behind the Brand
Like many startups, La Bonté’s journey was not without obstacles.
One early challenge was packaging. The brand did not start with a clear identity, making it difficult to find the right jar to properly represent the product. With time, learning, and persistence, this challenge was resolved.
Another hurdle was spice preference. Ama Ata admits she personally does not enjoy extremely spicy food, yet many customers requested intense heat. Balancing personal taste with customer expectations required experimentation, feedback, and adjustment — a challenge the brand has now successfully overcome.
Sourcing consistent organic ingredients such as onions, ginger, and garlic also posed difficulties in the early days. Today, those challenges are behind her, and the brand stands ready to face the future with confidence.
Winning the First Customer
La Bonté’s first customer came through what Ama Ata does best — conversation.
A simple interaction with someone involved in food supply sparked an idea. One conversation led to another, and she soon realised she could offer her shito as a product. That moment marked the official beginning of La Bonté.
Growing Through Word of Mouth
Rather than relying heavily on paid advertising, La Bonté has grown organically through:
- One-on-one conversations
- Personal recommendations
- Carrying the brand everywhere she goes
The brand also maintains an active presence on TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp, where Ama Ata speaks directly to customers, shares her journey, and keeps the human connection at the heart of the business.
Looking Beyond Ghana
Expansion is firmly on the horizon. Ama Ata plans to export La Bonté Shito to international markets including:
- The United Kingdom
- Canada
- The United States
- Germany and wider Europe
Her goal is simple: to let the world experience the goodness of Ghanaian shito.
A Vision for the Next 3–5 Years
In the long term, Ama Ata envisions La Bonté sitting confidently alongside globally recognised sauces like pesto and sweet chili.
“We can’t wait to see La Bonté on shelves in places like Tesco and Sainsbury’s,” she says. “We are getting there — so watch out.”
This conversation originally aired on the Just4WomenAfrica Podcast, where stories of African women building impactful businesses are amplified and celebrated. Ama Ata Agyeman’s journey is one of a natural entrepreneur — rooted in culture, powered by conversation, and driven by genuine human connection.
