When Sharon Little decided to add a ‘new flavour’ to the line of products sold at her small shop in Redemption Sharpes she had no idea that her plan would turn out to be something hot. 

Determined to provide a decent standard of living for her family, this mother of five decided to go into agro-processing, making seasoning to sell in her shop. Three years later her clientele had grown to such extent that she ventured into pepper sauce production – creating Pringa’s Natural Flavour Hot Sauce.

“I didn’t go to any training. I did my pepper sauce off my own and I learned by every mistake, so therefore my product is unique,” she proudly declares.

Mrs. Little diversified into agro-processing and closed her shop after getting assistance from the Agriculture Diversification Programme & Implementation Unit (ADPIU) . She later approached the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED) for business advice and training.

“I saw the need to get my records and so right to do my business and I knew I couldn’t do it on my own, so after hearing about CED I approached them and got business advice and started attending workshops,” Mrs. Little said.  “What I get from these workshops have helped me to improve my business.”

With the future looking bright for Pringa’s, Mrs. Little is looking to improve her distribution and production line.  Even though her seasoning and hot sauce are available island wide, she is now focusing on “getting the business to top level and marketing regionally and internationally” – with more assistance from CED through its Business Gateway Project. Ever mindful that it’s not easy to operate a business of this nature and take it beyond the local shores, Mrs. Little said she is thankful that CED is here to help.

“I think CED is doing a great job. I mean people with small businesses such as mine can come to the training and visit CED and talk to their officers…they have been an eye-opener,” she said. “I don’t think if CED wasn’t here my business would be a success. I think I would have been behind time still, and because of the training and knowledge... it has kept me pushing to be successful!”

Pringa’s Natural Flavour Seasoning and Hot Sauce are available at supermarkets in Kingstown and Georgetown. Mrs. Sharon Little can be reached at Redemption Sharpes or at Tel: 492-7717.