A new water brand is local
A happy Ntando Bushwana holding his bottled water brand, Unxano.Foto: A catchy and playful phrase translating to “thirst” has been used by a local entrepreneur to market a new water brand.
Unxano, a new water brand founded last year in the height of the pandemic by Zwelethemba local Ntando Bushwana, has proven to be a success, despite tough economic times.
He said the business idea stemmed from the growing preference for bottled water.
“With the South African water crisis there has been a demand for bottled water and for a service providing clean drinking water to the population,” Bushwana told Standard newspaper.
“In areas such as the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape, bottled water is now the main source of drinkable water for many people in the water-scarce province.”
Serving his community with pride for the past 11 months, people from his community and as far as the Eastern Cape have taken to social media commending the packaging and the service he renders to his clients.
Speaking on the name of the brand Bushwana says: “I just wanted to create something that resonates with my language and culture.
“Like you walk into a store and see all these brands with names you can’t even pronounce and some of them are foreign, so why not create something more South African.”
Unxano has not only grown to be loved by it’s clients, but it has also grown as a brand and boasts shelf space in Mbekweni Pick n Pay since 4 June this year.
Bushwana, shares that though he would love for the Pick n Pay in Worcester to sell his water, he is elated to have been granted the opportunity to have his brand on their shelves in Mbekweni.
Elaborating more on the business and watching what was just an idea materialise, he says: “It was the best feeling ever to see everything coming together as planned and the response from my customers motivated me to do more.”
The Zwelethemba local, who is not afraid to put in the necessary work hopes to expand and create more jobs through his enterprise.
“Our aim is also to empower disadvantaged communities by educating and supplying them with clean water,” he said.