Berhyah: Bringing the Best Quality Dates to the World

Best Startup Companies to Watch in 2023

Berhyah is a company based in Iraq that offers premium quality dates and date-based products to customers all over the world. The company was founded in 2018 with the mission to revive the Iraqi luxurious dates manufacturing and presentation industry. Since then, Berhyah (Iraqi Dates provider) has made significant progress in establishing itself as a leader in the industry with high-quality products and packaging.

In this interview, we speak with the team at Berhyah to learn more about the company’s mission and vision, products and services, growth milestones, target audience, and future plans.

Can you tell us about your company’s mission and vision?

Our vision is to offer the best quality Iraqi Dates with the finest presentation to the world as premium products. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality standards while keeping the presentation of our products at their best. We also aim to provide a better life for our staff and the community.

How did your company come into existence, and what inspired its creation?

We found a need in the Iraqi market to offer Iraqi dates after years of wars and political situations that Iraq passed through. We created a sample and prototype in May 2018, and since then, we have been producing and selling high-quality dates and date-based products.

What is the product or service your company offers, and how does it differentiate itself from others in the market?

Our company offers a wide range of products such as VIP Wooden Gifts (Iraqi Dates), Iraqi Dates mixed with nuts, Iraqi Dates Stuffed with Nuts and chocolate, Date Cake, Date paste, Date Croissant, and many more. We differentiate ourselves from others in the market by providing high-quality products and premium packaging for gifts, souvenirs, and local use.

How has your company grown since its inception, and what are some of the significant milestones it has achieved?

We started with 500 KG of dates per month and now produce 3 Tons of dates monthly. Our sales also increased from 100 boxes of 750 gm dates to more than 3000 boxes per month. We have helped more than 14 poor families to change their lives and future. We have been certified by 5 major Iraqi Embassies to use our gifts as national gifts worldwide. We have sold more than 16,000 boxes from 2018 to date, and our products have been funded by USAID and UN by adding some machines to our factory. We have also achieved five international expo certificates, and more than 5 tons of our products have been shipped by FEDEX as gifts to our customers. We now have three café branches that sell our products, and we have built a franchising system to sell franchises both locally and internationally.

How do you see your company evolving over the next few years, and what are your long-term goals?

Our long-term goals are to have café branches in Zurich, Dubai, New York, Tokyo, and London. We also plan to produce more than 10 Tons of dates per month, sell more than 5000 boxes per month, have a production facility with 50 manpower and poor labor, and have more than 75 products produced by Berhyah.

Who is your target audience, and how do you plan to reach them?

Our target audience includes people who look for organic and healthy products, people who want to have their own lifestyle, people who look for gifts with high-end brands, and people who look for Iraqi gifts that reflect the history and 7000 years of civilization. We plan to reach them through word of mouth, social media, events & conferences, and international expos.

Can you tell us your revenue model and how you plan to scale your business?

Our revenue model includes café sales, point of sales, direct online orders, mobile application (currently under construction), the website for international orders, and market retails for cookies and energy bars. We also have products like date paste, date jam, and date coffee available on grocery applications. As for scaling our business, we plan to expand our operations to more areas and increase our product range.

Can you discuss your team’s experience and expertise?

Our team consists of 12 labor staff in the factory, one café manager, six baristas, one food safety manager, one quality control manager, one logistics supervisor, one finance director, one procurement manager, one marketing specialist, one graphic designer, and one product developer. Each member of our team has expertise in their respective fields, and we have been able to build a strong team that works together to achieve our goals.

What challenges has your company faced, and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges we faced was the legal complications and paperwork involved in starting our business. Additionally, we faced the challenge of meeting international manufacturing standards for our date products. However, we were able to overcome these challenges by seeking legal advice and ensuring that we followed all necessary procedures. For the manufacturing standards, we invested in our production process and made the necessary changes to meet international standards.

Can you share any success stories or case studies that demonstrate the impact of your product/service on your customers?

We have many success stories, but one of the most significant is the passion and love our customers have for our products. Our products have become a favorite among top luxury car and electronics brands, and five top Iraqi embassies have registered our brand as national gifts. This shows that our products have a wide appeal and are highly regarded by our customers.

What advice would you give to startups trying to make a difference in their respective industries?

Our advice to other startups is to always go for a solution when you feel there is a need. Take risks, build your team, and never forget your passion. Do what you love and add value to the community. Lastly, help people you don’t know, and always start with the ‘why.’

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