THE PROJECT PEANUT DOODLE
Our project is divided into 2 phases:
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PHASE 1, 2018:
Beginning of production from Gina's home with basic equipment and 2 employees. The goal is to reach 1500/2000 pots a month, enough to cover Gina and Sylvia's base pay (which will help with accounting, corporate affairs and sales). This phase required an investment of approximately 760,000 PS ($ 20,000 CDN) plus the costs to support Gina and Sylvia, as well as their families, to set up the Coop and Phase 1 (for approximately 15,000 Canadian $)
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 PRODUCTIONPotting peanut butter PEANUT DOODLE |  THE PRODUCTSDisplay of PEANUT DOODLE products and packaging |
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 PART OF THE EQUIPMENTPeanut roasting machine |  THE SIGNATUREOfficial logo of PEANUT DOODLE products |
 THE TESTSPeanuts are tested before being made into butter |  THE TESTSTests on PEANUT DOODLE products |
Each member of the cooperative (25 members) is invited to support sales by finding customers for around 40-50 jars a month in their community or workplace.
PHASE 2, 2019:
It will be more important because we have to be approved by the Food and Drug Association (FDA) to sell to the largest grocery stores. The FDA does not allow production in a private residence as we do in Phase 1 in Gina's home. There are strict requirements in terms of building, location, the organization of production, movement of workers, goods, and equipment. We are analyzing various scenarios, but it seems that a budget of about 3 MM PS (US $ 75,000) would be needed to build a small factory on land large enough to grow. As a result, 2019 will be challenging as financial support becomes more important.
This second phase should allow the hiring of several single-parent women.
In addition, we would like to associate the project with a school of organic agriculture to stock only organic ingredients (peanuts, chocolate, etc.).
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT
The implementation of the project began in January 2018.
Like any start-up, the first half of 2018 gave Gina hope, but also challenges and a lot of stress. The goal is to create work for several single-parent women like her.
It was decided to set up a community structure of the COOPERATIVE type in order to give more value to the project's mission and to strengthen the brand's sympathy with consumers and customers.
Heelium Producers Cooperative will produce sweet and savory peanut butter, as well as peanuts coated with chocolate.
The products are marketed under the brand name "Peanut Doodle". The graphics universe of the brand was the result of cooperation between the initiators of the project and Maia Wallis, a graphic designer based in Montreal.
