Solshine Ecofoods: A better world through food

Solshine Ecofoods stands for building and maintaining a community consisting of people who are interested in a healthy lifestyle and fair trade. Dedicated to providing authentic Latin American food products to the European market, Solshine Ecofoods is a socially responsible company founded by Rodrigo Renteria, on a mission to contribute towards a better world through food.

”Every time you purchase our products, you are helping a farmer in Latin America,” explains Rodrigo, whose Latin American background is the driving force behind his passion. The company built itself around what Rodrigo calls the Triple Benefit, a concept referring to the benefits for consumer, producer and the environment. These benefits derive from the product’s high nutritional value, free of harmful chemical additives, the fair price paid to producers in Latin America and the sustainable, environmentally friendly approach to the industry. “We want to offer the best for the body, the producer and the environment” he adds.

The business model helps build the future of the small farmers in Latin America that the company works with, establishing lasting relationships that guarantee the high quality of local products. On top of this, Solshine Ecofoods dedicates 10% of its sales to a non-profit organization of the customer’s choice.

Since its launch in 2013, Rodrigo has taken various steps in growing the business. Initially unable to access the necessary financing through traditional banking, he had to rely on his own resources and family support to fund the business. As the business developed however, that was not enough. This is when Rodrigo turned to Qredits, who extended a microloan backed by an EU guarantee under the Employment and Social Innovation programme (EaSI).

As Rodrigo explains, “The financing helped us at a crucial moment. It wouldn’t have been possible to progress without it.” With this support, the company was able to launch its online store, with further rounds of financing dedicated to inventory and marketing efforts.

The company is currently planning to hire more staff in order to invest in quality control, new packaging capabilities and distribution channels.

Company: Solshine Ecofoods (Netherlands)

Type of business: Food & Beverage

EIF financing: EaSI Guarantee Financial Instrument

Financial intermediary: Qredits

For further information about EIF intermediaries in the Netherlands, please refer to: http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/nl/index.htm