As part of a wider programme supporting cooperatives across Central America, to access markets where they can trade their goods, the Hibiscus Cooperative in Nicaragua proved a great success, transforming the cooperative into a profitable, independent business with an international distribution network with Walmart.
As with all businesses, resilience in a changing market is a crucial asset. It is notable then that the cooperative has continued to operate effectively and to produce and manufacture hibiscus, amid a severe economic, social and political crisis and increased production costs caused by COVID-19.
They continue to operate and distribute hibiscus successfully within the local market and to their major international supplier, Walmart. This success has generated the interest from social impact investors, and they have received additional investment capital from the Shared Interest Society Ltd, an ethical investment cooperative.