Social Enterprise in China Selling All-Natural Products

Shangrila Farms is turning out to be an exemplary social enterprise in China that provides all-natural and environmentally friendly products to consumers. At the same time, it gives long term training to the rural producers of these products and ensures that they receive fair trade prices from the market.

Shangrila Farms, which sells homegrown organic honey, natural skincare products and coffee, is nurturning small communities in Yunnan province. The co-founder and director of this social enterprise, Alia Malik says, "It's a business. It is trying to exist so it can turn profits while also trying to achieve social and environmental outcomes for the communities we work with."

Malik set up Shangrila Farms together with her sister in Beijing in 2009 when she noticed the lack of social entrepreneurship in China and the opportunity to work on the products that her mother's NGO was already producing. Shangrila Farms began as a two-person operation that has eventually proven to be highly successful.

Late last year Malik appeared on Chinese television to talk about her efforts and achievements with Shangrila Farms. Following their 10-minute appearance on TV, the company was flooded with online orders for its products, and its entire stocks got sold out in a day. Malik says that China is gradually become more socially aware. An increasing number of people are willing to volunteer and keen to work in environmentally and socially responsible companies.

The products of Shangrila Farms are now distributed through more than 50 stores in Beijing, and the online sales are booming. The enterprise is already eyeing more locations in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The enterprise now plans to train more rural people in Yunnan province in the vocation of bee keeping to provide them with a useful skill to earn a consistent livelihood.

Alia Malik spells out the spirit behind her social enterprise when she says, "Business doesn't have to be just about money. If more businesses can balance profits and people, everyone can benefit."

Photo Credit: gozdeo