Sylva Professional Catering Services Limited

“I learned how to cook from my mother and from experimentation,” says Sylvia, reflecting on the launch of her business in 1986. “I started by getting a place in the industrial area in Lusaka. I could not afford to get a loan from the bank. At that time it was not easy for a woman to be given a loan by any lending institution. On the first day of operations I had no tables and chairs. I jokingly told my clients, ‘Welcome to a standing buffet!’” And all I did was use foodstuffs from home, and prepare and serve in this small restaurant.”

But somehow it worked. “Surprisingly, even with those early circumstances, all my meals sold out. After a few days of operations, I managed to make more than a hundred dollars, which I quickly invested back into my business.” This was the birth of Sylva Professional Catering Services. Within a year, Sylvia was running a full cafeteria and managing big catering jobs.

In 1991 Sylva Catering was incorporated and in 1995 moved its offices from Lusaka’s industrial neighborhood to the University of Zambia campus. Her first subsidiary company, Sylva Professional Catering Training College, followed in 1997, and Sylva Food Solutions was founded in 2003. She now operates a third subsidiary, the Sylva Guest House, which she hopes to turn into a full-service, top-of-the-line hotel and restaurant.

The parent company and all subsidiaries are owned by Sylvia and her husband Hector. “At the moment, we are solely owned by the family and do not have any external investment. However, we are very open to anybody that wishes to invest in us provided they are Christians—this is very key to us.” To date, however, no additional investors have been forthcoming.

All together, Sylva employs 73 workers. She is very strict about professionalism among her employees, but also believes that she and her business managers have a responsibility to lead by example and help each worker develop professionally..