Mrs Kawthar Alade-Idris AAT, ACA, ACTI’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Mrs Kawthar Alade-Idris AAT, ACA, ACTI and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kawthar , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
For me, Integrity stands above everything else.

Intelligence can be developed, and Energy can be inspired, but integrity is the foundation that guides how we use both. In business—especially in the food industry where people consume what you produce—integrity ensures that every decision is rooted in honesty, safety, and responsibility.

It is integrity that keeps you committed to quality even when no one is watching, that builds trust with customers, and sustains relationships in the long run. Intelligence and energy are powerful, but without integrity, they can easily be misdirected.

So I choose integrity, because it keeps everything else aligned with purpose.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Mrs Kawthar Alade-Idris, a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Tax Consultant and I am the Founder and CEO of Kaothar Foods Limited, a Nigerian food processing company dedicated to producing Safe, Nutritious, and truly Wholesome foods from locally sourced ingredients.

What makes our brand special is our commitment to Health, Innovation, and Authenticity. We take everyday Nigerian ingredients—like Hibiscus, Moringa , Cocoa, Tigernut and Dates —and transform them into Premium Beverages and also, Functional Foods like – Palmoil, Cassava, Ofada Rice, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Healthy Snacks etc that support wellness for all age groups.

My Entrepreneurial journey began in 2013 with a desire to improve health through what people consume daily, and today we’re building a brand that not only nourishes families but also empowers smallholder farmers, promotes sustainability, and contributes to a stronger local value chain.

Right now, we’re expanding our product lines and strengthening our impact in the wellness and nutritious food space, ensuring that every Kaothar Foods product tells a story of quality, care, and purpose.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has shaped me the most is my relationship with GOD.

It transformed how I see myself and how I understand purpose. I moved from simply following the routine of daily worship to discovering the true meaning of worship—one that goes beyond prayers to how I live, work, and impact others.

I came to understand that worship includes being good to humanity, to the environment, and to all of GOD’S creations. This revelation guides my decisions, especially in a world where many cut corners in food production just to maximize profit. For me, producing safe, clean, and nutritious food is an act of worship. It is my way of honoring God by protecting the health and wellbeing of people.

This relationship has also taught me that there is nothing wrong with dreaming big. In fact, it is a form of gratitude—to pursue the potential God has placed within me. That belief is what motivates me to build Kaothar Foods not just as a business for today, but as a legacy that will serve generations and continue to promote goodness, wellness, and integrity.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, there have been many moments I felt like giving up and going back into the corporate world as an Accountant.

Building a Food Brand with integrity in a market that often prioritizes cheaper options—regardless of the health implications—can be deeply discouraging. There were times when I invested so much into making our products look as appealing as foreign brands while ensuring the content inside was even better. Yet, the effort didn’t always translate into sales or numbers.

But every time I reached that breaking point, I reminded myself why I started: to give people Safe, Nutritious Foods they can trust, and to build a brand anchored in honesty, quality, and purpose. That conviction kept me moving, even when the results were not immediate. Moreso, I am blessed with good support system such as my Parents, Husband, Silblings and Close Associates that keeps encouraging me that am on the right track.

It’s those challenging moments that strengthened my resolve and shaped Kaothar Foods into what it is becoming today.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the Food Industry tells itself is that cutting corners doesn’t matter.

Many producers convince themselves that lowering quality, adding unnecessary additives, or ignoring proper hygiene is “normal” as long as the product sells. But the truth is that every shortcut taken affects someone’s Health.

Another lie is that packaging matters more than content. You see beautifully designed products with poor-quality ingredients inside, and the industry has normalized it. For me, both must be equally excellent—because appearance without substance is deception.

There’s also a belief that customers only want the cheapest option. While price matters, people actually want value, safety, and trust—especially when it comes to what they consume. The industry often underestimates how much customers appreciate honesty and quality when they finally find it.

These lies are why brands like Kaothar Foods must stay committed to integrity. We are proving that you can build a business that is profitable, trustworthy, and good for people’s wellbeing—without compromising values.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe I am doing exactly what I was born to do.

I’ve always been particular about food safety and healthy eating, even as a child. My mum often reminds me of a story from when I was about three years old. She was in the kitchen preparing lunch, and suddenly she heard a tiny voice say, “Wash that meat very well, don’t kill my Daddy for me.” She turned and realized it was me. When my Dad returned and she told him, the name “Daddy’s Girl” stuck from that day.

Looking back, that moment was more than a childhood memory—it was a glimpse into the person I would become: someone who cares deeply about what people eat and how it affects their wellbeing.

Even though I am professionally grounded in finance as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Consultant, I see those qualifications as tools that strengthen my purpose—not replace it. They help me lead Kaothar Foods with Structure, Discipline, and Accountability, ensuring that our operations match our values.

So yes, I’m living what I was born to do—using both my passion for wholesome foods and my professional background to build Kaothar Foods into a brand that nourishes people with Honesty , Safety, and Integrity.

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Image Credits
All images are mine

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