From a small backyard operation, Juice Fiji has now grown into a thriving enterprise, providing stable employment to local workers with a quality product reliably available in supermarkets.
Juice Fiji was founded by Tailevu man Panapasa Daunakamakama, who says the inspiration behind Juice Fiji is deeply personal.
He says as a child, he often watched his grandmother prepare herbal remedies using local plants to treat common illnesses.
Daunakamakama shared that those moments stayed with him, as his grandmother believed in the healing power of nature.
He adds that this inspired him to create something healthy and natural for our people.
Turning that inspiration into a successful business came with challenges, particularly access to finance.
He says like many micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Juice Fiji needed capital to expand production and meet growing demand.
Daunakamakama was connected with HFC Bank through Business Link Pacific–approved advisors Elvin Prasad and Naveen Kumar from Apex Accounting and Taxation Services.
He says with the help of Apex, he completed his financial statements and loan applications, successfully securing a loan that became a key turning point for Juice Fiji and transformed his business’s trajectory.
For Daunakamakama, engaging with a BLP Advisor offered an additional advantage, as members of the BLP Advisory Network are able to provide subsidised services to their clients.
In great news, he was also able to secure a BLP subsidy that significantly reduced the cost of accounting services from Apex Accounting.
Daunakamakama says Business Link Pacific really helped with the collateral, as they made it possible for him to access the loan from HFC.
He says he only had to put up a small amount himself, and the rest was guaranteed through the partnership.
Business Assistance Fiji says the HFC loan has supported Juice Fiji to expand production, strengthen marketing, and maintain consistent stock levels across supermarket shelves.
They say today, the business employs five full-time and five casual workers, including women who help prepare, bottle, and restock products.
Daunakamakama says the support from HFC made it possible for them to keep their products flowing and their staff continuously working.
He adds it is what keeps their business stable and growing.
According to Business Assistance Fiji, Juice Fiji now produces between 2,000 and 10,000 bottles weekly, generating FJ$20,000 to FJ$40,000 in sales, and has already begun exporting to Australia and New Zealand.
It says operating from a rented facility in Colo-I-Suva, Daunakamakama is now preparing to expand operations to a new site in Nakasi.
While challenges like delayed supermarket payments remain, he remains optimistic, crediting HFC and Business Link Pacific for giving him the confidence and capacity to grow.
He says HFC has been with him from the start and without their loan, their products would not be on the shelves and their business would not have this consistency.
He also says the collateral support gave him a real chance to expand and create jobs for others.
From his grandmother’s herbal wisdom to a modern, health-focused brand, Daunakamakama’s Juice Fiji is proof that with the right financial support, local innovation can grow into national success.
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