About Us – VitaBite Nutrition

VitaBite Nutrition is a social enterprise that was founded in 2015 to enhance the nutritional wellbeing of children throughout Ethiopia. Over the years, we have dedicated ourselves to instilling positive feeding and nurturing practices in parents and caregivers, with a particular emphasis on the first 1000 days.

Presently, VitaBite offers an accessible and long-lasting approach to combat malnutrition, which includes the creation of budget-friendly and nourishing food products, as well as comprehensive nutrition education.

Vitabites

Our History

VitaBite Nutrition was founded in 2015 by Hilina Belete and Melat Yosef. Becoming a parent is an exciting experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most important areas that parents need to educate themselves on is how to raise a healthy and well-nourished child.

Melat’s personal experience of becoming a mother sparked the idea for VitaBite Nutrition. When Melat’s daughter was about to start solid foods, she searched for a relevant nutritional guide specific to Ethiopia but could not find any. She then turned to her friend Hilina, who had extensive experience and multiple trainings in the nutrition sector.

This experience made the founders realize the gap in the nutrition sector and the need for context-relevant nutrition education. After working in the nutrition education sector for five years, the founders decided to provide affordable and nutritious foods to the market. They launched three nutritious products for both commercial and relief markets.

Our Team

Our team consists of passionate and dedicated individuals who share a common goal of improving the nutritional status of children in Ethiopia.

Melat holds an M.A in Marketing Management and a B.A in Public Administration, with over a decade of experience in social behavioral change communication, project management, and administration. Along with her formal education, Melat has undergone various business and personal development training. She is a 2021 Mandela Fellow at Drake University, Iowa, and an Edmund Hillary Fellow. In 2015, she co-founded VitaBite Nutrition and is actively involved in social business and impactful business. She also serves on the board of Social Enterprise Ethiopia, which she co-founded with six other social entrepreneurs.

Ato Belete Beyen is the founder and major shareholder of Hilina Enriched Foods and Bless Agri Food Laboratory P.L.C, which are leading private enterprises in the agri-food processing industry in the country. Hilina Enriched Foods is highly successful in its operation and has become the top producer of therapeutic and supplementary food. Ato Belete has a degree in Business Management, a post-graduate diploma in Management of Public Enterprise, and in Nutrition Planning. He has also undergone specialized food technology training in Applied Nutrition, Nutrition Intervention Programs, Food Promotion, Appropriate Technologies for Food Processing, and Soybean Processing for Foods.

Hilina has over ten years of experience in managing the largest food manufacturing facility in Ethiopia. She holds a degree in Public Administration and a Masters in Business Leadership, with additional training in product development, food safety, and leadership.