Under the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD carried out a Post-Training Support mission with Terra Wholefoods Ltd in Fiji, helping the company turn the principles of Lean Management into practical improvements across its processing operations.
An SME with its sights on export
Terra Wholefoods Ltd is a growing Fijian agri-food company currently specializing in the production and processing of fresh turmeric and ginger for local and export market with plans to expand to other value-added agricultural products including herbs and spices.. After completing the collective training "Lean Management for Horticultural Companies", it carried out a self-assessment to identify its priorities. Two high-impact areas emerged: Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and 5S workplace organisation. The company then requested targeted technical support to help put them into practice.
From the whiteboard to the shop floor
Delivered remotely through a series of interactive coaching sessions, the mission brought together Terra Wholefoods' management and technical teams. The expert guided staff through hands-on exercises: waste identification (Muda Hunting), Value Stream Mapping, inventory analysis, cycle-time studies, process capacity assessment and 5S audits. The company took an active part in gathering data, analysing performance and defining concrete actions.
What the mission changed
The mission improved the company's understanding of its production flows, helped pinpoint bottlenecks and non-value-adding activities, and established baseline performance through cycle-time and process capacity analysis. It also introduced the first 5S principles and strengthened staff ownership of the approach. Several working tools were delivered — VSM maps, cycle-time worksheets, 5S audit checklists and inventory analysis tools — together with recommendations for taking the roll-out further.
A journey that continues
Lean Management is a path of continuous improvement rather than a one-off intervention. Terra Wholefoods now has the tools and a structured method to embed these principles for the long term, extend them to other areas of its operations, and strengthen its competitiveness in both local and export markets.
This activity is supported by the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, implemented by COLEAD within the Framework of Development Cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union. This publication receives financial support from the European Union and the OACPS. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the OACPS.