In today’s fast-paced and health-conscious world, dried food products are gaining immense popularity. From busy moms looking for quick meal fixes to gourmet chefs demanding high-quality seasonings, the demand for dried goods like onion powder, garlic powder, dried fruits, and herbs is steadily rising.
Starting a dried foods business from home or a small setup can be highly profitable, especially in urban and semi-urban areas where people are constantly looking for convenience, quality, and longevity in food. This blog explores the exciting world of dried food products, with a special focus on onion powder, while incorporating other valuable dried product ideas for both home use and business.
Let’s dive deep into how you can start and succeed in the dried food processing business with a focus on quality, low startup cost, and long-term sustainability.
Why Dried Foods Are a Great Business Opportunity
Dried food products have several advantages:
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Long shelf life – no refrigeration needed.
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Minimal wastage – value addition to surplus produce.
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Small-space friendly – no need for large farms or storage units.
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High value per gram – dried goods weigh less but cost more per unit.
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Low startup capital – especially when beginning with a dehydrator or sun drying.
As more people seek convenience in the kitchen, the demand for ready-to-use, pre-processed, and preserved ingredients continues to grow—especially in the case of onion and garlic powders, which are everyday essentials.
Top Dried Products You Can Start With
Here are high-demand dried products you can make and sell:
1. Onion Powder
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Made from dehydrated and finely ground onions.
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Used in soups, sauces, seasoning blends, fast food joints, home kitchens.
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High profit margins with bulk packaging and retail packs.
2. Garlic Powder
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A kitchen staple, used in meat rubs, curries, instant noodles, and marinades.
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Easy to dry and grind.
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Sells well in grocery stores, online shops, and hotel supplies.
3. Dried Fruits
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Pineapples, mangoes, bananas, apples.
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Great snacks and popular in urban markets.
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Target healthy eating communities and children’s snack boxes.
4. Dried Vegetables
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Carrots, kale, spinach, pumpkin.
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Perfect for making instant soup blends or powdered vegetable stock.
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Sell in powder form or thinly sliced.
5. Herbs & Spices
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Basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, thyme.
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Can be sold as whole dried leaves or powdered spice mixes.
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Small batches require little space and basic drying setup.
6. Chili Powder
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Dried chili peppers ground into fine powder.
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Add value by blending with garlic, ginger, or paprika.
7. Ginger Powder
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Strong immunity booster, increasingly popular for teas and smoothies.
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One kilogram of fresh ginger yields 100–150g of powder.
8. Turmeric Powder
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High demand locally and internationally.
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Needs drying, polishing, and grinding.
Equipment Needed to Start
You can begin small and scale up. Basic equipment includes:
| Equipment | Description |
|---|---|
| Dehydrator or solar dryer | Essential for quick and hygienic drying |
| Sharp knives & slicers | For uniform slices |
| Grinder or blender | For turning dried pieces into powder |
| Airtight packaging materials | To maintain freshness |
| Weighing scale | For accurate packaging |
| Labels and sealers | For professional packaging and branding |
Where to Start: Home Setup vs. Small Workshop
Home-Based Setup:
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Use your kitchen, balcony, or backyard.
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Perfect for small batches and testing the market.
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Good for low-risk, low-investment entry.
Small Workshop:
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Ideal if scaling up or supplying restaurants and shops.
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Requires licenses and food safety standards.
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You can hire 1–2 workers for slicing and packing.
Packaging and Branding Tips
Presentation is key to attracting repeat buyers:
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Use clear, resealable pouches or jars for retail.
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Label clearly: Product name, weight, date, usage tips, storage instructions.
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Include health benefits on the label.
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Consider eco-friendly packaging for a premium appeal.
For bulk sales (hotels, restaurants), use 1kg–5kg airtight bags.
Capital Requirements
| Item | Estimated Cost (KES) |
|---|---|
| Solar dryer or dehydrator | 15,000 – 25,000 |
| Blenders/grinder | 3,000 – 7,000 |
| Packaging & labels | 5,000 (initial) |
| Raw produce (onion, garlic, herbs) | 2,000 – 10,000 |
| Airtight containers | 2,000 |
| Licenses (if scaling up) | 3,000 – 10,000 |
Pricing & Profitability
Example – Onion Powder:
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10kg of fresh onions = 1kg dried powder.
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Cost of onions: KSh 300
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Add labor, drying, packaging = KSh 700
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Sell 1kg at: KSh 1,800–2,200 (or KSh 100 per 50g retail pouch)
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Profit margin: Over 100%
Multiply this by adding garlic, chili, ginger, and vegetable powders.
Where to Sell
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Open-air markets – Target health-conscious shoppers.
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Grocery stores and supermarkets – Offer samples and supply directly.
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Online marketplaces – Facebook Marketplace, Jiji, Instagram, WhatsApp.
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Gift shops and health stores – Herbal mixes, teas, or bundles.
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Restaurants and caterers – Bulk dried onion, garlic, ginger.
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Schools and Institutions – Sell dried fruit snacks in sachets.
Marketing Strategies
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Share photos and short videos of your products being made.
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Offer free samples for first-time buyers.
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Emphasize “No Preservatives”, “Locally Made”, “Chemical-Free” on packaging.
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Bundle products (e.g., spice trio: onion + garlic + chili).
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Educate your audience via TikTok, Facebook Reels, or Instagram on how to use your products in cooking.
Licensing and Food Safety
As you grow:
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Register your business name.
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Get approval from KEBS (Kenya Bureau of Standards).
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Maintain hygiene: use gloves, clean water, sanitized surfaces.
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Batch label every product for traceability.
If selling locally to individuals, many start without licenses but it's recommended as soon as sales grow.
Value Addition Ideas
Here’s how you can increase value with minimal input:
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Mix herbs and spices into ready-to-use blends (e.g., “Pilau Mix” or “Nyama Choma Rub”).
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Package dried soup ingredients (carrots + kale + onions + garlic).
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Sell herbal tea blends: lemongrass + mint + ginger.
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Offer DIY smoothie packs: dried bananas + mango + chia seeds.
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Sell in gift packs for events like Christmas or birthdays.
Source of Raw Materials
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Grow onions, garlic, herbs in your backyard or containers.
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Buy in bulk during harvest season to reduce cost.
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Source from local farmers and build supplier relationships.
✅ Summary Checklist to Get Started
| Task | Status |
|---|---|
| Choose 3–5 products to start with | ✔️ |
| Buy basic drying and grinding equipment | ✔️ |
| Get affordable packaging | ✔️ |
| Create a simple brand name and label | ✔️ |
| Start selling online and locally | ✔️ |
| Scale gradually based on feedback | ✔️ |
Final Thoughts
Starting a dried food business like onion powder or dried fruits is one of the most accessible and profitable ventures today. With low capital, minimal space, and huge market potential, this business can be started from your kitchen and scaled to a full processing unit within a year.
The key is consistency, quality, and hygiene.
If you'd like a downloadable business plan template, product label mockups, or costing spreadsheet, I can provide that too—just let me know.
