Do you know where you can find shea?
The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), the source of one of Africa's oldest oils, is a tree found only in Africa, in a geographical range that stretches over 5,000 kilometers from the West to the East of the continent, from Senegal to Sudan, via 21 nations.
Shea butter is without a doubt one of the oldest edible vegetable oils created by man, having been used for millennia. There is archaeological evidence that shea orchards have been in northern Burkina Faso for 1000 years, and there is rising evidence that the shea kernel was known to the Egyptians for far longer. It is 6000 years old.
For centuries, famous explorers have reported on walnut cultivation. The nut would have been handed to the legendary Moroccan adventurer Ibn Battuta between 1349 and 1354, during his trek from the Sahara to Mali. A few decades later, it was the turn of the Scottish explorer Mungo Park to emphasize its significance in people's everyday lives. During his hunt for the Niger River's origins between 1795 and 1797, he would also detail his considerable trading. We owe the first known botanical sketches of the tree and the first effort to define the species to him in particular.
SUPPLY CHAIN
Sustainable sourcing of safe, high-quality raw materials is at the heart of our commitments. Mali Shi promotes a value chain that is environmentally friendly, socially fair, and economically viable, while continuing to develop its activities in a responsible and transparent manner.
Collectors organized into cooperatives in the zones—areas of Sikasso, Ségou, Kaye, and Koulikoro provide almonds to the factory. - ©Annie Risemberg
Collectors organized into cooperatives in the zones—areas of Sikasso, Ségou, Kaye, and Koulikoro provide almonds to the factory. - ©Annie Risemberg
Collectors organized into cooperatives in the zones—areas of Sikasso, Ségou, Kaye, and Koulikoro provide almonds to the factory. - ©Annie Risemberg
Collectors organized into cooperatives in the zones—areas of Sikasso, Ségou, Kaye, and Koulikoro provide almonds to the factory. - ©Annie Risemberg
Our Supply Network
Mali Shi relies on two complementary sourcing channels:
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Indirect supply: purchasing shea kernels from traders integrated into the traditional supply chain.
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Direct supply: sourcing directly from women producers who harvest and process the kernels themselves for the factory.
To maximize social and economic impact, Mali Shi prioritizes direct purchases through its own network, which has now become its main source of supply.
By operating across the entire value chain – from kernel collection to butter processing – the company significantly contributes to increasing the income of rural women.
Our Supply Network
Mali Shi relies on two complementary sourcing channels:
-
Indirect supply: purchasing shea kernels from traders integrated into the traditional supply chain.
-
Direct supply: sourcing directly from women producers who harvest and process the kernels themselves for the factory.
To maximize social and economic impact, Mali Shi prioritizes direct purchases through its own network, which has now become its main source of supply.
By operating across the entire value chain – from kernel collection to butter processing – the company significantly contributes to increasing the income of rural women.
Our Objectives
- Increase the productivity of Mali Shi’s network of women collectors.
- Continuously improve the quality of shea kernels.
- Strengthen local organizations through development partnerships:
- tailored training,
- provision of equipment,
- modern storage infrastructure.