Behind the scenes with Akua from Sheabutter Cottage

28th May 2024

Last month Donna and Wenna, two members of our Compassionate Shopping Guide team, went to Reading to visit Akua at her shop, Sheabutter Cottage in Caversham. We went behind the scenes to learn more about Akua’s cruelty-free business and how she creates fantastic ethical products.

Akua’s shop was a beautiful burst of colour and life. As soon as you walk through the door, you’re met with calming smells of soaps and lotions, as well as beautiful jewellery, postcards, lampshades, prints, skincare products and even chocolate. Upon speaking to Akua in our interview we found out more about her process in starting her business and the selection of her ingredients. She explained to us why it’s so important to her to be a cruelty-free business that supplies high-quality natural products that don’t cause harm.

“As a natural skincare brand using plant-based products, I didn’t want to see any cruelty being shown to animals.”

Sheabutter Cottage developed from Akua’s original company, Chocolatina, after she realised she had to order her ingredients in too large quantities for just one business. She had the idea to incorporate some of the ingredients she knew from Ghana, including shea butter and baobab oil.

“I started Sheabutter Cottage to try and sell off most of my ingredients and also as a platform to support farmers, especially in Ghana where I come from. I know I’m totally biased, but that was one of the reasons I did that and also to showcase one of the natural beautiful ingredients that I’ve grown to know, which is shea butter.” 

Akua set up the charity organisation Jilima Co-op in Ghana, where 53 women produce the shea butter. She has also created products specifically for the Co-op, meaning that the proceeds from these sales can go back directly to the women in Ghana to help with income diversification.

It was a real treat to be able to visit one of our endorsed brands and to get to know Akua personally. We would recommend anyone close to her shop to go and visit. There are so many different products to choose from and Aku has created such a warm and welcoming environment for customers. You can also buy Sheabutter Cottage products from their online shop. 

To learn more about Sheabutter Cottage and Akua’s story, watch our interview where we talk more in depth about her business, the importance of cruelty-free endorsement, and how it can help small businesses.