business

Soup company opened

DAVID MESA/LA PRENSA

local flavor:Mama Lencha soup is available in many Panama City stores. It is made in Río Abajo.978101

Sopa de menestras, which is made of beans and lentils, is a major part of the Panamanian diet.

Businessman Lorenzo Basso decided that it should be made in Panama as well.

He has started a company that produces sopa de menestras. The company, based in Río Abajo, started production four months ago. Now its product, marketed under the name "Mama Lencha," is available in most major supermarkets in the city.

The enterprise, which started with a $30,000 investment, produces between 300 and 400 units a day.

"It's a homemade recipe that is 100 percent Panamanian," said company spokeswoman Brenda de Ordóñez. "And the packaging allows it to be frozen and thawed without losing its flavor."

The company has been committed to using local produce and a minimal amount of preservatives.

"All our raw materials are purchased in Panama, and even the design of the packaging was done by a Panamanian," Ordóñez said.

While the soup is only being sold in the city, the company plans to expand to the interior. It also wants to start exporting.

The business has seven employees, but plans to expand as the demand for its product grows. The company would also like to expand the number of products it offers, but for now it is sticking to soup.