Asma health products: a recipe for success
In 2018, Asma Health Products emerged from a small, home-based kitchen in Jordan, aiming to provide gluten-free food products that would support healthy lifestyles. Founded by a local entrepreneur with a background in food processing, the initiative started with a single product—jams. Today, the business has flourished, offering over 20 items ranging from molasses and thyme to pickles and cheeses. Asma Health Products has also grown into a team of four employees from both Syrian and Jordanian backgrounds, with an expanded seasonal workforce of ten local women.
Asma explains the motivation behind her business: “The idea for our project came from the need for a job opportunity, and I wanted to work in my specialised major, having studied food processing.” Today, Asma Health Products offers over 20 unique items, including molasses, thyme, pickles, and cheeses. It’s no longer just a one-woman show; Asma’s team has grown to include four employees from both Syrian and Jordanian backgrounds, with up to ten local women joining seasonally. In its early days, Asma Health Products depended on community events, bazaars, and school fairs to reach customers directly. These spaces allowed her to share her passion for healthy eating and connect with people who appreciated the effort behind each product. But as demand grew, she recognised that a new challenge was emerging: expanding her reach beyond the immediate community.
It was at this moment that the Skills Training Education Programme (STEP) funded by The Islamic Development Bank, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund entered her life. Developed as a partnership between SPARK, the Islamic Development Bank, the Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund, and the Sarh Foundation, STEP was launched to help bridge critical gaps for small businesses like Asma Health Products in Jordan and Lebanon. Offering skills training, business development guidance, and market access support, STEP empowers entrepreneurs to transform their potential into practical success. For Asma, this programme became a gateway to reaching the wider market she had been striving for.
Through STEP’s partner, Sarh Groups, Asma received tools, mentorship, and networking opportunities that equipped her to take her business to the next level. Looking forward, Asma envisions even greater growth for her business. With STEP’s support, she is now better positioned to expand her offerings and solidify her brand as a trusted name in health products. As she reflects on her journey, Asma is grateful for the continued support that has turned a small, home-based project into a vital source of income for her team and a growing presence in Jordan’s market landscape.
SPARK’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs like Asma is changing lives, one business at a time. By connecting MSMEs with resources and creating opportunities through initiatives like STEP, SPARK is helping small businesses grow sustainably and contributing to the prosperity of local communities. With her ambitions fueled, Asma Health Products is poised to continue its journey, rooted in community and committed to delivering quality health products across Jordan.