RISING WOMAN 2025: Fransisca Lyimo: A trailblazing leader and entrepreneur shaping the baking industry

Fransisca Lyimo is a seasoned professional, entrepreneur, and influential leader in the baking industry.

She has built a stellar career, showcasing her immense expertise and accomplishments in the field of baking.

Over the years, she has established herself as a significant figure in business and professional organizations alike.

Currently, she is a partner in three thriving companies, where she plays an essential role in their growth and success.

In addition to her ventures, Fransisca co-founded Beta Bakery, a highly reputable bakery known for producing high-quality baked goods and innovative recipes.

As a partner, she contributed greatly to the development of the company’s vision and strategy.

Under her leadership, Beta Bakery expanded its market reach and earned a solid reputation for delivering exceptional baked products to its customers.

As the strategic leader of the company, she ensures that Beta Bakery stays ahead of industry trends and continues to meet the diverse needs of its customer base.

Fransisca has also ventured into the packaging sector, co-founding GABF Cake Tools and Packaging Company.

Through her dedication and expertise, the company has become a leading supplier of specialized cake tools and innovative packaging solutions to bakeries throughout Tanzania.

She recognised the growing importance of packaging in the baking industry, and her contribution has helped elevate the standards of packaging, benefiting both professional bakers and enthusiasts alike.

As a partner in GABF, Fransisca uses her business expertise and creative ideas to drive the company’s success, ensuring it continues to provide quality products that support bakeries in their operations.

Furthermore, Fransisca’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to co-found Frabby Company Limited, a business that specializes in offering customized services and products tailored to specific client needs.

In this role, Fransisca leverages her vast experience in the business world to guide the company’s operations and secure its position as a leader in its sector.

Through this endeavour, she continues to showcase her strong leadership abilities and remains committed to ensuring the company’s success and sustainability.

In addition to her business ventures, Fransisca serves as the chairperson of the Tanzania Bakers Association (TBA), a role that further underscores her commitment to the baking industry.

As Chairperson, she works tirelessly to represent the interests of bakers across the nation, fostering collaboration within the industry and promoting growth.

Her leadership has been instrumental in advocating for better industry standards, supporting skill development initiatives, and encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices among Tanzanian bakers.

Through her guidance, the status of Tanzanian bakers has been elevated, contributing to the overall strength and impact of the baking industry on the national economy.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, she is also known for her philanthropic endeavours.

She is actively involved in a variety of charitable causes and community initiatives, demonstrating a strong commitment to giving back to society.

She believes in the power of making a positive impact, and her actions reflect her dedication to contributing to the betterment of her community.

With her passion for baking and entrepreneurial drive, Fransisca has made a lasting impact on the industry.

Her unwavering dedication to excellence, strong business acumen, and natural leadership abilities have propelled her to the forefront of the baking world, making her a source of inspiration for both aspiring bakers and entrepreneurs.

Fransisca holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Open University of Tanzania, and she uses her education to guide her business decisions and leadership approach.

She acknowledges the challenges of balancing her professional life with her role as a mother.

While her business demands her attention, she ensures that weekends, especially Sundays, are reserved for spending time with her family, friends, and relatives.

As a professional accountant, Fransisca’s background in accounting is rare in the baking industry, but her love for food and the desire to offer fresh, high-quality baked goods to her community motivated her to open a bakery.

The desire to solve her own problem of accessing quality baked products was the driving force behind her decision to enter the industry.

In 2008, Fransisca partnered with two other individuals to establish Beta Bakery.

The partnership continued until 2015, when they mutually agreed to dissolve it.

Since then, Fransisca has taken full ownership of the bakery and has worked tirelessly to expand and refine its operations.

As the sole proprietor, she has made substantial contributions to the business’s growth and has ensured its continued success in a competitive industry.

“My mother inspired me to be in the baking sector. She is 74 years old and she is still actively running her own business,” Ms Lymo says.

Her mother’s perseverance and wisdom have had a significant influence on Fransisca’s business journey, and she continues to seek her guidance and advice.

One of the key challenges Fransisca has faced in operating her bakery is the scarcity of raw materials used for baking and packaging.

To address this issue, she co-founded GABF Cake Tools and Packaging, located in Kariakoo.

This business has helped solve many challenges faced by Beta Bakery, and it has also benefited other bakers in the industry by providing them with access to the materials and tools needed to operate successfully.

In 2008, the sourcing of raw materials was an issue for many bakeries, as they had to import goods from Europe, Dubai, or China in large quantities.

This often deterred new entrants into the baking industry.

However, with improvements in local sourcing, the presence of young bakers has grown, creating a more dynamic and competitive industry.

Fransisca is also the Director of Frabby Tanzania Limited, a company that specializes in the importation of food ingredients and general supplies.

The company is an authorized dealer for Kerry International Tanzania, focusing on the supply of flavours and food ingredients.

Through this role, she has further diversified her business interests, continuing to serve the broader food industry in Tanzania.

One of the current challenges faced by the baking industry is the VAT on bread, which creates an uneven playing field due to unfair competition.

Bread is now considered a basic necessity, yet the tax burden makes it harder for some bakers to compete effectively in the market.

Additionally, the availability of industrial white sugar remains a challenge, as bakers must rely on brown sugar, which is unsuitable for all bakery products.

Despite these challenges, Fransisca remains committed to supporting other women in the baking industry.

She provides training through the TBA and offers on-the-job learning opportunities at Beta Bakery.

She believes that when one is blessed with success, it is important to share those blessings with others, and her dedication to mentorship reflects this belief.

Fransisca currently mentors 30 women and 10 young people, and she continues to inspire many others to pursue their dream.

She believes that empowering women can lead to far-reaching positive changes in society.

Her commitment to mentoring is driven by the belief that investing in one woman’s success has the potential to uplift hundreds of others.

Her work to accelerate the impact of women in business, particularly in the baking industry, has demonstrated that collective support among women can lead to powerful outcomes.

Whether it’s supporting each other in the kitchen or in business and education, empowering women is the key to creating a brighter future for many.

Supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation