With support from Business Link Pacific, a concessionary loan from HFC Bank in Fiji has helped transform Juice Fiji.

Founded by Panapasa Daunakamakama, Juice Fiji started as a small backyard operation—today it has grown into a thriving enterprise providing stable employment to local workers with a quality product reliably available in supermarkets.

For the Tailevu man, the inspiration behind Juice Fiji is deeply personal. As a child, he often watched his grandmother prepare herbal remedies using local plants to treat common illnesses. “Those moments stayed with me,” he shared. “My grandmother believed in the healing power of nature, and that inspired me to create something healthy and natural for our people.”

Turning that inspiration into a successful business came with challenges, particularly access to finance. Like many micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Juice Fiji needed capital to expand production and meet growing demand.

Panapasa was connected with HFC Bank through BLP-approved advisors Elvin Prasad and Naveen Kumar from Apex Accounting and Taxation Services. With the help of Apex, he completed his financial statements and loan application, successfully securing a loan that became a key turning point for Juice Fiji and transformed his business’s trajectory.

For Panapasa, engaging with a BLP Advisor offered an additional advantage. Members of the BLP Advisory Network are able to provide subsidised services to their clients. In great news he was also able to secure a BLP subsidy that significantly reduced the cost of accounting services from Apex Accounting.

“Business Link Pacific really helped with the collateral,” he said. “They made it possible for me to access the loan from HFC, I only had to put up a small amount myself, and the rest was guaranteed through the partnership.”

The HFC loan has supported Juice Fiji to expand production, strengthen marketing, and maintain consistent stock levels across supermarket shelves. Today, the business employs five full-time and five casual workers, including women who help prepare, bottle, and restock products.

“The support from HFC made it possible for us to keep our products flowing and our staff continuously working. It’s what keeps our business stable and growing,” Panapasa said.

Juice Fiji now produces between 2,000 and 10,000 bottles weekly, generating FJD 20,000 to FJD 40,000 in sales, and has already begun exporting to Australia and New Zealand. Operating from a rented facility in Colo-I-Suva, Panapasa is now preparing to expand operations to a new site in Nakasi.

While challenges like delayed supermarket payments remain, he remains optimistic — crediting HFC and BLP for giving him the confidence and capacity to grow.

“HFC has been with me from the start. Without their loan, our products wouldn’t be on the shelves, and our business wouldn’t have this consistency,” he said. “The collateral support gave me a real chance to expand and create jobs for others.”

From his grandmother’s herbal wisdom to a modern, health-focused brand, Panapasa Daunakamakama’s Juice Fiji is proof that with the right financial support, local innovation can grow into national success.

In Fiji, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can explore similar opportunities through Business Link Pacific and their partner Business Assistance Fiji (BAF). Contact BAF today to learn how your business can benefit from tailored support, advisory services, and access to finance through HFC Bank.

BLP facilitates access to business advisory services and financial support. To start your journey with BLP, you can self-assess your needs by using the free online tools available to help small- and medium-sized businesses diagnose areas in their businesses that an advisor could improve.

The first step can be the online Business Health Check. You can also check your business’s resilience to respond to crises or climate change challenges on the Business Continuity Planner and the Climate Action Sensor. If you prefer to meet a local BLP representative in person to discuss your business, get in touch with our local partners to arrange a face-to-face Diagnostic.