Meline Khndzrtsyan, Sweet House Project

August 22, 2024

The first “Sweet House” in Armenia is located in the Nor Kyank settlement of Ararat Marz. Street signs guide visitors on how to find it. The founder, Meline Khndzrtsyan, transformed the warehouse of her house into a modern Production facility. Now, it’s impossible to tell that it was once a warehouse, with the only evidence being the before-and-after pictures displayed at the entrance.

“We are the first child of the project,” says Meline proudly. “We had a suitable area for the Production facility, a large garden, and just needed to start. We began construction in 2022 and finished it quickly. By the end of the year, everything was ready.”

The UNDP “Sweet House” project was implemented based on a co-financing principle. The goal is to support small businesses in rural areas engaged in fruit and vegetable processing, producing sweets, dried fruits, jams, and honey products. The project has set a standard by adopting the concept of the “Gastro Yard” project, which was successfully implemented to promote rural tourism. Through the “Sweet House” project, agricultural product processing equipment and production-related assets were provided, along with training courses and counseling.

“The timing was interesting. My children were grown up, and I could afford to go back to work. When I started thinking about working, ‘Sweet House’ appeared, and I transitioned from a housewife to a businesswoman. I never imagined it would become such a reality, but you can see the results for yourself,” says Meline Khndzrtsyan.

In addition to dried foods, “Sweet House” also produces doshab, homemade compotes, jams. The assortment of dried goods grows every year. “We’re always testing new products and trying to expand our range. This year, we added dried tomatoes, cherries, and mulberries,” Meline says.

The division of roles in the family business is clear, Meline explains. "My father is in charge of provision, my mother is responsible for maintaining traditional recipes and communicating with employees, my husband handles the paperwork, and I am wherever I need to be. I’m responsible for everything."

Most of the fruits is purchased from fellow villagers, as the harvest from their own garden is no longer sufficient. They also buy from other regions. "We visit the villages, choose the best fruits, and buy them. This way, we support our fellow villagers while ensuring quality," says Meline Khndzrtsyan. Meline’s "Sweet House" in the Nor Kyank settlement of Ararat Marz is also creating new jobs. "When we first started 'Sweet House,' the entire family was involved. But we quickly realized we couldn’t manage without additional help. We currently have three employees, all are women from Nagorno Karabakh. The work is easy and pleasant, requiring no hard physical labor. Everyone works with great love."

Meline plans to increase the varietes of products and the number of jobs in the near future. "Many people from our village ask how they can work with us. Hopefully, we’ll be able to expand gradually." Meline notes that her 'Sweet House' has inspired many in the village to start their own businesses. "One fellow villager visited our place, got inspired, and has since purchased a large area with the intent to establish a dried fruit production. Many people ask how to start such a business, and I always share advice and try to inspire them," says Meline. The most important goal for this year is to create a brand. Once the brand is established, they plan to present their products on a larger scale in the Armenian market.