#MakingIt – Couple’s bakery rises to success

Our mouth watering range of products are freshly baked daily, with tenderness and extra softness.

This is how hard-earned success is best depicted by local entrepreneurs and founders of NTS Bakery, Thembisile and Jack Mokoatedi.

The couple established the company in 2010, baking in their small kitchen.

A former telecommunications employee, Jack describes himself as a passionate guy who is always looking for new opportunities. He said when his pastry chef wife proposed the idea of starting a bakery business he had to support her dream.

“I realised that we could pursue one goal as a team,” he said.

His 29-year-old wife said when the business started it was not making any profit at all.

“I was losing a lot of money but I had the stern belief that the idea was going to work. That’s what kept me going,” said Thembisile.

She said the source of their first attempt’s failure was the challenge in pricing their confections (products).

She said she would set prices without considering other aspects. When she found new, cheap suppliers she asked for help with regards to cost.

“One of our suppliers taught us how to price our products and when I implemented the knowledge, I started to see some profit,” she said.

Thembisile said the business was then doing well and it moved from the kitchen to a garage. She recalls how difficult it was at the beginning.

“When we started I was the laughing stock. I did my deliveries on foot, carrying my products on my head. But I knew where I was going,” she said.

Thembisile had to work through the night to meet her customers’ demands.

“I sold at train stations and I would be chased away by business owners who didn’t want competition in the vicinity. I had to sell the remaining stock to local foreigners’ shops,” she said.

The couple said funding from government institutions was not helpful.

“I opened the first kitchen with a capital of R800, which I borrowed from umashonisa (loan sharks). I had to pay it back and the business failed,” she said.

She said no one could help her with the capital; it was just her and her husband on their own. Her hard work paid off as the business gradually grew and they began to buy new industrial baking equipment. They were forced by the growing demand to move out of the garage to two bigger spaces.

Today, they are proud to run their business in a large space at the King’s Palace shopping complex.

“We opened the bakery on December 1, 2015. The shop is a success because we now own two delivery trucks that deliver to spaza shops. We employ 21 local people who report on two different shifts,” she said.

Thembisile said her inspiration comes from her cooking.

“Our baking includes a variety of products, from bread, cakes, queens cakes, scones, rolls, buns, muffins, biscuits, doughnuts and more,” she said.

Jack left his nine to five employment to work at the bakery.

“The NTS bakery dedicates itself to empowering the community. We strictly employ local people. Each year we adopt a child by sponsoring him/her with school needs like uniforms, transport and school fees,” said Thembisile.

Thembisile, who has no parents, said being an orphan should not hinder anyone’s success .

“I understand there are no jobs but starting a business is not going to be easy. Everyday is a challenge,” she said.