Success in business is rarely straightforward, with risk and resilience key to long-term growth, says entrepreneur Craig Jarvie (27).

This was highlighted during his talk to entrepreneurs at the iLembe Chamber’s First Friday Business Club session last Friday at The Quarter in Ballito.

Jarvie, who founded Crack-a-Mac in a Shaka’s Head industrial park, shared an honest account of his journey, stressing that progress is rarely linear and success is not guaranteed. He told attendees he is still figuring out many aspects of the business.

Crack-a-Mac produces roasted and flavoured macadamias as well as cold-pressed macadamia cooking oil.

Raised on a farm between Greytown and Kranskop, Jarvie developed a passion for agriculture from a young age. Inspired by his father, he started his first venture while still at school, planting a field of cabbages. A hailstorm destroyed most of the crop, marking his first major setback.

After leaving university during the Covid-19 pandemic, he briefly managed a 400-hectare sugarcane farm under difficult conditions, including unrest and fires in KZN. He later travelled to Aspen in the United States, working as a bouncer and in a diner while running a small side hustle.

Returning home, Jarvie focused on building a financial foundation before farming independently. This led him to explore several ideas before turning to macadamia processing after visiting farms in Zambia and Australia.

Crack-a-Mac began in his father’s pack shed using basic equipment. Growth followed after securing a major client at a Johannesburg trade show, allowing the business to scale, invest in better machinery and achieve food safety certification.

Despite this progress, challenges such as high compliance costs and unreliable service providers persist.

“I have made hundreds of mistakes, but each one has helped build the business,” he said.

Jarvie noted that running a start-up comes with constant pressure.

“Your emotions are constantly in flux. One day you feel like you are on top of the world, and the next day everything’s changed.”

He emphasised perseverance, financial discipline and making informed decisions.

“You need to figure out which areas will actually grow your business, and which don’t matter too much,” he said.

Having a strong idea and taking action is often more important than expertise.

“You have to be willing to take risks and make mistakes,” he said. “That’s where the real growth happens.”