Meet Groutville’s master of scones
Rodwell Chinunga runs a small bakery opposite the Umfolozi TVET College and supplies a number of restaurants in Ballito, including Peron Peron, Bird and Co and BBM Cafe.
Driven by his passion to be a good father and husband Rodwell Chinunga has poured his heart and soul into building up his bakery business in Groutville.
From 6am until 7pm his bakery welcomes customers of all ages who buy cakes and bread on their way to work or school.
The 51-year-old man came to South Africa 18 years ago from Zimbabwe and worked in various bakeries and restaurants in Johannesburg for eight years before moving to the Dolphin Coast.
“I had to move because of the terrible economy in Zimbabwe. I needed to make a decent living and provide for my family.”
He was originally trained by Aroma Bakeries in Zimbabwe who saw the potential in him when has was just an assistant.
“Today there is nothing I enjoy more than baking!”
Rod opened his business, Rod’s All Sweet Bakery, in 2015, baking scones, muffins, queen cakes and birthday cakes from his home.
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Today he runs a small bakery opposite the Umfolozi TVET College and supplies a number of restaurants in Ballito, including Peron Peron, Bird and Co and BBM Cafe.
“As my business was growing in 2015, I moved to premises in the KwaDukuza CBD, which was busier than Groutville. The cost of rent forced me to close up and move back to Groutville early last year.”
Chinunga said he could not afford cashflow worries to distract him from his main goal: baking amazing cakes and breads.
“If you do not bake fresh, quality cakes, you are sure to lose customers.”
Still, it was not all a loss as the move established a customer base for him in Stanger. Upon leaving the CBD, his loyal customers demanded their daily scones be delivered to them.
“I had no choice but to employ two people who come in every morning to take scones and sell them in KwaDukuza.”
The demand for his baked good made him realise that as one man there was only so much he could produce.
So he trained his wife and son how to bake and they now join him in the kitchen.
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