Hlalafeng Mzingwane - Kitchen360
Born and raised in a rural town of Rouxville in the Free State, Hlalefang Mzingwane was inspired by her mother’s Sunday meals and has since turned her love for food into a booming and sustainable business.
“We'd open our eyes and it was there – each and every Sunday,” Hlalefang reminisces. “My mom would prepare a firm favourite in our house, the seven colours, a traditional South African meal that would include rice, chicken or beef, and sides such as pumpkin, sweet potatoes, beetroot, cabbage, bean salad, potato salad, or coleslaw.”
“Her skills were unmatched,” she says. “As a result, my curiosity about her cooking style got me started on experimenting with food by cooking for my children. I had ambitions of becoming a professional chef, however I had no financial means to make it happen. I decided that this would not stop me, so in 2013 I started up my own catering company.”
“I offered cooking and baking lessons to people at an affordable price, over a short time frame,” she explains. “In 2017 I was then awarded a bursary to study Culinary Arts at the Food and Beverage Institute in Bloemfontein, which is when Kitchen360 came to life.”
Hlalefang’s Kitchen360, is a hospitality company that offers event catering and consulting services in Bloemfontein. To further grow her business, she entered the SAB Foundation Tholoana Enterprise Awards Programme, an 18 month business development initiative that offers grant funding, mentorship and coaching and access to markets to build sustainable business models.
“The Tholoana Enterprise Programme has supported over 550 entrepreneurs and we have seen its real impact on entrepreneurs, with an average annual turnover increase of 71% for businesses having gone through the programme,“ says Itumeleng Dlahmini, SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Manager.
“I came across an advertisement for the programme on Facebook,” Hlalefang says. “I applied online for the first time but unfortunately did not make it. I tried again the following year and was accepted onto the programme.”
Prior to the joining programme, Hlalefang had five employees. After the business support and mentorship she received she now employs 14 people.
“One of my main business goals was to drive job creation for local community members and I continue to look for opportunities to grow this even further,” she declares. “Another way I support my community is by sourcing fresh ingredients from local suppliers and emerging farmers to make meals that speak to the heart,bursting with authentic local flavours.”
Kitchen360 has also secured their biggest baking course contract with the Small Enterprise Development Agency. “This will enable us to further equip unemployed youth with culinary skills to enable them start and run their own businesses,” states Hlalefang.
Hlalefang has won other prestigious awards, such as the Royco Qala Cook-off and was recently selected at the Tabalza Pitching competition as Head Chef to represent South Africa at the Dubai Food Expo.
“I am inspired by ordinary South Africans who hustle every day to put food on the table for their families,” Hlalefang concludes. “Armed with determination, business support and a little start-up money, I have learned that it is possible to pursue a dream of creating a sustainable business.”