What began as a chilli business in a garage is now preparing for retail and export growth, after friends Boikano Sikwane and Tshepiso Manyoha received R100 000 through the African Bank ESD SMME Access to Finance Programme to scale Chuck Chilli from an informal start-up into a food safety accredited supplier employing seven permanent staff members and four temporary workers.
The story highlights a practical small-business growth challenge in South Africa: entrepreneurs often need more than capital to move from informal sales into formal retail and export-ready operations. Through the African Bank ESD SMME Access to Finance Programme, qualifying businesses receive grants of R100 000 or R200 000 after demonstrating the implementation of business skills gained through coaching and mentorship.
Chuck Chilli, founded by Sikwane and Manyoha, was one of eight small businesses awarded R100 000 to support business growth. The company supplies food condiments to retailers and supermarkets, with ambitions to grow from independent retail partnerships into broader local and international channels.
“The business was started in my garage,” said Sikwane. “Our first customers were family and close friends. Word spread, we started selling at flea markets and soon partnered with independent retailers. Today, we operate from a 150sqm food safety accredited facility and employ seven permanent staff members and four people on a temporary basis.”
Like many early-stage food businesses, the founders had to learn how to meet retailer expectations, strengthen operational systems and prepare the business for formal market access. These steps are especially important for food suppliers, where compliance and certification can influence access to retail and export opportunities. The team heard about the Programme through the monthly markets hosted at the African Bank head office in Midrand. For Chuck Chilli, the support arrived at a point when the business was ready to professionalise its operations and pursue the next stage of growth.
Through the Programme, the team learned how technology can support day-to-day business operations, improve efficiency and strengthen readiness for retail growth. Business support went beyond funding. The company’s expansion helped it pass the FSSC Development 2 food safety audit, an important compliance milestone that can open doors to local and international markets.
The business has also secured listings with headline retailers, including Food Lover’s Market, giving the brand a stronger platform to reach consumers beyond its original community of customers.
Speaking about the future, Manyoha said: “We look forward to finalising a listing with one more retailer before the end of the year, building our consumer base in South Africa and completing our first export shipment.”
Sikwane said the Programme’s value was the combination of funding and practical support. “Business support is not only about money. The team helped us understand what it takes to prepare for retail, meet compliance expectations and take advantage of growth opportunities.”
