What the local serial entrepreneur dreamt of one night in 2023 became a reality that led her to starting a chilli sauce business. She is steadily building a household name with her product which has been well received in the market. What started as a modest kitchen experiment since the dream has grown into a thriving venture underpinned by passion, persistence, and innovation. Malemenyane tells Business Monitor in an interview that she began her journey by selling to metshelo social clubs and neighbours. “My biggest client was my Indian neighbour who used to order 20 bottles per month. Even after he relocated to South Africa, he continued to place orders. That’s when I knew I was doing something right,” she recalls. Her products soon became a staple in her catering company, Itumelele Catering, where they drew praise from clients and helped spread the word.
According to Malemenyane, as interest grew, she invested in professional packaging and started promoting her brand on social media. She also participated in expos to connect with a wider audience. “One day, my supplier gave me jalapeños, which were mild. I decided to experiment and used them to create pickles and a pasta sandwich sauce. The products were well received, prompting her to diversify her offerings,” explains the entrepreneur. Currently, she has the capacity to produce around 120 bottles a week. However, her journey hasn’t been without challenges. “Chillies are seasonal, which affects consistency in supply. And I’m still using household blenders, which makes it hard to meet growing demand, I need an industrial blender to scale up,” she says. Despite the hurdles, Malemenyane remains focused.
