Startup Story
South Africans love their condiments, especially those that have a chilli kick to them. So for all those consumers who are constantly in search of a new chilli taste sensation, look no further than Chuck Chilli, an exciting brand of chilli condiments from Chuck Chilli Foods, co-founded by Boikano Sikwane.
LoA chatted to the enterprising entrepreneur behind this exciting brand.
What does your company do?
Chuck Chilli is a food condiment that comes in Mild, Original and Hot flavours to appeal to the wide spectrum of chilli lovers. We are using different types of retailers, both physical stores and online stores, to reach our customers nationwide. The business employs 5 people, mostly youth. We have also started a partnership with a farmer for our raw ingredients, as well as a contract manufacturer for part of our process. We are looking to a steady growth and more partnerships in the future.
“Chuck Chilli is a food condiment that comes in Mild, Original and Hot flavours to appeal to the wide spectrum of chilli lovers.”
What inspired you to start your company?
We had popular chillies that we made for family and friends. It would be added to different side dishes as well as eaten on its own. After much encouragement, the business was founded in 2019.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
It’s the chunkiness of it. Most chilli products are sauces unlike our Chuck Chilli. It is also versatile to use, as a cook-in or as a side condiment. The secret spice mix is what ultimately makes it different. We also do not use any artificial preservatives, nor do we add extra sugar or salt.
Tell us a little about your team
We have a team of two people. I, Boikano Sikwane, am the CEO. Tshepiso Manyoha is our COO. We each bring different and complementary strengths to the business .We split duties between ourselves and focus on growing the business in a sustainable manner. I especially like that we have a similar vision for the business, which is focused on long-term growth and development.
“Seeing the product on any of the retail shelves is satisfying. Even more gratifying is the positive feedback we constantly get from consumers.”
“We are planning to increase our capacity, so we can increase our footprint nationally and within the continent and beyond.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
This is my first proper entrepreneurial effort. After working in the finance departments of a few companies, including a bank and telecommunication companies, I became a stay at home mom for 5 years before the business was launched. It has come with great challenges as well as great lessons.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
We are planning to increase our capacity, so we can increase our footprint nationally and within the continent and beyond. We are also planning on increasing our product mix in time. Part of our long-term plan is partnering with farmers directly for our raw material, this will assist us in ensuring ongoing superb quality, as well as helping to support small scale farmers. We will be training and developing our staff, who are mostly youth, in different areas, thereby alleviating unemployment.
“Part of our long-term plan is partnering with farmers directly for our raw material, this will assist us in ensuring ongoing superb quality, as well as helping to support small scale farmers.”
“We will be training and developing our staff, who are mostly youth, in different areas, thereby alleviating unemployment.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The production process. We still have a mainly manual system. every step is still closely monitored, the cooking and bottling as well as labelling have to be perfectly done by hand. Seeing the product on any of the retail shelves is satisfying. Even more gratifying is the positive feedback we constantly get from consumers.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Start with what you have . Every step counts, don’t get dissuaded by slow growth, it is when you are most likely to learn big lessons, at lower cost.
Contact or follow Chuck Chilli
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL boikano@chuckchilli.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
There is something wonderful about turning a favourite family recipe into a business, and there are many household brand names and foodstuffs today that started out in family kitchens. Boikano Sikwane is taking something that she and her family have been passionate about for years and using it as the inspiration for a growing business. She is a great example of an entrepreneur who has found her niche and is making it her own. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa