Startup Story
To ensure your corporate or private function is memorable for your guests, great catering is essential. After all, people may forget the speeches but they will always remember the food. In South Africa, that’s where Fresh Food Daily comes in. Founder Thuladu Mngadi, has a passion for creating great African cuisine, all delivered with a touch of flair.
LoA chatted to founder Thuladu Mngadi this month to learn more about the business and plans for its future growth and aspirations.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Thuladu Mngadi and I am the owner and founder of Fresh Food Daily, a company that specializes catering services for corporate and private functions as well as family packaged meals. I started running my company back in 2015 as a sit down restaurant, that provided mostly African cuisine as well contemporary menus. I have a wealth of experience as an entrepreneur, but I had to close my restaurant business in December 2019 due to rental escalations. As a result, I started working from home and the business just boomed even better. Today, I strive to provide one of the best examples of customer service a client can ask for. Attention to detail is our core in the business.
“I strive to provide one of the best examples of customer service a client can ask for. Attention to detail is our core in the business.”
What does your company do?
Fresh Food Daily provides catering services for corporate and private functions.
What inspired you to start your company?
I was retrenched from my former work as an Attorney Liaison Officer at a bank. After spending a few months not securing a suitable job, I decided to pursue my passion and I opened my first sit down restaurant. I am inspired by all things food, and I believe in providing the tastiest meals for my customers.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Fresh Food Daily stands out as a trend setter, especially in catering. We strive for excellence in bringing new and fresh ideas into the new food space. When people see our presentation of food, they can’t wait to dig in into it. We also make sure that when the customer gets to eat the food, they get the best taste experience ever.
“I am inspired by all things food, and I believe in providing the tastiest meals for my customers.”
Tell us a little about your team
Our team consists of both permanent and temporary staff. The permanent staff work on the daily operations of the establishment and the temporary staff are called in as and when there are catering events.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I never had an entrepreneurial background at all. I had to work my way up, starting from scratch.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
The biggest dream is to expand Fresh Food Daily to reach even bigger heights. By expanding we will be giving back to our community by employing even more people.
“Fresh Food Daily stands out as a trend setter, especially in catering. We strive for excellence in bringing new and fresh ideas into the new food space.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
It’s the fact that when I wake up in the morning, I am looking forward to doing what I love the most. I never take anything as failure, only learning curves.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Never leave your day job for something that is just an idea or you haven’t done proper research on. Every single business needs you to be hands on. Never try and do both your day job and also run a business, especially if it involves dealing directly with your customers.
INSTAGRAM | EMAIL tmngadi54@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
They say to enter the food sector as an entrepreneur, you have to be passionate about what you do, and serve your customers with love for the food experiences you create. Thuladu Mngadi is a great example of an entrepreneur who has turned passion into profit, although she has had quite a journey to get to where she is today. Like many other women food entrepreneurs before her, she has had to pivot her business model in order to remain viable and relevant in today’s challenging world. But that pivoting has been just the thing to bring her success. Thuladu knows her clients, she knows what they love to eat and drink, and she creates memorable food experiences that deliver on every level. Definitely a food entrepreneur to watch on South Africa’s foodscene. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa