Snowflake Expands Rising Stars Competition to Empower More Baking Entrepreneurs
Snowflake Expands Rising Stars Competition to Empower More Baking Entrepreneurs. Snowflake has expanded its Rising Stars baking competition to reach more aspiring entrepreneurs, extending the initiative across the Eastern Cape and launching it in KwaZulu-Natal for the first time.
The expanded programme will offer a combined R300,000 in prizes aimed at supporting amateur and emerging professional bakers as they develop sustainable businesses.
Entries will open during August 2026 and are open to bakers who have been operating their businesses for less than three years.
Now in its third year, the Rising Stars competition was created to identify talented bakers with entrepreneurial potential while providing them with practical support, industry exposure and opportunities to grow their businesses. Having previously focused on the Border-Kei region, the competition will now welcome participants from across the Eastern Cape while introducing the initiative to KwaZulu-Natal.
Sibongile Mooko, Marketing Executive at Premier FMCG, said the expansion reflects the company’s commitment to supporting small business development through practical opportunities.
She said many talented bakers across South Africa are building businesses that generate income and serve their communities, and the competition is designed to help entrepreneurs turn their potential into long-term progress through business support and recognition.
Applicants selected as provincial finalists will compete in live bake-off events, where they will demonstrate their baking skills, creativity, presentation and business potential before a panel of judges and industry experts.
In each province, the overall winner will receive R20,000 in cash, a business development toolkit valued at R30,000, media exposure and Snowflake products. Second-place winners will receive R15,000, while third-place winners will receive R10,000, with both prize packages also including business toolkits, media exposure and Snowflake products.
Beyond the prizes, finalists will have opportunities to engage with industry professionals and gain exposure that could help strengthen their businesses and attract new customers.
The competition has already demonstrated its impact on previous participants. Last year’s Eastern Cape winner, Desiree Barnes from King William’s Town, said the experience helped her expand her kitchen, increase production capacity and grow her customer base. She credited the competition with improving her skills, raising her business profile and strengthening her professional network.
The Eastern Cape competition is supported by Blue Ribbon Chef School, ALL Things Cake, Pieter Kruger Foundation and Al Fidaa Foundation. In KwaZulu-Natal, partners include Chef Training and Innovation Academy, Professional Chef Academy, The Fusion Cooking School, Tjips and Tjoklits Baking Training, Al Fidaa Foundation and Blue Ribbon Chef School.
