Eastern Cape Bakery Expands Regional Reach
Eastern Cape Bakery Expands Regional Reach. Rise and Shine Bakery has grown from a small community business in Adelaide into a regional bakery supplying more than 80 spaza shops, hospitals and community facilities across Bedford, Adelaide and Cookhouse.
Founded by entrepreneur Xolani Dyesha in 2012, the bakery received industrial baking equipment, a generator and 2,000 bread crates in 2019 through the Amakhala Emoyeni Community Fund Trust. The trust supports community enterprise development in Exxaro’s host communities.
The support enabled Rise and Shine Bakery to increase its production capacity and expand its distribution network.
Dyesha established the business after identifying a shortage of locally produced bread in Adelaide. At the time, bread was transported from Gqeberha, almost 200km away. He subsequently converted his small shisanyama operation into a bakery.
The business initially faced challenges involving infrastructure, production capacity, compliance and business management.
Further support followed in 2021 when the Community Fund Trust partnered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants Enterprise Development. The partnership provided accounting support, mentorship, governance guidance and compliance assistance as the bakery expanded.
According to Dyesha, the support also included the purchase of 2,000 crates, branding for the bakery’s delivery vehicles and uniforms for employees.
The bakery now supplies customers across parts of the Eastern Cape and provides employment in communities experiencing high unemployment. It also donates bread to local crèches and vulnerable households.
Neo Monareng, executive head of sustainability at Exxaro, said small businesses can contribute to local economies through employment, local supply chains and access to goods and services.
Rise and Shine Bakery is among the businesses supported through Exxaro’s enterprise and supplier development initiatives, which include financial assistance, mentorship, business advisory services and market development support.
