Growing up in a family where baking and cooking were part of daily life, it was only natural that the 25-year-old De Aar local, Richardene Frolick, would one day start her own bakery.
Her business, Nonhles Treats, has been baking and selling cakes and biscuits since 2022 and has now been selected as a beneficiary of a three-year enterprise development programme.
Through this support, Frolick intends to strengthen her small business and is hopeful that she will soon be able to move into a more suitable and secure premises.
Her vision for the bakery goes beyond her own success.
She hopes to create two new jobs within the next year, helping to offer opportunities for other young people in her community.
Frolick also plans to expand her offering to include bread and rolls, alongside the popular cakes and biscuits she is already known for in De Aar and the surrounding areas.
“I started baking during lockdown after my family encouraged me to turn my natural talent into something more.
“I was unable to complete my studies due to the pandemic and financial constraints, so I had nothing to lose,” shared Frolick, when speaking about her decision to pursue a future as an entrepreneur.
“Until now, I have grown the business with very little. Becoming a beneficiary of this programme means I can expand my production, upgrade my equipment, and work towards long-term goals that will make Nonhles Treats more sustainable,” she added.
Small enterprises at the heart of local development
Over the next year, the programme will support the establishment of a formal business premises, using a combination of a containerised structure and a small building.
By the end of the three-year period, the goal is for Nonhles Treats to meet the required food-handling and processing compliance requirements, strengthen operational skills, secure key certifications, grow revenue, and build a stable financial footing.
“We are inspired by Richardene’s commitment to building her business. Since its launch, it has operated from a temporary space on local church land. Even in these limited conditions, she has consistently improved the quality of her products and grown her customer base beyond De Aar,” said Harrisinah Theka, economic development manager at De Aar Solar Power, which funds this development programme for local enterprises.
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“As Richardene moves into this next phase, we are confident that the structure and support offered through the programme will give her the foundation she needs to grow a sustainable business.
“Small enterprises like Nonhles Treats are at the heart of local development, and we look forward to seeing the impact her growth will have in the community,” Theka concluded.
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