GQEBERHA – A Gqeberha dessert business has its sights on the national stage after winning the Eastern Cape title in the 2026 Standard Bank Kasi SME Pitch Challenge.

GQ Creamery founder, Thando Volontiya, will represent the province at the national finals on 27 August, when entrepreneurs from across the country will compete for the R1 million grand prize.

For Volontiya, the achievement is a proud milestone in a journey driven by a simple ambition: to create more than an ice-cream shop.

“I wanted GQ Creamery to be more than just an ice-cream shop. I wanted it to become an experience — a place where families, friends and young people could come together, celebrate and create memories,” he said.

He admitted he had never imagined the business would grow as far as it has.

“What started as a dream has developed into a growing business with a strong customer base, new opportunities and plans for expansion. Looking back, I’m extremely proud of how far GQ Creamery has come.”

From gelato training to a growing brand

Volontiya has also worked to develop his knowledge of the craft. He studied at Carpigiani Gelato University, an internationally recognised gelato training institution in Italy, through its Johannesburg branch.

“I wanted to make sure that we weren’t simply producing ice cream, but that we were developing our products according to proper gelato techniques and standards,” he said.

Volontiya says the appeal of desserts goes beyond the product itself.

“As a child, a sweet treat wasn’t just food; it was something that created excitement and made a normal day feel special,” he said. “That feeling has stayed with me.”

It is a feeling he hopes to recreate for GQ Creamery customers, whether it is a child enjoying a bubble waffle, a family sharing gelato or friends simply coming in to have fun.

“That’s really at the heart of what GQ Creamery represents: Happiness for everyone.”

Volontiya says he is inspired by people who start with very little but refuse to give up on their dreams. His customers, community and team also motivate him.

“Building a business isn’t something you do alone,” he said.

His vision is for GQ Creamery to become more than a successful business. He wants it to create employment, develop people and contribute positively to the community.

That ambition has not come without challenges.

GQ Creamery heads to national finals

Volontiya says one of the greatest difficulties has been learning how to grow while managing costs, staffing, suppliers, customers and daily operations.

He has learnt to be disciplined, understand the numbers behind the business, listen to customers and adapt.

“Every challenge has taught me something that has helped make GQ Creamery stronger,” he said.

Volontiya entered the Standard Bank Kasi SME Pitch Challenge because he saw it as an opportunity to step outside his comfort zone and put his vision for GQ Creamery in front of people who could help take the business to the next level.

Winning the Eastern Cape title was an incredibly proud moment.

“It wasn’t just a personal achievement. It felt like recognition of the hard work that has gone into building GQ Creamery and the belief that we have in the future of the business.”

The 2026 competition is the second national edition of the Standard Bank Kasi SME Pitch Challenge, with qualifying entrepreneurs from all nine provinces competing for provincial prizes before progressing to the national finals.

The nine provincial winners were joined by an additional finalist selected through the competition’s Viewers’ Choice process to make up the Top 10 national finalists. Each provincial winner received R50,000, while the first and second runners-up received R10,000 each.

“I’m excited, grateful and definitely nervous — but it’s a good kind of nervousness!”

R1m prize could fuel GQ Creamery growth

Winning the R1 million could transform the next chapter of GQ Creamery.

Volontiya says the money would be invested directly into expansion, including additional outlets, equipment and operational capacity.

The business is already working towards expanding into additional locations, including a new Walmer location.

“Our goal is to build GQ Creamery into a recognised local brand with a strong presence across the metro and eventually beyond Gqeberha,” he said.

Growth is not simply about opening more stores, he adds.

“I don’t just want to build more stores. I want to build a sustainable business that creates jobs, develops people and gives customers a place where they can genuinely come and experience happiness,” said Volontiya.

“The dream is much bigger than one shop. GQ Creamery is about creating happiness, one scoop at a time — and we’re only getting started.”

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