06 May 2018

Mr Teko Kooteng, a 35-year-old resolute and ambitious entrepreneur who started a bakery in Magokotswane ward in Molepolole has hailed his business for carving a critical change in his life.

The passionate entrepreneur trading by the name Delicious Bakery said he was relishing a different palate of life after the establishment of his business.
Growing up as a business minded person who always dreamt of running his own business, his first successful effort in the business industry was a bakery.

“I first tried my hand in car rentals but was unsuccessful due to the high risks involved,” he said.

He said upon realising that there were not enough bakeries in Molepolole he grabbed the opportunity and ventured into the industry in 2012.

Having heard about the Youth Development Fund (YDF) from his young brother in 2012, he then applied for the funding and was funded to the tune of P100 000.

Mr Kooteng said he then bought different types of machinery that included an oven, dough mixer and slicing machine. He said he entered the confectionary business fully aware that it was costly to establish, so one had to keep determined to the end.

He said so far his business was doing well in the market and he had been contracted to various government organisations such as the Scottish Livingstone Hospital and Sedumedi Junior School which he supplied daily, hence heightening his business success.

The passionate entrepreneur’s extensive base of customers also comprises more than 15 general dealers and about 50 tuckshops which he supplies every day, and said he is confident of always meeting their demands and expectations.

He said his daily production capacity ranged from about 350 loaves of bread, 300 fatcakes, 150 scones and other confectionary assortments which are normally produced based on orders.

Mr Kooteng’s also said his establishment has created job opportunities and was injecting income,  diversifying the economy of the village and country.

He said he operates with five employees which makes it easy to meet demands.

As there is no success without challenges, the entrepreneur said he sometimes experience strong challenges such as stock theft, power outtage, failure to produce quality by employees and high rentals and lack of enough vehicles to make deliveries.

In his endeavour to infiltrate the business industry, Mr Kooteng pursued a Diploma in Human Resource Management at Gaborone University College of Law.

He said his business has enabled him to support his family and meet essential life requirements of his child.

Mr Kooteng said he wanted to expand his business by adding mass production machines and another delivery vehicle to maximise profit.

His vision he said, was to see his business supplying all schools, all government organisations, general dealers and tuck-shops in Molepolole.

Mr Kooteng also hailed the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development through the YDF for committing itself to changing the lives of the youth and advised this peers to take advantage of the initiative. He urged youth to remain ambitious and determined in life to meet and cherish their dreams of living better standards of life.  Ends