Hlengiwe Shandu has built Gemisquare Bakeries into a trusted supplier that now delivers more than 600 loaves of fresh bread to retailers across Umlazi every morning despite mounting challenges.
Breaking into the township bread market is no easy task. Many township tuck shops are owned by foreign nationals and source their bread from established commercial bakeries, leaving little room for smaller local manufacturers.
Shandu is the founder and CEO of Gemisquare Bakeries, a 100% black female-owned bakery based in Umlazi G-Section, Durban.
An Operations Management graduate who is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in the same field, she established the business to provide fresh, affordable bread to township communities while creating sustainable employment opportunities.
Before venturing into bread production, Shandu started the business by baking scones, cakes and buns for customers in her community.
As demand grew, she identified an opportunity in bread manufacturing after noticing that many township residents depended on bread transported from outside Umlazi, which sometimes arrived late or did not arrive at all.
“I recognised that many township residents relied on bread that was transported from outside the community, sometimes arriving late or not at all,” Shandu said.
“I also wanted to ensure people who earn below an average salary can also afford quality bread.”
Gemisquare began producing both white and brown bread, which retail for R14 a loaf, supplying local tuck shops with fresh bread every morning. By using neighbourhood retailers as its primary distribution channel instead of opening its own stores, the bakery has built a loyal customer base while making fresh bread more accessible within the township.
The business received a major boost during the July 2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, when disruptions to supply chains increased demand for locally produced bread.
The period highlighted the importance of community-based manufacturers and helped Gemisquare strengthen its presence in the township market.
What started as a small operation has grown steadily over the years. Shandu said the bakery’s growth has been driven by consistency, discipline and building strong relationships with customers.
Rather than competing on price alone, Gemisquare focused on producing quality bread every day, delivering orders on time and listening to customer feedback. As tuck shop owners experienced the bakery’s reliability, they recommended it to other retailers, allowing the business to expand through referrals and repeat customers.
“Our biggest strengths are consistency, quality and reliability,” she said.
“Tuck shop owners know that when they order from Gemisquare, they will receive fresh bread delivered on time.”
Gemisquare now supplies more than 600 loaves of bread every morning to tuck shops across Umlazi.
Production begins a day before, with dough prepared using quality ingredients before moving through mixing, proofing, baking and cooling.
Every loaf is inspected before packaging and delivered before retailers open for business.
The bakery currently employs seven people, most of them youth from the local community.
Beyond creating jobs, the business equips employees with practical skills while supporting township retailers and keeping more economic activity within Umlazi.
Like many small manufacturers, Gemisquare has faced challenges, including limited access to funding, rising production costs, equipment expenses and growing competition.
Shandu said she has responded by improving operational efficiency, continuously learning and strengthening customer relationships.
The business has also received support from the Hollywood Foundation through its enterprise development programme. The support included bakery equipment and a 12-metre container, helping Gemisquare increase its production capacity and strengthen its operations.
Looking ahead, Shandu hopes to increase production, strengthen the bakery’s distribution network, secure distribution partnerships and access larger retail markets while creating more employment opportunities and become one of South Africa’s leading township bakery brands and a recognised training hub.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women interested in manufacturing and food production, Shandu encourages perseverance.
“Believe in your vision and do not wait for perfect conditions before starting,” she said. “Begin with what you have, remain consistent and never compromise on quality.”
