By Sizakele Nduli
Lebogang Nyandeni, a 27-year-old entrepreneur from Evaton in the Vaal, combined his knack for business and love for coffee to launch LebzCafé, a coffee company in 2021. “My inspiration to start LebzCafé came from a blend of personal passion and a deep desire to make an impact. My love for coffee was nurtured during my childhood, especially through my experiences with my grandmother, who instilled in me a sense of appreciation for the beverage,” he said. The company, offering products like the most popular LebzCafé iKoffie Original Instant Coffee, coffee beans, chai tea and hot chocolate, recently achieved a milestone by landing its products on the shelves of Pick n Pay Ola’s Market in Vanderbijlpark.
Nyandeni credited this accomplishment to market owner Thami Manzi, who believed in the brand’s vision. “Thami recognised the potential in LebzCafé and believed in our vision, which greatly aided in facilitating this opportunity. After presenting our products, including the standout LebzCafé Irresistible Original Instant Coffee, to Thami, he was enthusiastic about offering them to his customers,” Nyandeni told Vutivi News, adding that this endorsement bolstered the brand’s visibility and credibility.
However, Nyandeni noted that expanding into non-coffee beverages like hot chocolate, chai tea and still water was not the right move at the time. He observed that while these products catered to a broader audience, they diverted attention from the company’s flagship instant coffee. “While our competition for these products internally was healthy, externally it was not. Our instant coffee consumers started enjoying our non-coffee beverages, but chose to stick with traditional instant coffee brands instead,” he noted.
To maintain focus, the company paused the new offerings, with plans to revisit them in the future. Nyandeni’s entrepreneurial journey began in high school, where he sold sweets, chocolate biscuits and even washed his teachers’ cars to earn pocket money. After matriculating in 2015, he initially enrolled in an electrical engineering course, but later dropped out to pursue an entrepreneurship programme at the Vaal University of Technology. Sponsored by Sasol, the fully funded one-year course provided him with the skills needed to launch his business. “It’s truly disheartening to study something you dislike or aren’t passionate about,” he said.
Thanks to the entrepreneurship course, Nyandeni was able to channel his energy into what he truly loves. Despite the coffee industry’s intense competition, Nyandeni has set LebzCafé apart by creating a unique product that emphasises quality and a less bitter taste. “We conducted thorough market research and still are – we never stop – identifying gaps and tailoring our products to meet the preferences of our target audience,” he said.
Nyandeni took a strategic approach to securing funding. “I started with a combination of personal savings which I acquired while working at Skinny Sbu Store. “Additionally, we sought out local grants, Enterprise Supplier Development programmes and participated in pitch competitions, like the one I won from Amstel The Entrepreneur which helped us gain financial support while also providing invaluable exposure to potential investors.” To ensure regulatory compliance as the business scaled, Nyandeni dedicated time to understanding legal and health standards for food and beverage products, consulting experts and attending industry workshops.
He acknowledged that it was not easy, but these efforts have positioned LebzCafé for sustainable growth and scalability. Nyandeni advises aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace the uncertainty of starting a business. “The outcome is unpredictable, but it’s preferable to fail after making an effort than to never attempt it. It is simply better to fail after trying than to not try at all,” he said. For more details about Lebz Café and their offerings, visit their website: https://www.lebzcafe.com.
