Changes tune
BEFORE COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the local economy Josua Kalouniviti Tuibua worked on the production of huge concerts and outdoor events. As an audio-visual technician, he helped take local entertainment to another level with crisp sound, lighting and visual theatrics using effects.
When the second wave of the pandemic hit, social gatherings were banned and COVID-19 protocols made a huge dent in the music and events circuit.
As a result of downturn in business, Mr Tuibua had his work hours reduced to three days.
As the days turned into weeks with no end to the outbreak in sight, workers were laid off.
That was when he decided to resign.
While out jogging one morning, he met his uncle Jiuta Naisaki.
During a conversation, they began discussing the possibility of venturing into a low cost viable business.
“That’s when we spoke about baking bread and selling it,” the 29-year-old Gau native said.
“My uncle agreed and asked me if I knew how it was done. “I told him and not to worry about anything because I had baked bread for five years in a Lautoka bakery.”
Mr Tuibua told his uncle to find two empty 44 gallon drums.
The next morning Mr Naisaki turned up and Mr Tuibua designed and constructed the oven out of it.
“I cut one drum and put it on top of the other one and placed a mesh wire inside with some sand to hold the heat at the bottom of the drum.
“When everything was ready, we baked our first batch bread and it did not turn out well.
“The second batch was not cooked properly inside and I knew it had to be something in the mix.”
Mr Tuibua said the next day some of the boys in their area who were laid off from a well known bakery turned up.
He said one of them taught him the right mix of flour, sugar and water.
Mr Tuibua said everything fell into place after that and Mom’s Bakery was born.
He said business boomed from the get go.
“We make long loaves, buns, fruit loaves and everything else the other bakeries do.
“Our bread is so popular, we have orders from as far as Nausori, Suva City, even people from Kadavu are calling and asking about our bread.”
From their first bakery at Veikoba Rd, Valelevu, they have expanded and established a second bakery in Namadi Heights.
“When we ask people why they like our bread, they say the taste and the texture is very different to the other bakeries.
“I believe it is because we do not use machines, everything is done by hand from mixing the ingredients to kneading the dough.
“Our regular customers also said our bread is heavier and they feel better after eating it.”
Mr Tuibua said because business was progressing better than expected, he was looking at purchasing a vehicle to begin home and shop deliveries.
His advice to the youth of today is stop wasting time, look outside the box and explore opportunities that are do-able.
“And most of all, have faith that God will see you through the process.”