From wors rolls to culinary delights
When Sphe and Zipho Phungula started a small business venture to generate some income, little did they realise that it would become a hugely successful one.
The brothers initially sold wors rolls under the cover of a gazebo to students of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Scottsville.
The aptly named Siqalo
Food Court, (siqalo means ‘the beginning’) became a household name to the students of the local campus. Residents of the surrounding suburbs also flocked to their tables to sample their gastronomic delights.
The prolific sales of their mouth-watering wors rolls resulted in the business becoming profitable to the extent that they decided to take their culinary business to the next level.
Sphe said that the business kicked off during election time in 2019 and at the beginning it was not as busy as they thought it would be.
“We used this time to invent what we now call the Dagwood Sandwich which went viral. This was how we began to expand our menu,” he said.
Once the Dagwood Sandwich became popular and the customer base increased, the brothers decided to purchase a food truck. The truck was used to attend more pop-up events such as the Chilla Nathi Cookout and Pop Up Lifestyle Market (PULM) which increased their popularity.
On weekdays, the truck was stationed outside the university residences. Many students found it more convenient to purchase their food from them instead of walking to the nearby mall or paying for a delivery service. Apart from their many student customers, other members of the public would drive across town to purchase a meal from the food truck.
There was a surge in the number of customers purchasing meals from them and it became apparent that larger premises were needed. It was also decided that in order for it to be accessible to people who work within the Central Business District (CBD), the new premises should be centrally located. Thus, the dream to own and manage their own restaurant was envisioned.
“We faced many struggles along the way, material being damaged, obtaining capital to expand and getting the right price in terms of costing and pricing,” said Zipho.
“What makes our food unique is the taste. Our secret sauces and spices just have a taste for life and make you come back for more. We also make our own beef patties which gives off a unique taste,” he added.
Siqalo is the beginning of many business achievements as the brothers are planning to open a bigger restaurant. According to them, the current one is well located, but too small.
Sphe added that perseverance and hard work are key factors in this industry and giving up is not an option when the business goes through challenges.