The Namibia Economist

Fresh n’ Bake expands operations

An elderly couple from Katutura are the proud owners of a modern bakery after getting financial assistance from the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN).
After 28 years of hard work, Joseph and Alina Naidyala dream of owning a big bakery finally came true when the DBN financed their Fresh n’ Bake Bakery and market in Okuryangava, Katutura.
In 1984, the couple started baking traditional bread and vetkoek to supplement their income. Today they bring the aroma of freshly baked bread to Windhoek, Opuwo and Outapi, and their three branches and markets employ 45 people.
An elated Joseph said: “If you had told me years ago that this would be us, I would have not believed it. My wife and I have spent  so many years working, waking up early before most people, to make sure that bread is ready by the time they are up. We worked hard and prayed hard. Today we are blessed beyond measure and are a testimony of the greatness of God.”
In 1985, Joseph began working for a local bakery which closed down in 1990 but he managed to gain employment in another bakery where he worked from 1991 to 1992. That also closed down but Tate Joseph was undeterred and spent the next six years working in a supermarket bakery, after which he worked in a service station bakery until 2002.
Then in 2001 the couple started Fresh n’ Bake bakery and Market, at their home in Katutura, using a hand made oven. Joseph started  managing it full time in 2003. He also began to give baking training in his community, training his wife in more sophisticated ways of baking in the process.
The bakery supplied bread to Okuryangava and surrounding communities before expanding to Opuwo and Outapi. Today, Alina manages the Windhoek operation while Joseph manages Opuwo and Outapi.
The couple approached the Development Bank of Namibia for a loan to purchase land, build a bigger and improved bakery near their home, and the loan was approved.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new bakery, DBN CEO David Nuyoma said: “DBN is happy to be associated with Fresh n’ Bake and Market and encourages fellow entrepreneurs to seek out necessary and practical solutions and services that can respond to obvious gaps in their communities. This will enable entrepreneurs to create wealth, and improve livelihoods, while serving communities and in the process creating jobs.
DBN’s Head of Lending, Martin Inkumbi added: “When Fresh n’ Bake Bakery and Market’s owners approached the DBN, they already had many years of experience and their own business. This shows their discipline to hard work, their determination, and openness to learning and risk taking, which are all qualities that we look for in loan applicants.”

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