Support from the Social Investment Fund (SIF) has enabled a small-scale bakery to expand production, diversify into ice cream manufacturing and provide practical skills training to young people.
The support, provided through the African Skills Hub (ASH) and funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), enabled Peedget Bite Bakery to move from home-based operations to a physical shop and increase its production capacity.
Ms Bridget Ohenewaa Ohene, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Peedget Bite Bakery, said the intervention had expanded the business and increased its ability to train young people in baking and other practical skills.
“After contacting African Skills Hub, with support from the Social Investment Fund, we had the opportunity to get a mini-shop and then we also expanded with some ingredients and other items,” she said.
Ms Ohene said the bakery previously operated mainly from her home, which limited its production capacity and ability to accommodate people seeking practical training.
She said beneficiaries also received training in financial intelligence, which helped them make informed decisions on how to invest the financial support to improve their businesses.
The support, she said, enabled the bakery to purchase ingredients in bulk, significantly reducing production costs.
“Most of the time, I used to buy half a bag of flour, but with the support of the SIF, we started buying 10 bags of flour,” she said.
Ms Ohene said bulk purchases reduced the cost of a bag of flour from GH¢650 to GH¢450, enabling the business to make savings and improve its operations.
She said part of the financial support was used to acquire a 450-litre chest freezer, which enabled the bakery to diversify into ice cream production.
Ms Ohene said the expanded operations had also created opportunities for her to provide practical training to other young people.
She said two young women, Jemima and Sarah, were trained at a discounted cost, while three others received free training in doughnut and pie making during the Christmas season.
She said she had also organised a free baking training session for young people in her church, using ingredients purchased with the SIF support.
Ms Ohene, however, said the bakery’s current premises were too small and exposed to excessive heat and other environmental challenges, limiting the number of people it could accommodate for training.
“After training the two ladies, a lot of people have reached out to us, but our place is very small to accommodate and train them,” she said.
She said she had, on one occasion, resorted to conducting training at her home because the bakery lacked adequate space.
Ms Ohene appealed for additional financial support to enable the business to acquire a larger facility and machinery and purchase ingredients in bulk to increase production and train more young people.
“We really want to help, but we also need help, so when they support us, we can get a bigger place to also extend that help to others,” she said.
Ms Ohene said she received GH¢8,000 under the support programme but appealed for increased financial assistance to enable the business to expand its operations.
“I wished it were GH¢100,000 or even more,” she said.
She expressed appreciation to the SIF and ASH for the support, saying it had improved the bakery’s operations while enabling her to contribute to youth skills development and financial independence.
Ms Ohene said additional support would enable Peedget Bite Bakery to increase production, employ more people and train more young people seeking practical skills to establish their own businesses.
