From Market Stall to National Distribution | BizziB Banting
Familiar to local farmer’s market shoppers, the BizziB range of banting foods and condiments are now firmly entrenched in the pantries of KZN. The solo entrepreneur behind the brand has now secured national distribution of her product lines. From her small kitchen to expanding factory premises, Ashleigh Tutt proves a passion for your product is the key to infinite success.
Where there is food, there is Ashleigh Tutt. The brain behind the BizziB range of Gourmet Foods and condiments is clearly a business owner who works her passion. As a contender in the Coastal Living Bru “So You Think You Can Cook” competition over the Ballito Pro event, she wielded her chef’s skills in public, but for the most part Tutt remains low key, working long hours in a kitchen to prepare freshly made product for sale.
With a keen sense for product quality, Tutt admits it took her a long time to loosen the reigns on her production line.
“I’m fanatical about the right taste in my product,” she says, “I employed various helpers (including family members!) to help get my stock ready, but found I would invariably re-do what they had done if I was not 100% satisfied with it.” Like many solo entrepreneurs, Tutt’s most valuable commodity was Time – something she found there was simply not enough of!
Working from her small kitchen in Westbrook, Tutt and her team of family members would produce small batches of stock which she then sold at various farmers markets in Ballito and Durban areas. “I was frustrated – I had so many more product lines I wanted to produce, but just never seemed to have the time to develop and train my people to do produce them to my standards. As fast as we produced stock, it was finished at the market stalls.”
The breakthrough occurred when Tutt finally moved her business from her home to small factory premises in Gregory Park, Ballito. “I finally had the kitchen space to produce in quantity, and I have reliable assistants to keep my stock levels up,” she shared. Her family are happy to be out of the processes.
Within three short months, the small factory premise has grown too small. Tutt has secured deals with various Spar Supermarkets to stock her products locally and in Gauteng and is already looking to expand her premises to cope with the demand.
SM: With a lucrative national distribution deal, will you withdraw from the market circuit – enjoy a weekend of leisure for yourself?
Tutt: Not at all! My market clients were my first clients and remain loyal to me. I would not dream of letting them down. I enjoy meeting the people who love my products, they inspire me to keep my quality levels and motivate me to expand my range.
SM: Many Ballito Business Owners have a pessimistic view of business growth in the area – between water restrictions and electricity load shedding, they complain business success is a challenge. How do you deal with such restrictions?
Tutt: Fortunately, Westbrook is on a different grid to Ballito. If we have load shedding, I simply load my car and continue cooking at home!
SM: What is your most exciting product?
Tutt: I still have so many more products I want to introduce! My Banting range of breads and cakes are very popular and I have just recently introduced a range of Banting Icecream. I am strict in my Banting Food, I will not sell something that is not 100% Banting.
BizziB Banting prepares a range of Gluten Free products suitable for Diabetics as well fabulous Mayos, Breads, Muffins, Wraps, fantastic Chicken and Pork sausages and of course Banting Ice Cream.
Without doubt, this enthusiastic Foodie is cooking up a storm that will grow in strength for many years to come.
Gourmet Range of infused olive oils, salts, olives, mayonnaise, relishes, sauces, jams & marmalade with a difference. Freshly made preservative free.