Cikizwa Galela's journey began in her home kitchen. Armed with a business degree and a love for cooking, she launched Ciki Graceland Café in 2017, serving proudly South African dishes at the V&A Waterfront.
What started small gained momentum, and her operation couldn't keep up with the demand.
Cikizwa was preparing food at home and transporting it daily to the mall in her bakkie. The process was time-consuming, expensive, and limited her ability to expand. Customers were asking for a permanent setup, but without the right infrastructure, she couldn't say yes.
Cikizwa came to Mutualism. Through asset-backed funding, she secured the capital needed to purchase a food trailer. It was a move that changed everything.
With the trailer in place, she could:
Ciki Graceland Café now employs two additional staff members and serves a growing base of loyal customers. With a permanent setup and a flexible mobile kitchen, Cikizwa has grown her brand and her bottom line.
