Startup Story
For all those who have a sweet tooth and love to celebrate every occasion with a beautiful cake, Confeitando Com Amor in Mozambique, founded by creative confectioner Shaquila Antonio, has just what you need. Her cake brand has built up a great customer following in her city of Beira and is set to grow further over the coming years.
LoA found out more about this growing cake and confectionery business from founder Shaquila Antonio this month.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Shaquila Cristina Antonio and I am the founder and CEO of Confeitando Com Amor, a business located in Beira, Mozambique. I’m a finalist Mechatronic Engineering student. I got my fairy hands from my mom and so I decided to open my cake baking business 4 years ago, which now employs 3 people. My dream is to express love through cakes and I hope people feel it in every bite of a slice.
What does your company do?
Confeitando Com Amor is a well-known brand in my city, Beira. It provides cakes, cupcakes and cookies. As the business began to grow, we started to make desserts, appetizer, brunches and breakfast gift baskets.
“I started baking for close friends and they turned out easily to be my very first customers, some of whom really helped me by sharing my work in different ways and growing my business chain.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I grew up in a family passionate about cooking and baking. My mother used to have a small scale baking business. As time passed, the business grew and she couldn't keep up with the demand, so I started helping her. During this time I noticed that I was able to make money with something I really enjoyed and that made me strongly engaged and determined to explore and innovate more of this edible art. The objective has always been to make everybody’s special days fulfilled with delicious and beautiful cakes, customized in detail.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our taste is unique and we try to give our clients a different and personalized product. More than good taste, we also make the customers experience a service that looks or reflects exactly what they want - they say “the eyes also starve.”
“It’s priceless to know that we are making difference to people. We don’t just sell food, we sell love, forgiveness, and surprises.”
Tell us a little about your team
We rely on a team of 4 people - who are responsible to make this journey possible. Firstly, a driver who is responsible for delivering our products safely and on time. Secondly, a support baker who is responsible for ensuring that everything works in my absence or when we are overloaded with orders. Thirdly, a social media manager who takes care of our online presence, where a considerable number of our clients are found. And fourthly, myself - I do a bit of everything, from baking, deliveries, and digital management.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
The background I always had is my mother, a strong and independent woman who always fought for her family using this gift. Her entrepreneurial spirit taught me to pursue my dreams and think outside the box. I started baking for close friends and they turned out easily to be my very first customers, some of whom really helped me by sharing my work in different ways and growing my business chain.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My aspiration is to open an atelier, where I can sell my cakes, showcase all my work, and empower other women providing them with courses to learn and also start their companies in the bakery industry, to achieve their financial freedom.
“My aspiration is to open an atelier, where I can sell my cakes, showcase all my work, and empower other women providing them with courses to learn and also start their companies in the bakery industry, to achieve their financial freedom.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
I love receiving feedback from clients and sharing it with my team. It’s priceless to know that we are making difference to people. We don’t just sell food, we sell love, forgiveness, and surprises.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
For every woman with a dream or idea to start a business, look for something that really defines you, something that you love and that you feel excited about doing.
The journey of an entrepreneur isn't easy but it is worth it. Financial freedom is good, but soul freedom for doing what you chose for a living is the best thing in the world.
Don’t give up, you just have to believe in yourself and start, where you are, with what you have.
Contact or follow Confeitando Com Amor
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL kilamanhanga@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
There is nothing as inspirational as seeing women entrepreneurs turning their passion and their talent into growing and thriving businesses, and that is exactly what Shaquila Antonio is doing. Her passion for cake baking shows through her beautiful, hand-created cakes and confectionery, and her clients love her work which she calls expressions of love through cake. Shaquila has found her market niche and is making it her own. This is one business and brand to watch over the coming years as it continues to expand and build its marketshare. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa