Bradley’s Crunchies, based in Durban North, supplies handcrafted crunchies to a selection of corporate clients, canteens, restaurants and small retailers across KwaZulu-Natal.
How did your business start? 
Daphne Bradley and her husband established Bradley’s Crunchies 15 years ago. When Daphne looked towards retirement, she sought out a suitable buyer, looking specifically for someone who would be committed to growing the business. Advanced Labels – owned by my husband, Richard Jones, and where I am operations director – had been printing the labels for Bradley’s Crunchies for many years. Thanks to this long-standing relationship, we saw this as a wonderful opportunity and purchased the business at the end of 2015.
Why did you choose this area to set up shop?
Bradley’s Crunchies operates from a bakery we’ve established at our Glenashley home. We renovated our granny flat to create the unique yet functional space. Best of all, I am still available for my three children aged 14, 10 and three.
How did you find your premises?
We have lived in our home for 13 years. With the business still being quite small, it made sense for me to run it from home.
Why are the premises ideally suited to your business?
Glenashley is very central and our location enables me to easily service the majority of my clients who are based in Umhlanga and La Lucia Ridge. I do, however, often travel to Prospecton, Morningside, Westville and Pietermartizburg.
Who are your neighbours?
Beautiful residences and a community that sticks together surround us. We love our neighbourhood.
How many clients do you serve per week?
When we purchased Bradley’s Crunchies, it had an active customer base of 22 clients, each ordering weekly. Within the past nine months, I’ve grown to service 58 active customers, with most clients ordering weekly or occasionally two to three times a week.
Do you have any expansion plans?
Absolutely. While I’m responsible for all purchasing, baking and administration for the business, I do have the assistance of some staff members who help with packaging, as each crunchie is individually wrapped to retain its freshness. I plan to expand our range of crunchie flavours and possibly my team. I am committed to keeping the secret of the goodness of our crunchies to myself, so I will always be the chief baker.
Do you operate online as well?
Yes, all of our orders are processed via email and we’re working towards establishing a website which enables clients to order online.
What’s your most popular item?
We have two crunchie flavours: chocolate and yogi muesli. While the chocolate remains the most popular, both sell very well, primarily because they are egg- and milk-free.
Bradley’s Crunchies:
082 933 0573
orders@bradleyscrunchies.co.za
Words: Cath Jenkin | Images: Supplied
