Morero Nhlanhla Moloi - McMore Muffins
Morero Nhlanhla Moloi, affectionately known as “The Muffin Man,” is a determined and charismatic entrepreneur from Soweto who is making waves in the franchising industry.
Morero is the founder of McMore International, a food manufacturing company that specialises in making premium quality muffins. Despite facing personal challenges with dyslexia and ADHD, Morero’s determination led him to establish the business in July 2020. Starting from humble beginnings in a backroom at his great grandmother's house in Orlando West, Soweto, he invested all of his savings into building his business.
Inspired by his late grandmother who was a street vendor, and the teachings and books by the late Dr Myles Munroe, a renowned motivational speaker, author, and preacher who focused on personal development, leadership, and spirituality. Some key teachings from his books include legacy, where he encourages individuals to live with a sense of purpose and to leave a positive legacy for future generations. He believed in the power of vision and legacy-building as drivers of long-term impact and significance. With these teachings as motivation, Morero embarked on a mission to formalise the street vendor business sector and contribute towards the transformation of the franchising industry.
“My business was primarily established as a food manufacturing entity,” explains Morero. “My vision, however, was to be a leading micro-franchising organisation that offers aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to own a business.”
“The franchising industry has been one of the least transformative industries in South Africa, and is often inaccessible to many,” he continues. “I created a sustainable business model that empowered other entrepreneurs, where my business would manufacture the products, provide packaging, manage the marketing and offer customer support, leaving them with the sole responsibility of selling.”
Some of Morero’s greatest challenges with his business included navigating the strict regulations of the food industry, and tackling the tough competition with industry giants. After reading a newspaper article about the transformative impact that the SAB Foundation Tholoana Enterprise Programme had had on a bakery in KwaZulu-Natal, Morero was then motivated to apply. This sought-after programme became Morero's accountability partner, providing invaluable support and a grant that enabled him to expand his business operations.
Throughout the 18-month programme, his business experienced remarkable growth. Prior to enrolling, Morero employed five individuals. He now employs 13 permanent staff and 22 temporary employees. He also supplies and supports 22 micro franchisees and is in the process of onboarding 50 new internal sales employees. The company's annual turnover has soared from R150 000 to well over R1 million during his participation in the programme.
With plans to launch nationally and internationally, McMore International is already making great strides by supplying private hospital groups, selected SuperSpars, and more. The company has also started testing markets in the USA, Netherlands, Ghana, and Mozambique.
“For me, entrepreneurship has been both sweet and sour,” reflects Morero. “It's the craziest journey one can embark on and is filled with wonderful moments as well as some tough challenges.”
Despite the hurdles he has faced along the way, Morero remains undeterred in his pursuit of success. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs, demonstrating the transformative power of perseverance, innovation, and having the right support structure.