Left to right: Julian Singonzo Sustainability Managing Executive at Premier FMCG, Jenna Keira Ernstzen 1st place winner, Desiree Ryding 3rd place winner, Tayla de Coning 2nd place winner and Phumzile Nhlapo Snowflake Brand Manager.
Jenna Ernstzen from Baysville, East London, emerged as the best up-and-coming baker in the Boarder-Kei region at a bake-off held on Saturday, 31 August at the Blue Ribbon Hospitality & Cookery School of Excellence. Impressing the judges with her floral cake called ‘Shirley’s Garden’, she secured the top prize of R20 000, a business toolkit worth R30 000, PR coverage, and Snowflake stock to help grow her business.
To create exposure for Ernstzen, Snowflake will also be embarking on a roadshow to showcase her talents and. her baked goods at the following malls over these three weeks.
- 6 and 7 September – Vincent Park Mall
- 27 and 28 September – Kings Way Mall
- 4 and 5 October – Hemmingway’s Mall
Jenna expressing her joy, said, “I am unbelievably ecstatic. I never imagined I would participate in something this amazing, but Snowflake made it possible. I want to thank everyone for the opportunity and extend my gratitude to all the other participants; I couldn’t have asked for a better group to compete with. I entered this competition in honour of my granny Shirley, to whom my business is dedicated.”
The top 10 judging process was rigorous, with bake-off participants evaluated on various criteria, including taste, texture, creativity, visual appeal, and smell. The selection process also considered the participants’ business acumen, looking for innovation, creativity, long-term sustainability, alignment with business goals, and potential impact. Each participant had to present a cake baked from scratch and a pre-baked treat of their choice. The judges’ scores, combined with these criteria, determined the winners.
In second place, Tayla de Coning from Nahoon, East London, was awarded R15 000, a business toolkit worth R30 000, PR coverage, and Snowflake stock. Third place went to Desiree Ryding from Sunrise On Sea, East London, who received R10 000, a business toolkit worth R30 000, PR coverage, and Snowflake stock.
The Snowflake Rising Stars competition, organised by Snowflake in partnership with the Border Kei Chamber of Commerce, is part of Premier FMCG’s commitment to nurturing local talent and communities. Premier, as the brand owner of Snowflake, is dedicated to supporting local talent by providing opportunities and resources that help bakers turn their passion into thriving businesses.
“Supporting local talent is at the heart of what we do,” said Sibongile Mooko, Marketing Executive at Premier FMCG. “Our mission is to empower bakers and cooks to ‘make magic’ in their kitchens, creating simply irresistible baked goods. Events like these allow us to see firsthand the magic that happens when bakers are empowered to follow their passion. The creativity and dedication displayed by all the finalists are truly inspiring, and we’re proud to sponsor this event. The bakers have shown that with the right ingredients and spirit, what they make is simply ‘Too Fresh to Flop’.”
Several partners played a crucial role in making this event a success, including the Blue Ribbon Hospitality & Cookery School of Excellence, Pieter Kruger Foundation, All Things CAKE, Claire’s Cooking Classes, and Thee Gifted Hands. Their support in providing facilities, training, and expertise was instrumental in empowering the participants and ensuring the event ran smoothly.
For more information about the Snowflake and future events, visit www.snowflake.co.za.
