Cappello opens in Maun, Kasane next
Boniface Keakabetse | Thursday May 18, 2017 12:37
Nkate was the guest speaker during the official opening of Cappello restaurant on Saturday night at Ngami Centre in New Town.
Located opposite Maun International Airport’s main entrance, the restaurant is owned by the young Lesego Busang from Kanye, who operates it under the Cappello franchise.
Nkate observed that the restaurant has employed 24 people. “To operate a restaurant of this size, which has employed this large number of people under prevailing tough economic times is a welcome development,” he noted.
He explained that Maun Cappello was funded through the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). Nkate said quality food service is a necessity in Maun given the area’s status as a tourism resort.
For her part Busang, franchisee and chief executive officer of More Property Valuers explained that the Maun Cappello opening signified her love for food and a long held dream to one day operate a restaurant.
“I love to cook. I love to clean. I love people,” she said, adding that all these three aspects are a requisite for a quality hospitality service provider.
Busang explained that operating Maun Cappello was tough explaining that along the way she had to work as an insurance agent to raise money to buy the franchise.
She said she signed an agreement with Cappello in 2014, but managed to open the store two years later as she was still sourcing funds.
“Those hurdles have made me ready to run this business and I am thankful for the sleepless nights,” she said.
Speaking during the event, CEDA Maun manager, Edward Magosi encouraged Maun residents to utilise their services to come up with viable businesses and can change the business landscape of the tourism village.
Magosi further added that CEDA strives to develop through funding sustainable citizen-owned enterprises.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Cappello franchise manager, Lisa Mholi who is based in Johannesburg revealed that currently there are two Cappello franchise stores in Botswana; in Gaborone and Maun.
She explained that they have approved another franchise store for Busang in Kasane which is expected to open soon.
Mholi praised Cappello’s growth in Botswana saying it reaffirmed her commitment to seeing Cappello become a leading regional brand.
She said in South Africa they operate 28 stores adding that they have presence in Windhoek, Namibia and one in store for Maseru, Lesotho. She explained more that Cappello stores are scheduled to open in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola in 2017.