This archive report was first published on 30 July 2019.
July 30, 2019
Catherine Kanyuga Nabale, a 30-something-year-old trained advocate, has found success in the unlikeliest of places – her passion for baking. After years of practicing law, Catherine decided to take a sabbatical to pursue her dream of creating healthy, wheat-free baked goods.
Her journey began when she was a law student in 2010. She started baking cakes for friends and family, and her love for baking only grew stronger. However, her gluten intolerance made it challenging for her to enjoy her favorite cakes without taking medication.
One day, Catherine decided she had enough of taking medicine every time she enjoyed a slice of cake. She began researching bakeries that sold wheat-free or gluten-free cakes, but her search yielded only one bakery in the country, with prices that were out of her budget.
It was then that Catherine discovered the importance of diet in conquering cancer. She realized that most Kenyans were unaware of the dangers of consuming too much wheat and sugar. This realization sparked her idea to start a business that would provide healthy, wheat-free baked goods to a niche clientele.
In 2017, Catherine launched Morgan's Bakery, specializing in wheat-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free baked goods. Her first clients were her family and friends, but through word of mouth, her business gradually gained traction. She also used social media to market and display her products, which helped her reach a wider audience.
However, juggling her law career and her side hustle was not easy. Catherine would often end up exhausted, but she persevered, driven by her passion for creating healthy baked goods. This year, she decided to take a sabbatical to focus on her business, and she has not looked back since.
Morgan's Bakery has come a long way since its inception. The bakery has participated in the Kenya Baking Industry Awards and has even started baking lactation cookies that contain flours and natural ingredients to boost the intake of Vitamin B, Iron, and protein in breastfeeding mothers.
Catherine's tip to budding entrepreneurs is to research thoroughly before venturing into any business. She also advises them to be prepared for any eventuality and not to be afraid to take that initial step. With hard work and determination, Catherine has built a successful business that is making a difference in the lives of her customers.
Today, Morgan's Bakery is a wheat-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free bakery company that offers a range of healthy baked goods. Their gluten-free cupcakes cost Sh1,800 per dozen, and one kilo of cake costs Sh2,400. These cakes contain no preservatives and can last for up to four days without refrigeration.
