The "world is their oyster" for two young entrepreneurs who turned around a "shaky" Debonairs franchise in Mthatha in 2008 into an award-winning profitable pizza outlet.

Born in Ntabankulu, just over an hour away from Mthatha, the two long-time friends Onke Mankahla, 30 and Sicelo Mntonga, 35, have grown their Debonairs business into three booming franchises in the town.

The duo took over a struggling Plaza outlet and a second outlet in the CBD in June 2008 and turned them into successful businesses.

Impressive growth in revenues

"Since we took over the Plaza outlet revenue has consistently grown by an average of 45% month-on-month and the CBD outlet has seen average growth of 30% month-on-month. We also opened a third store last year in Mthatha," says Mankahla.

The pair's business acumen and ability to run a profitable business has not gone unnoticed. In their first year of operation in 2008, they claimed the Debonairs national Newcomer of the Year award for their Plaza outlet.

The pair which employs 90 people, went on to claim the second spot in 2009/2010 for the national outlet of the year which came with a trip to Argentina. They also claimed the Eastern Cape top prize in the same year.

ECDC finance

Mankahla says they managed to secure R2,4 million funding from development financier, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) to secure the first two stores in 2008.

Recognising the demand for fast-food in Mthatha, the pair again received a R1,6 million investment from ECDC to open a third Debonairs franchise.

Mankahla, who attributes her passion for business to her 75 year old father and late mother who ran a wholesale business in Ntabankulu, says they plan to open a fourth outlet in Mthatha.

"We intend to grow the business throughout the Transkei and we have already been approved as franchisers for Butterworth in 2009," says Mankahla.

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) cost and management accounting graduate says the key to their success is their culture of "embracing people and nurturing the talents of managers and staff."