Cake-maker tastes sweet success
His rise has been as steady as the cakes he bakes.
25-year-old Daniel Moleofi is a culinary artist and caterer, better known by the moniker, Bradbury Molfy.
The Kanye-born baker has defied convention, making his name in an industry traditionally dominated by the ladies, especially locally.
With nothing more than a high school certificate and an unshakeable belief in his own potential, he transformed a moment of personal disappointment into the foundation of a thriving, two-part empire: Labrad Cuisine & Cakes and Labrad Luxe Weddings.
For Bradbury, the journey began not with a formal qualification, but with a firm ‘no’.
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After his secondary school results came back, his family wanted him to rewrite. His heart, however, had other plans.
He chose to ‘politely disobey’ their advice, trusting an inner voice that told him his destiny lay in the kitchen, not a classroom.
“The first cake I ever made, even the person who was supposed to teach me was surprised. That’s when I realised there was something in me that I didn’t know I had,” he recalls, describing the 2019 moment as his ‘spiritual awakening’.
Bradbury’s ascent has been anything but conventional, starting with his first major luxury event: catering for the Bavarian Safari groundbreaking in the heart of the Okavango Delta,
“Setting up in the wetlands of the Okavango Delta was a milestone for me,” he remembers, adding the booking was particularly significant because he was chosen over Maun’s local chefs.
This was followed by another high-profile gig, catering for the wedding of a Barolong princess in Goodhope, a job he still considers a career highlight.
Bradbury’s approach to business is simple and cost-effective.
His staff work on a per-booking basis, a flexible model that allows him to maintain a lean operation while ensuring top-tier service.
This entrepreneurial spirit is at the core of his identity.
The Gaborone-based businessman recounts having to choose between a new iPhone or a car.
To him, the phone was his office, his tool for marketing, content creation and design; he understood it was an investment that would generate more wealth than a car ever could.
“I’ve learned to weigh situations. I’ll be like, if I invest this money in the business, I’ll make more rather than attending what needs to be attended at home,” he explains.
Unlike many who credit a mentor for their success, Bradbury says he has always been his own most pivotal person.
“Before anyone could see this Brad, I knew I had a thing in me,” he states.
This self-belief carried him through every challenge, including a client’s eye-opening feedback that led to a profound personal transformation.
After a valued customer returned following a year-long absence, she revealed she had been scared away by his alcohol use.
“God blessed you with unique hands,” she told him, “but you have alcohol as a first priority and made me doubt the ability you had.”
This sobering moment motivated him to quit drinking and embrace a new, cleaner life.
Determined not to compromise on quality or pricing, Bradbury stands firm in an industry where foreign brands often dominate.
The cake-maker-cum-caterer views his work as a form of fine art that goes beyond taste and aims to deliver an unforgettable sensory experience.
“We want to bring out something that Batswana never expected,” he says, “I’m talking fine art, expensive presentation, luxe taste, and all one can think of.”
His message to the next generation is clear, “Let us learn to be our own motivation and believe in our dream. Entrepreneurship needs patience, it takes years, it takes a man of patience to make it!”
At the weekend, Bradbury finally retraced his steps to school, with his company sponsoring Kopong CJSS’ prize-giving ceremony.
He forked-out P500 for each of the top Mathematics students in Forms 1 to 3 as well as the best overall performer, also supplying bottled water and cupcakes for all students up for awards.
