Lucky Bread Company
What does your company do?
Lucky Bread Company, a family-orientated artisanal bakery, prides itself on crafting daily fresh products using meticulously sourced local stone-ground flour and natural ingredients, all prepared through time-honoured traditional methods. Their extensive repertoire encompasses an exquisite selection of artisanal breads, including sourdough, ciabatta, and seed loaf, alongside celebrated pastries such as their renowned custard cruffins and delectable croissants. Beyond baked goods, their culinary offerings extend to breakfast provisions, gourmet sandwiches, bagels, waffles, and invigorating freshly squeezed juices, complemented by comprehensive catering services.
The company's retail footprint spans seven distinct locations: Brooklyn Mall, Mall of Africa, Midstream, Tuks Campus, Menlyn Maine, Castle Gate Lifestyle Centre, and their primary factory in Centurion. An eighth strategic expansion into Hazelwood, Pretoria, is anticipated to commence operations in October 2025. Each space thoughtfully blends old-world baking traditions with a modern café experience, meticulously designed to evoke the comfort of a second home. They specialise in handcrafted breads, pastries, and feel-good food, all made with heart and intention.
At the helm of Lucky Bread Company is Alicea Malan, its visionary founder and co-owner with Tribeca Coffee, an accomplished entrepreneur, food innovator, and chef. A native of Pretoria, Alicea’s leadership is underpinned by a profound dedication to fostering connections with people, pioneering culinary excellence, driving robust business growth, and cultivating powerful brand identities.
Deeply rooted in the community, Lucky Bread Co. is passionately committed to creating employment opportunities, fostering collaborations with local producers, and hosting events that genuinely bring people together. Whether it's for a morning coffee, a leisurely croissant with friends, or a memorable family lunch, Lucky Bread is where exceptional craft consistently meets authentic connection.
What is your biggest success?
Our biggest success has been building Lucky Bread Co. into a purpose-driven brand with 7 locations while staying true to our artisanal roots and family-orientated values.
As a woman-led business, we’ve grown not just in size, but in impact — creating meaningful jobs, empowering a diverse team, and supporting local producers across South Africa.
We’ve cultivated spaces that feel like home, where community and creativity come together. Seeing Lucky Bread become a trusted name in multiple neighbourhoods, known for both our quality and heart, has been our proudest achievement — and a testament to what’s possible when passion meets purpose.
What has been your biggest hurdle?
One of my biggest hurdles as a business owner has been learning to let go of doing everything myself. In the early days, I handled everything — admin, marketing, customer service, and product development — because I believed no one else would understand my vision. But that approach quickly became overwhelming and unsustainable.
Delegating was tough, but it pushed me to trust others, build a strong team, and realise that progress matters more than perfection. The more I leaned into people’s strengths, the more I could focus on leading and growing the business. I’ve learned that true leadership isn’t about control — it’s about empowerment.
