Kelly McGillivray’s on fire

The jobs created while doing so were an unplanned side effect of the Emmarentia resident’s fiery chilli sauce.

“It began as a hobby. At my previous job, we used to take turns making lunch for the office. I used to bring in my chilli, and one day, one of our designers offered to make a logo for me,” she said.

McGillivray said the logo stayed, untouched, in a file for six years until Bradley Kirschenbaum and Jacques van der Watt told her about an opportunity to sell her wares at the market on Main Street.

“I sold my chilli at the market every Sunday. I brought my children with me, and gave them a popcorn machine so they could earn some money too. The chilli sales grew week by week,” she said.

So great was the demand for McGillivray’s chilli, she found she needed to think about bringing in an extra pair of hands to help make the fiery concoction.

“I was leaving the Parktown North quarter one afternoon, and met a very well-spoken car guard. I told him he was too good to park cars, and offered him a trial run helping me out with the chilli,” she said.

McGillivray described the now-former car guard Jeffrey Brand as “amazing”.

“He is a real go-getter, and has shown a wonderful sense of ownership of his work; so much so that he is now a full-time employee,” she said.

Two other people also found part-time employment in McGillivray’s kitchen.

“One is a woman from Zimbabwe. When she arrived here, she spoke very little English and battled to find work. I taught her English, and she now has a job during the week. She helps me on her weekends off,” she said.

McGillivray said the holiday was still some way off, however.

“I’ve been putting a lot of the profit back into the business. I’d like to see the chilli sold in local delis and markets, and I’d like to employ more people and see it become a sustainable business. And I would like to take my children to Thailand,” she said.

Details: www.kellysrevenge.co.za