Going bananas for breadDaughter keeps father’s entrepreneurial spirit alive with sweet business

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Banana bread is traditionally served as a loaf or in slices. But Princess-Whitney Holder, the owner of Bella Banana Bites, is putting a creative spin on the classic treat with her banana-shaped banana bread bites.

“When I sat and thought about it, I wanted a variation, and I wanted to do it my own way.

I wanted it in the shape of a banana, which, at that time, I thought was impossible. But one day a friend gave me some banana moulds, and that is how I started,” the 29-year-old businesswoman said.

Ironically, Holder had little experience with baking and no particular interest in owning a business. However, she soon came to realise that entrepreneurship was something ingrained in her.

“I thought that I hated doing business, but my both parents were always into business, and my dad actually was a popular vendor in Marabella,” Holder said.

Her father, Euston “Mr T” Holder, operated a snow cone cart and would often sell near the Marabella roundabout. Mr T was well known in the community, not only for his polished appearance but also for his warm personality and entertaining snow cone tricks.

“He would throw the scoop of ice up in the air, catch it behind his back. That’s something the customers loved a lot. He was always so neat, he used to iron his jeans, his jersey, and make sure he’s clean. He was just the best. Apart from snow cones, he could have literally made anything that you can eat, like ice cream, pastries, cake, bread. He was the cook in the family,” she recalled.

Sadly, Mr T passed away suddenly in 2019, leaving his only child devastated.

“It was horrible. I even blamed myself. The day before he passed away, I told my colleagues I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to my dad. That day, I walked across to his cart and I told him that, and it was the last thing I said to him. So, when I got the news the next day, it felt so surreal, I couldn’t believe what they were telling me,” Holder shared.

Although it was one of the most difficult periods of her life, Holder said she eventually came to terms with losing her father.

“As much as I hated that it happened, I was able to kind of see where I could mature some more, because my dad used to spoil me a lot. I hardly cooked because I knew my daddy could make it, and I guess as children, you kind of feel like your parents would be around forever. But a lot of things, like baking, for example, that I may not have realised sooner I was capable of,” Holder said.

Holder went on to try her hand at baking different items. After her first attempt at making banana bread, her friends encouraged her to start selling it.

In 2023, she launched Bella Banana Bites, a business named after her hometown of Marabella.

“I was sitting at work when I came up with the flavours and I wrote it down on a sticky note. I actually conceptualised everything before I got the moulds. And, although I’m a really picky eater, I got my friends to help me test the flavours,” Holder recalled.

Bella Banana Bites offers 14 flavours, including Oreo, chocolate chip, blueberry and cream cheese, as well as varieties featuring cranberries and different nuts.

Holder also makes sponge cakes and sugar cookies.

Initially operating online, Holder said word of mouth proved instrumental in boosting sales.

“I found that, in person, it actually sells itself because I’m mobile on the cross. So, my boyfriend, Johan and I would be walking up and down in our matching jerseys, approaching people to find out if they’d like to try it. Sometimes they would buy it and tell other potential customers in the area to try it,” Holder said.

Beyond growing her online presence, Holder has big ambitions for the brand, including becoming a household name and seeing her products on supermarket shelves.

For now, she is focused on growing her small business with pride, just as her father did.

“I know he would be so proud. My dad was the type of person to tell the whole world when I accomplished anything. When I got my CXC passes, played pan and even did modelling, my father was involved in everything and told everyone. So, I know he would be proud,” she said.