Selling pork buns makes a tasty living

By Aruna Lolani 05 July 2017, 12:00AM

We all have to do what’s best for our families no matter what, and that is why Iese Toni of Aleisa; works hard every day in selling pork buns (kekepua’a).

Iese was waiting for the bus to Apia on the side of the road with a box of pork buns when Village Voice approached him. 

“My pork buns are one tala each and that price never changes,” he told the Village Voice team.

“I know it’s an affordable price and people always buy what they can afford.”

“I also need the money which is why I can’t go any higher with the costing.”

“It’s better to have something rather than nothing, right?”

The 36 year old said he makes about 100 pork buns every day. 

Sometimes he sells all of them and sometimes, well let’s just say the sun doesn’t always shine brightly. 

“So since this is a business or product that many Samoans sell, it’s a competition you know.”

“I go to the Fugalei market to sell because even if there’s a lot of competitors and sellers, at the same time, there is also a huge demand for pork buns.”

“And sometimes the demand is higher than the supply but when that happens, it’s always good news for me because if I run out of pork buns, it means nothing has gone to waste like other days.”

Iese has been selling for three years and he’s so used to it that he accepts whatever the day brings, whether it’s more money than he expected, or less.

“I do this because this is my way to take care of my family.” 

“I have five kids who are still in school so this is why this responsibility means so much to me.”

“That’s the thing; most people out there don’t know what it means for us to earn a few dollars. Well this is it.”

If you want to buy or order some pork buns from Iese Toni, please contact him on 7253172.

By Aruna Lolani 05 July 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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