R20m investment in producing that valued commodity: chocolate

One of South Africa’s largest sweet and candy manufacturers, Richester Foods, has invested R20 million in new chocolate manufacturing facilities at its manufacturing unit in Centurion in Gauteng.

The owner-managed personal company that started in 2005 by now provides an intensive variety of confectionery – which include chewy and tricky-boiled sweets, toffees, eclairs, lollipops, bubblegum, chewing gum, ball gum, marshmallows and sherbet – and describes itself as possessing develop into “one of the most important gamers in the sweet sector in Africa”.

It released a locally generated chocolate termed Coco Bongo, costing just R2.50 for each 21g bar (the identical body weight as a Chomp or Bar 1 Mini), in January – and has already sold about half a million bars.

The company aims to extend its production potential to 20 million Coco Bongo bars for each thirty day period around the up coming two yrs.

This is envisioned to see the manufacturing unit use an extra 150 team to its present-day team.

Richester Meals owner and MD Dr Hussein Cassim says the economical cost tag of the Coco Bongo chocolate bar will increase earnings alongside the worth chain, which includes for numerous organizations, spaza retailers and smaller suppliers.

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“We’ve reverse-engineered the price tag tag to make sure that our clientele are ready to make up to 100% income, although simultaneously promoting Coco Bongo at a remarkably inexpensive selling price for shoppers,” he says.

“Rather than asking consumers to help you save for times or months for luxurious chocolates, we want Coco Bongo to be section of consumer’s day by day life.”

Swiss input, African elements

He suggests the chocolate bar, which features milk chocolate and a creamy centre, is the end result of research and international consultations with “chocolate masters” from Switzerland.

The bars are built from cocoa mainly purchased from farmers in Africa whilst other ingredients are domestically sourced.

“This is a place of delight for Richester Meals,” says Cassim.

“As a proudly South African firm, we want to perform a meaningful part in task creation, and we do not want to count on other international locations to source our product substances.”

The producer now employs an more 50 comprehensive-time team in its new chocolate division, which functions in-residence chillers and chilly storage amenities as effectively as laboratories for products testing.

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“There is stiff levels of competition from entrenched manufacturers, but we have the gain in phrases of comprehension neighborhood tastes and palates, which we have incorporated into Coco Bongo,” says Cassim.

“Going forward, we also hope to capitalise on industry chances in neighbouring countries to increase our footprint and industry share.”

“Ultimately, we believe that the chocolate industry provides great expansion probable, with major potential for unlocking company and employment possibilities through worth chains,” he provides.

Nondumiso Lehutso is a Moneyweb intern.