R20m investment in producing that valued commodity: chocolate
Just one of South Africa’s biggest sweet and sweet brands, Richester Foodstuff, has invested R20 million in new chocolate producing amenities at its manufacturing facility in Centurion in Gauteng.
The owner-managed non-public corporation that started in 2005 now provides an substantial variety of confectionery – such as chewy and tricky-boiled sweets, toffees, eclairs, lollipops, bubblegum, chewing gum, ball gum, marshmallows and sherbet – and describes alone as possessing come to be “one of the most important players in the sweet sector in Africa”.
It released a regionally generated chocolate referred to as Coco Bongo, costing just R2.50 for every 21g bar (the very same body weight as a Chomp or Bar One Mini), in January – and has currently offered about 50 % a million bars.
The Coco Bongo bar is built of milk chocolate and has a creamy centre. Picture: Equipped
The organization aims to develop its creation capacity to 20 million Coco Bongo bars per month about the future two years.
This is envisioned to see the manufacturing unit utilize an supplemental 150 team to its present-day workforce.
Richester Foods owner and MD Dr Hussein Cassim states the reasonably priced price tag of the Coco Bongo chocolate bar will enhance earnings together the price chain, such as for various firms, spaza shops and compact suppliers.
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“We’ve reverse-engineered the price tag tag to be certain that our customers are able to make up to 100% earnings, although concurrently promoting Coco Bongo at a highly affordable value for buyers,” he suggests.
“Rather than asking people to conserve for times or months for luxurious sweets, we want Coco Bongo to be portion of consumer’s each day lives.”
Swiss input, African components
He claims the chocolate bar, which features milk chocolate and a creamy centre, is the outcome of analysis and worldwide consultations with “chocolate masters” from Switzerland.
The bars are made from cocoa generally acquired from farmers in Africa while other components are domestically sourced.
“This is a stage of pleasure for Richester Food items,” suggests Cassim.
“As a proudly South African organization, we want to participate in a meaningful role in job generation, and we never want to count on other countries to supply our item substances.”
The producer now employs an additional 50 comprehensive-time personnel in its new chocolate division, which capabilities in-household chillers and cold storage amenities as well as laboratories for solution tests.
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“There is stiff competitiveness from entrenched manufacturers, but we have the benefit in terms of being familiar with regional preferences and palates, which we’ve included into Coco Bongo,” claims Cassim.
“Going ahead, we also hope to capitalise on market opportunities in neighbouring nations to increase our footprint and sector share.”
“Ultimately, we imagine that the chocolate current market presents enormous development likely, with substantial probable for unlocking business and work options during value chains,” he provides.
Nondumiso Lehutso is a Moneyweb intern.
