Brand finds something new to do with nougat
SALLY Williams, arguably South Africa’s best-known handcrafted nougat, has launched ice-cream stores, which it plans to roll out over the next few years.
One of the country’s most successful locally produced confectionery brands, Sally Williams opened its first ice-cream store in Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton.
The plan is to roll out 40 to 50 of these around the country over the next few years.
The privately held company is the biggest nougat manufacturer in South Africa.
CEO Mark Sack said its competitors were brands such as Ferrero Rocher and Lindt, which also target the premium end of the market.
Its nougat and related products, such as Turkish delight, are exported to 23 countries. Sally Williams started the business in her kitchen 19 years ago, and was later joined by Sack, who helped develop the business from a cottage industry to a commercial enterprise.
The business runs a production facility in Linbro Business Park in Johannesburg, and employs more than 130 people. Sack said the ice cream had either nougat or Turkish delight in it, and was made in a custom-built ice-cream factory about a kilometre from the main production facility.
The plan is to roll out these stores overseas too. The business has an office in the UK, and in Florida in the US.
“It’s not just the ice cream you want to sell; it’s our range of nougat too. And we’ll also shortly be launching a Sally Williams range of gourmet coffee.”
A successful soft launch has already been done and it will launch officially in the next few months.
A premium liqueur produced unDamascus, der licence has been around for about five years.
About 60% to 65% of the company’s turnover is from local sales. The business has been exporting for about 15 years and has won several awards.
“We’re most proud of the Great Taste awards in the UK. That’s viewed as the Oscars of the food industry, which we won around four years ago,” said Sack.
Sally Williams Fine Foods grew market share from 16% of the toffee, caramel and nougat market to 17.5% last year, according to Euromonitor. COLD OPENING: Confectionery business Sally Williams has opened its first ice-cream store
the mass-produced nougat from Tiger Brands, had 17% of the market in 2011 and last year held 19.6%.
Another competitor to Sally Williams — “the world’s finest honey nougat” — is Wedgewood, which positions itself as the “handmade honey nougat”.
Paul Walters runs the familyowned and -run Wedgewood business with his two brothers from the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. It was started by their mother, Gilly Walters, in her kitchen 18 years ago. About 25% of what they produce is exported to some 20 countries.
Walters said it was a growing industry, and their sales were increasing. “It’s the natural ingredients and a premium indulgence.
It’s not just the ice cream you want to sell; it’s our range of nougat too You want to make yourself feel good on wholesome ingredients
You want to make yourself feel good on natural, wholesome ingredients.” Brand extensions include their Angel nougat biscuits, and Racefood, a real food sport nutrition product that is the official energy bar for the Comrades Marathon and Midmar Mile.
Meanwhile, Beyers Chocolates, the largest independent manufacturer of chocolates in the country, bought nougat makers Coach House Confectionery in December. Founder Kees Beyers said the market was relatively saturated with premium nougat, so “we need to do something different”.