Darling Sweet celebrates 11 years!

… and introduces new online shop and fudge packaging

Darling Sweet, the company behind South Africa’s favourite range of toffees, soft caramels and fudge turned 11 this July. To commemorate its anniversary, owners Hentie van der Merwe and Frits van Ryneveld have not only launched a new online store but have also revealed updated packaging for their deliciously, moreish traditional fudge.

Says Van Ryneveld: “When we launched our first confectionery in 2014, we never in our wildest dreams thought that 11 years later we would be producing 10 different flavours of toffee, eight different flavours of soft caramels, two types of toffee spread and that iconic of all sweets – fudge!

“It hasn’t all been a smooth ride, especially during the Covid lockdown period, but our resilience and commitment to delivering a quality product is what has helped us stand the test of time.”

Ironically, the traditional gift for an 11th anniversary is steel, representing a “strong and durable bond”.

Van Ryneveld also points to Darling Sweet’s Swartland Kitchen brand which they acquired in 2020 and which now includes five different rusk flavours, three types of cookies as well as granola and fleur de sel (salt).

“We had planned to launch Swartland Kitchen in April 2020, but then came the lockdown with all its restrictions, and suddenly we were stuck with a garage full of rusks which all had a sell-by date. All shows and markets were cancelled, and shops were limited as to what they could get in to stock their shelves. So we turned to online platforms and were able to trade through those means because, as a foodstuff, it was considered essential goods,” he says.

Over the years, Darling’s dynamic duo has also refreshed the confectionery range packaging, utilising a contemporary African design, the latest of which is the fudge box which has a fresher, more modern look.

“Being part of Africa and seeing myself as African, I feel very proud of the African feel we use in our designs – as curated by Hentie – to present our brand locally and abroad,” says Van Ryneveld.

Eagle-eyed consumers might also have noticed that the shape of the window on the front panel of the toffee, caramel and fudge box differs. For the toffee packaging it is in the shape of a circle, for the soft caramels it’s a hexagon and for the fudge it’s a diamond!

This, says Van der Merwe, is to distinguish between the three lines.

Concludes Van Ryneveld and Van der Merwe: “Darling Sweet marks over a decade of crafting sweet moments and building lasting connections with our community. This milestone is a testament to the passion, creativity, and dedication that have shaped every handcrafted treat. It’s a moment to reflect on our journey, thank our loyal customers, and look ahead to even more delicious memories to come.”

For more on the Darling Sweet website, visit www.darlingsweet.co.za or follow them on Facebook @Darling Sweet Handcrafted; Instagram @_darling_sweet_ ; and TikTok @darling.sweet_han

Darling Sweet is located at Evita se Perron, 8 Arcadia Street, Darling and is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00, offering a range of experiences and tastings that celebrate the nation’s rich cultural heritage.