Sweet evolution in the South African sweet landscape
South African confectionery brand Darling Sweet has launched a new website and marked an important milestone in its 11-year journey. Founded in 2014 by Hentie Van Der Merwe and Frits Van Ryneveld, the company has grown from a small toffee business in the village of Darling to a beloved brand known for its handmade toffee, soft caramel and fudge.
Van Ryneveld said: “The launch of Darling Sweet's new website is more than just a digital facelift. It reflects the brand's commitment to quality and customer experience.”
Van der Merwe adds: “The site offers an intuitive shopping experience and allows customers to browse and purchase a wide range of products, including Toffee Range (10 flavors), Soft Caramel (8 flavors), Fudge, Toffee Spread (2 flavors), Gift Boxes and Gift Hampers.”
Six different beloved sweet hampers make the perfect gift for anyone, for any occasion, one with six boxes (of your choice) of darling sweet toffee or soft caramel, and another with boxes of toffee, caramel, traditional fudge, toffee spread, toffee and Swartland Kitchen Fleur desel.
A range of unique greeting cards featuring hand-drawn done by children at Darling's Koran Rug Elementary School can also be purchased to accompany hampers and gift boxes. All proceeds from these limited edition cards go directly to the children involved.
But there's more! In 2020, Van Der Merwe and Van Ryneveld acquired Swartland Kitchen, and in addition to the confectionery range, the new website will provide the browser with the opportunity to explore and order the range of Swartland Kitchen's rusks (five flavors), cookies (three flavors), granola and Fleur desel.
Like the Darling Sweet Range, there are Swartland Kitchen Hampers with Rusks and Cookies, as well as Toffee and Soft Caramel.
With the recent relocation of Darling's Darling to Evitaseperon, the new website also has a section dedicated to the famous Tani Evitabezidenhout home.
There is information about Boasic Park, an outdoor garden filled with satirical statues and facilities upgraded by South African politicians (and recently, beloved resident Trix Ladin, who sells her water plants.
Beyond its online presence, Darling Sweet is deeply connected to its community. The Evita se Perron branded home features tasting rooms where visitors can sample their products and witness the Toffee Making process firsthand, marveling at the over 300 (and growing!) vintage Toffee Tin collection. This immersive experience highlights the company's dedication to transparency and customer engagement.
Van Lineveld said: “Darling Sweet's new website is a testament to the evolution of local confectionery manufacturers to a nationally recognized brand. By embracing digital innovation, celebrating its legacy and maintaining strong community ties, we want to continue to please our customers with our handmade products.”
For more information about the Darling Sweet website, please visit www.darlingsweet.co.za.
For those planning a visit, Evita se Perron is located at 8 Arcadia Street in Darling and opens daily from 10am to 16pm, offering a range of experiences and tastings celebrating the country's rich cultural heritage.
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