A sweet evolution in South Africa’s confectionery landscape
South African confectionery brand Darling Sweet, has unveiled its new website, marking a significant 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 operation in the village of Darling to a beloved brand known for its handcrafted toffees, soft caramels and fudge.
Says van Ryneveld: “The launch of Darling Sweet’s new website is more than just a digital facelift; it’s a reflection of the brand’s commitment to quality and customer experience.”
Adds van der Merwe: “The site offers an intuitive shopping experience, allowing customers to browse and purchase a wide choice of products, including our range of toffees (10 flavours), soft caramels (eight flavours), fudge, toffee spreads (two flavours) as well as gift boxes and gift hampers.”
The six different Darling Sweet hampers make the perfect gift for anyone and for any occasion and include – one featuring of six boxes of Darling Sweet toffees or soft caramels (of your choice) to another that contains toffees, caramels, traditional fudge, toffee spread, toffee bars and a box of Swartland Kitchen fleur de sel.
A range of one-of-a-kind greeting cards featuring hand paintings done by children from the Koranrug Primary School in Darling can also be purchased to accompany the 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 also offers browsers the opportunity to explore and order from the Swartland Kitchen range of rusks (five flavours), cookies (three flavours) as well as granola and fleur de sel.
As with the Darling Sweet range, there is a selection of Swartland Kitchen hampers that include rusks and cookies along with the toffees and soft caramels.
With Darling Sweet’s recent relocation to Evita se Perron in Darling, it makes sense that the new website also features a section dedicated to the home of the famous Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout – an ardent supporter and fan of Darling Sweet and Swartland Kitchen.
There, you’ll find information on Boerassic Park, an outdoor garden filled with satirical statues and installations poking fun at South African political figures (and recently upgraded by Darling resident Trix Radyn who also sells her waterwise plants on site), the Nauseam Museum where you will find a collection of political artefacts and memorabilia and information on current and upcoming theatre shows presented by Evita Bezuidenhout and Pieter-Dirk Uys.
Beyond its online presence, Darling Sweet remains deeply connected to its community. The brand’s home at Evita se Perron includes a tasting room where visitors can sample products and witness the toffee-making process firsthand, as well as marvel at the vintage toffee tin collection which numbers over 300 (and growing!). This immersive experience highlights the company’s dedication to transparency and customer engagement.
Says van Ryneveld: “Darling Sweet’s new website is a testament to its evolution from a local confectionery maker to a nationally recognised brand. By embracing digital innovation, celebrating its heritage, and maintaining strong community ties, we at Darling Sweet hope to continue delighting customers with our handcrafted products.”
For more on the Darling Sweet website, visit www.darlingsweet.co.za.
For those planning a visit, Evita se Perron is located at 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.