History
Richester Foods is an owner-managed private company started in 2005, as a distributor of imported confectionery, operating out of a rented hall at the Pretoria Showgrounds.
After buying and selling sweets imported from many different parts of the world, we developed a flair for identifying the best and most delicious candies.
Having a passion for colour, fun and flavour we decided to embody this spirit and create beautiful products of our own.
We then invested and planted our roots in an industrial park in Centurion, with our very own factory making sweets primarily for the South African consumers.
Our first product was produced in 2007, with manual machines in a small factory, and the birth of its first brand of sweets called Joosy Chews was born, under the red and white Richester Logo.
After successfully selling our first range of sweets, we could feel the pulse of the local market and we knew South Africa was ready for innovative, high quality products at affordable prices. Inspired by flavours from all over the world, we brought alive this inspiration through our products of superior quality and unparallel unique packaging designs.
By 2021 our head office and production facilities are still based in Centurion but has now expanded to 4 factories covering 15000m2 square metres of manufacturing space, with technologically advanced equipment, conforming to the highest standards of manufacturing practices as well as a separate state-of-the-art and temperate controlled Distribution Centre and a full fleet of our own trucks to attend to our distribution requirements.
Our vision is to enhance our leadership in confectionery by creating value for consumers through innovative and satisfying high-quality products in all different segments of confectionery.
2006
Groups entry into South Africa.
Relocation of operations from Laudium to the Pretoria showgrounds. Business is set up for importing sweets and a small manufacturing plant to manufacture wafer cones is commissioned
2007
Construction of the Richester Foods Head office and factory for manufacturing sweets in Sunderland Ridge.
2008
The first manufactured product in this new facility JOOSY CHEWS is launched officially.
2009
Expansion of products in existing facility with new equipment.
- Hard Boil Candies
- Sherbet
Official launch of marshmallow Melloworld range consisting of Ice cream cone mellows and marshmallow ropes
2010
Launch of Chocolate Eclairs brand.
2011
All redundant equipment sold and new equipment brought for innovation
2013
Deposited Candy line set up and launch of first deposited lollipop in South Africa called – Zumba.
2014
Establishment of Richflex packaging, a packaging unit to supply the group with flexible packaging requirements
2015
Further innovation and launch of hero brands Éclair Pop and 2pop.
2016
2017
Launch of the hugely successful ice cream shaped Milkimelo ᵀᴹ lollipop
2018
Launch of the popular energy-flavoured, sherbet certre-filled X-Popᵀᴹ lollipop range
2019
Launch of the luxury brands; Milky Bonᵀᴹ (centre filled hard candy) and Toffitoᵀᴹ (decadent toffees)
2020
Launch of our retail size 5-pack lollipops and full fleet of delivery trucks were upgraded.
2021
Launch of Choo meeᵀᴹ, Mintexᵀᴹ, Zizooᵀᴹ and Dr Mintᵀᴹ brands and highly anticipated launch of a innovative range of Chocolates and pressed candies.
