This week marked the formal entry into liquidation for Beyers Chocolates, South Africa’s largest independent chocolate manufacturer for nearly 40 years. As a prominent pillar of the local confectionery industry, the company’s portfolio includes proprietary brands such as Sweetie Pie and white-label production for major retailers including Clicks, Shoprite, Pick n Pay and Spar. Beyond its direct retail footprint, Beyers performs extensive contract manufacturing for global entities such as Mondelez International (owners of Cadbury), Amarula and vida e caffè. The company's collapse was precipitated by a commercial dispute with its anchor client, Woolworths, which ultimately led to the termination of their long-standing supply agreement.
Beyers was the lifework and legacy of Kees Beyers, a Belgian master chocolatier who qualified as a pastry chef at the renowned Ter Groene Poorte in Bruges at the age of 17. Upon moving to South Africa, he founded the company in 1987 at the age of 20, starting from a modest 40m² workshop. Over the subsequent 39 years, his vision scaled into a massive 7,000m² industrial facility in Kempton Park, Gauteng. Beyers continued to invest heavily in the company's expansion as recently as 2024, opening The Chocolate Factory, an upmarket experiential café in Bedfordview designed to bring Belgian artisanal craft directly to the South African public.
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