The family business in South Africa that went from being a small farm stall to a major ‘luxury’ supplier to Woolworths, Checkers and Dis-Chem

·8 Aug 2026

Wedgewood started as a family business selling nougat at a local farmers’ market, and now has several stores across the country.

Founded in 1999, Wedgewood has remained a family business, with the founder’s son now serving as CEO.

The company was started when Gilly Walters began hosting small concerts in her home, serving a variety of treats to her guests.

The events were a way to make ends meet after her husband was diagnosed with cancer, and hosted up to 100 people in the family home.

Her baking was largely inspired by her time working in France when she was younger, leading her to attempt to make Montélimar nougat one evening for her guests.

Reportedly, this first attempt did not work out, with the texture and consistency all wrong despite a good taste.

Following this, she decided to continue working on the recipe and eventually developed a product for sale at the local farmers’ market.

“Our family kitchen became a constant stream of nougat to be tasted, pulled and prodded by anyone who stepped over the threshold,” Paul Walters, Gilly Walters’ son, said.

Her stall was a booming success, for both her nougat and the unique nougat cookies that she sold, and soon the whole family was involved in the business.

Today, the company remains a family-run business, with Gilly Walters’ son, Paul Walters, serving as Wedgewood’s CEO.

The business is based on a former dairy farm in KwaZulu-Natal, close to the Drakensberg mountain range.

The farm serves as the centre of Wedgewood’s operations, including its bakery and makery, as well as a farm shop.

“Our nougat is still handmade on our farm, and we work with the same passion and commitment that we always have,” Paul Walters said.

“Whilst creating exciting new recipes and all the while keeping a very particular eye on quality, just the way our mum did.”

Wedgewood today

From humble beginnings, Wedgewood has grown its presence across the country, opening stores in several provinces.

It currently operates eight stores, including its original farm stall, across KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Town, and Gauteng.

The stores focus on luxury and are labelled as an emporium by Wedgewood, with their products sold in high-end, bespoke packaging.

The atmosphere created does not stop there – from the staff’s uniforms to the design of the stores’ exteriors, the company makes a clear effort to convey quality and luxury.

Store location is also a considered aspect, operating in areas such as the V & A Waterfront, Hazelwood Pretoria, and the Midlands Meander.

The company became known for its nougat and biscuits before moving into selling ice cream in its emporiums.

The company places a strong emphasis on selling its products as presents, offering hampers and other gift-related items.

Outside its dedicated stores, the company is a major supplier to many other retailers, such as Woolworths, Checkers and Dis-Chem, with a primary focus on wholesale.

By focusing on wholesale supply, the company can reduce its overhead costs and benefit from bulk sales.

This approach is common among small businesses, which lack the capital to support large-scale infrastructure projects but want to expand their product reach.

The company places a strong emphasis on developing the community in which it was founded and has started several outreach initiatives.

“Our goal is to make a difference, whether it’s developing recipes, giving back to our community or finding ways to be more environmentally friendly and sustainable,” it said.

This includes sourcing its unique packaging from local communities to support job creation in KwaZulu-Natal.

The company said these initiatives help ensure that its products are wholly produced in South Africa, using locally sourced materials and supporting job creation in the country.