Starting from humble beginnings in a Midlands family kitchen, Wedgewood Nougat was an unlikely success story. In 1999, Gilly Walters was struggling to find purpose against a backdrop of her husband’s cancer diagnosis, and that was the year she stirred her first pot of soft honey nougat.
Ordinarily, Gilly was an exuberant force to be reckoned with, always quick to support others, generous to a fault, and ready to get her hands dirty. In the face of financial insecurity, Gilly’s tenacity of spirit was put to the test to pull her family through. In typical Gilly style, she rallied. With a strong sense of community and giving back, she held concerts at home to support a talented, concert pianist, Christopher Duigan, whom she had met at a local farmers’ market while she sold bread and cheese. Music Revival concerts became a regular occurrence at Wedgewood, the Walters’ family home. Gilly began feeding guests with innovative recipes that she had previously served at Touchwood Tea Garden, a little restaurant she created and ran on the family rose farm.
As the business grew, the small-batch production moved to its own state-of-the-art Makery on the Wedgewood Farm. Gilly’s sons united around her and helped grow her beloved nougat and biscuit recipes into the family business that it is today. During the past 25 years, the Wedgewood team has grown, capturing the imagination of those who have joined it. Sadly, Taffy passed away six years ago after 27 years of living with cancer. As Gilly says, “Taffy was the wings beneath my wings!”
Giving Back
After 25 years, there are some advantages to running a family business. Gilly’s son, Paul, continues to inject the family passion for conservation and community into the Wedgewood brand ethos. “Wedgewood is more than just a cheque and balance sheet; it is our chance to give back to the planet and our community.”
For the past seven years, Wedgewood has been 100% plastic neutral, with a long-term goal of becoming an Earth Brand. Paul has created partnerships with sustainable bee-keepers and harvesters to ensure the finest, ethically sourced ingredients for Wedgewood’s handmade confectionery, biscuits, and ice-cream whilst supporting community initiatives, natural forestry, wildlife, and bee populations.
In 2019, Wedgewood launched their own Handmade Box Project which employs people from the local community who have conquered cognitive and physical challenges. With funds set aside through the 1% For the Planet initiative, Wedgewood supports various conservation projects through trusts such as Wildlife ACT.
The last of Gilly’s world first recipes was launched in 2019 at Piggly Wiggly, in the first Wedgewood’s Gifting & Hamper Emporium, showcasing her Nougat Ice-Cream; the world’s creamiest ice-cream. This month sees the launch of Wedgewood’s fifth Gifting & Hamper Emporium at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, adding to the existing ones in Parkhurst, Lourensford, Ballito, and Midlands.
The new stores, a vision of Gilly’s daughter-in-law, were imagined as a space for Wedgewood to share a moment of happiness with its customers through sampling and world-class service. These stores capture Wedgewood’s personality and Gilly’s story through a visually immersive experience; from light fittings to cabinets, each feature has been designed in partnership with local carpenters and artisans to create a unique sensorial impact. The stores have their own 180-degree floral wallpaper painting, denoting the rose farm and the bees that make Wedgewood’s distinctly South African honey.
Wedgewood shows no sign of slowing down … this coming month sees the launch of a new toasted nougat chocolate range, inspired by Gilly and designed by Wedgewood’s artisanal chefs on the farm. Gilly’s Toasted Nougat Chocolate will be available to sample at the Piggly Wiggly Emporium. Expect a chocolate experience that sidesteps convention in Gilly’s typical bravely experimentational confectionery style!