13 May 2026 Khayelitsha Cookies scores great UK deals

Cape Town’s Khayelitsha Cookies has landed its biggest international win yet,….

Khayelitsha Cookies has signed export agreements that will see its biscuits sold in the UK and served on British Airways flights — a milestone moment for one of SA’s most admired social‑impact food producers.

The two contracts, worth over R1.4 million, were secured through the UK Trade Partnership programme, which gives South African exporters tariff‑free access to the British market.

The business — rebuilt more than a decade ago after being acquired out of distress — has grown from a tiny bakery into a scaled operation supplying retailers, hospitality groups and international clients, all while prioritising employment for women from underserved Western Cape communities.

The new agreements include supplying private‑label shortbread to UK buyers, expanding its export footprint beyond earlier shipments to the US and France.

Operations executive Tommy Williams says the deals will help “share the taste of South Africa” with a broader international audience.

Khayelitsha Cookies’ labour‑intensive model is designed to maximise employment rather than efficiency — and the impact is significant.

Each job supports five to seven dependants, a multiplier effect highlighted by British High Commissioner Antony Phillipson, who praised the enterprise as a powerful example of how global demand can drive local job creation.

For South Africa’s food sector, this is more than a feel‑good story. It shows how small, mission‑driven FMCG producers can break into mature markets when supported by the right trade frameworks, strong product quality and a compelling social‑impact narrative.

See more on its website: https://kcco.co.za/