BEACON SWEETS AND CHOCOLATES (PTY) LTD - Durban

How it all began
The story of Beacon began in January 1931 when Hymie Zulman, an emigrant from Lithuania, arrived in Durban and, for £500 pounds, bought Durban Confectionery and Spice Works, which had recently closed down.

Mr Zulman had been in South Africa for eight years by that stage and had learnt to speak some English. He had worked in the old Transvaal in a variety of jobs, which included being a Tea Room assistant, working in a confectionery and bakery factory, then a small sweet factory and finally running his own trading store. He married Mary Zulman in November 1930 and they arrived in Durban in January 1931 to start a new life together.

Durban Confectionery and Spice Works (DCW) was a small double-storey building in Commercial Road, situated near the Durban Station and  

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alongside Lockhat Bros, a very big and successful wholesaling company. It was old Mr Lockhat who in the early days used to lend Mr Zulman money on Fridays to pay wages. Mr Zulman would repay MrLockhat on Tuesdays when the big bazaars paid for their sweets, a cycle of events which continued until Mr Zulman was able to run without that weekly support.This arrangement established a permanent friendship between the Lockhat and Zulman families.

Hard work pays off
Through hard work and good service, the business gradually grew. Mr Zulman travelled to England in 1936 where he bought some second-hand machinery and in 1938 purchased a one acre site in Gale Street where a two-storey factory was built, occupation of which was taken in 1939.

Unfortunately World War II had just broken out, but despite the difficulties, the company progressed and it was soon after the war ended that Mr Zulman again visited the UK. During this trip he saw a neon light advertisement in the shape of a lighthouse, which gave him the idea to use this motif and brand Beacon.

By this time Durban Confectionery Works/Beacon was producing a range of boiled sweets, toffees, paste goods, pannedsugar items and a small range of chocolates.

A world of possibilities
In 1949 Maynards, the well known English confectionery manufacturer, decided to invest in South Africa and acquired a shareholding in Beacon Sweets, and so began the manufacturing of Maynards Wine Gums in South Africa in 1949.

It was soon realised that the Gale Street factory was no longer big enough to house the rapidly expanding business, and a six acre site was purchased in Mobeni, where a new factory and admin block were built in 1950. Very much on the outskirts of Durban at that time, Beacon was one of the first factories to be established in the Mobeni are, which was in fact only serviced by a two lane road at the time.

A new beginning
At this stage Beacon only produced about 4% of South Africa’s chocolate. Fortunately, Hymie Zulman had around him a small but dynamic team of committed individuals, including six excellent confectioners, one each in chocolate, starch,paste, toffee, boiling and sugar pan.

Together with the then factory director, Henry Levine, they worked wonders with innovation and enterprise. At the end of 1952, Mr Sulman’s son, Arnold, joined the company. His early years were spent in the factory making sweets, then in admin and on occasion even having to go out selling.

Over the years the company continued to grow. New and better equipment continued to be installed, the factory premises were enlarged, more property was acquired, resulting in the total site growing to 20 acres, which doubled again in 1991 with the acquisition of the Jacobs site.

Creativity at its best
Today, Arnold Zulman says that the success of the company was due to the emphasis on three major attributes, namely Creativity, Relationships and Urgency. Beacon became known to many machinery suppliers as an innovative and enterprising company, which constantly took the initiative with new concepts and new technology.

Beacon was the first company in South Africa to come out with a range of pre-packs. It was also responsible for the introduction of pick and mix and the first to come with a big Christmas and Easter range, which saw the development of some of Beacon’s most well known offerings, including Nut Puffs, Fizz Pops, Sparkles and Liquorice Allsorts.

As a result of such vibrant and dynamic activity, Beacon has gone on to become the largest sweet and chocolate manufacturer in South Africa, and a worldwide contender.

Significant events
Beacon bought back the Maynard’s shareholding in 1967 and achieved 100% Zulman family control in 1969.A number of major expansions over the years included the acquisition of Turnwrights in 1976 (a deal that was started and concluded in one morning), American Candy in 1977, and the building and commissioning of the new chocolate factory in Durban in 1984.In 1990 Tiger Oats, South Africa’s foremost food company, acquired 50% of the Beacon shareholding.1991 saw the acquisition of the Jacobs property and the addition of a new finished goods national warehouse, Natal distribution centre and the new starch factory.The third generation of the Zulman family, David Zulman, was appointed Managing Director in 1997. His main objective was to turn Beacon into the leading confectionery company in Southern Africa.
The origins of Tiger Brands
Tiger Brands, the company that now owns Beacon, has a long history dating back to the early 1900s. Tiger Brands’ predecessor, Tiger Oats, was formed in the 1940s out of a trading company started by the Frankel family. Tiger Oats grew over the years by acquiring related companies and diversifying into a wide range of food products. In 1999 Tiger Oats bought 90% and later 100% of Beacon Sweets and Chocolates.