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G A T T I I C E C R E A M
FEATURE
Success Swe e t
t as t e
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Basheer Harnekar tells South Africa magazine more about the secret behind this second-generation family business’s success.
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t’s about 90 degrees, the sun is beating down; it’s time for ice cream. Strangely enough today – 4 April – is the 119th anniversary of the ice cream sundae: A little factoid for you. I digress; Back to the point. It’s sweltering outside. I need refreshment. I need ice cream. Not just any ice cream will do. I need a Choc-o-Lina. Produced by Gatti Ice Cream, this delicious chocolate milk ice cream is what
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I like to call a taste grenade. And it hits the spot when it’s hot, and when it’s not. That’s why, when given this assignment, I jumped at it. A chance to learn more about something I love. And it wasn’t long before I was salivating, over some pretty impressive stats: Gatti’s Lansdowne facility is over 10 000m2 and full of “cutting edge” equipment, it employs more than 300 permanent and casual staff, and it is the largest African owned Ice Cream Factory on the continent.
Gatti Ice Cream
“Gatti Ice Cream has something of an interesting past,” says director Basheer Harnekar. “This business was built up by my father, Mr. E. D. Harnekar, who in 1964, founded Playtime Lollies just down the road in Lansdowne.” With his wife, four sons and a daughter, Mr. E. D. Harnekar started making
we have a variety of flavours and lots of choice
handmade ice lollies with the taste and quality fit for a king and priced affordably even to the man on the street. “This is the recipe for our successes,” Harnekar says. So who is Gatti? Mr. Gatti, of Italian descent was a master of ice cream having family ties with the great Carlo Gatti. Mr. Gatti, www.southafricamag.com
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the original owner of Gatti, produced ice cream namely vanilla, strawberry and chocolate flavour. “My father bought the Gatti Ice Cream facility and brand name in 1973, and the production of ice cream continued until 1976, when other lines and flavours were introduced,” says Harnekar. In 1989, Mr. E.D. Harnekar retired and handed over the company to the secondgeneration. Sadly he passed away in 1996 but his staff and customers still to this day speak about him. “The product range has obviously expanded to many varieties of cones, wafers, lollies, flavoured full cream ice creams, coated ice creams, cartons and tubs,” says Harnekar. Distribution includes most major hubs of South Africa, Central Africa, and general retail, including the informal sector and hospitality industry. “We have a number of high quality products, which are competitive on price, but don’t compromise on taste or quality,” says
Harnekar. “Anybody can buy our product: Customers include restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, wholesalers, and retailers. Product is also available direct to the public at wholesale prices. “Of course we have one of the oldest factory shops in the country. It has been going 40-45 years now and it is the largest African owned ice cream factory in Africa. “We moved to the current premises in 2004,” he continues. “It is still in Lansdowne but is a much larger facility. “It has definitely helped us grow as a business.” According to Harnekar, Gatti is performing well as a business and has grown over the last year. “In all honesty, I can’t ever recall negative growth; we’ve always had positive growth in our business, even during times of recession or political change. Of course the growth
we have a number of high quality products, which are competitive on price, but don’t compromise on taste or quality
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Gatti Ice Cream
could have been better had the recession not happened. We could have grown more,” he says. “What is behind that? Well as I explain[ed], the quality of the product and the price is definitely the formula for our success and we continue to grow. Production expands almost every year. We have a clear view of where growth is, where we need to invest, and are continually looking at R&D and new products. In terms of obvious expansion, Harnekar adds, there are several townships
where he would like to get better penetration. “We want to grow in the areas where we haven’t great coverage yet. We are always looking for new business, especially in areas outside of the major cities and hubs.” Of all the wonderful products on offer, the humble vanilla ice cream is the biggest seller, he says. “We sell in the bulk ice cream a lot of vanilla. Vanilla has always been the most popular flavour. But we have a variety of flavours and lots of choice. The
secret to success is being in touch with our market and producing products suitable for our market and at the right price and quality.” What has happened at Gatti is nothing short of remarkable. I’m sure the success will continue. “We have consistently delivered affordable treats that still hold the idea that my started with - the taste and quality fit for a king and priced affordably, even to the man on the street. We hope to continue that long into the future,” Harnekar concludes. END
TM
R.M. Chemical Distributors
SupplieRS of flavouRS, eSSentialS oilS & CheMiCalS to the fooD, CoSMetiC anD phaRMaCeutiCal inDuStRy
223, lansdowne Road, Claremont, 7708 p.o.Box 2056 - Clareinch - 7740 - Cape town South africa tel: +27 21 683-1337/8 email: rmchem@mweb.co.za
KOOGAN PLASTICS
TM
+27 11 857 1345 / 1370 / 2560
Koogan Plastics is a South African plastics manufacturing company, based in Johannesburg. Established in 1982, we have been supplying rigid and flexible packaging to the food, ice-cream, paint, chemical, oil, pharmaceutical and other industries in Africa for almost 30 years. We have a national distribution network, which includes warehousing and distribution centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
Email: info@kooganplastics.co.za Tel: +27 11 857 1345 / 1370 / 2564 • Fax: +27 11 857-2563
www.kooganplastics.co.za
South Africa Magazine, Suite 9 and 10, the Royal, Bank Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. NR2 4Sf tNt Magazine, 14-15 Child’s Place, earl’s Court, London, UK. Sw5 9RX
Gatti Ice Cream 2 Orion Road Lansdowne Cape Town, South Africa 7780
ENQUIRIES telephone: 0044 (0)1603 343267 fax: 0044 (0)1603 283602 emailus@southafricamag.com
P.O Box 24267 Lansdowne Cape Town, South Africa 7779
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Tel: +27 21 797 5100 Fax: +27 21 797 5110 Email: info@gattiicecream.co.za
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