Combining their creativity and talent, mother and daughter-in-law Gilly and Zoe Walters are the two incredible women behind one of South Africa’s most beloved brands – Wedgewood Nougat. Founder Gilly is the culinary pioneer and artist Zoe is the brainchild behind the magnificent Wedgewood Gifting & Hamper Emporiums scattered around South Africa.
Stepping into the Wedgewood Gifting & Hamper Emporium at Ballito Lifestyle Centre is like walking into a floral-inspired wonderland. Home to the softest, handmade honey-infused nougat wrapped in their signature floral paper, and a selection of creamy nougat ice cream, the store is a sensory delight.
It is also the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration by the Walters family – most notably the culinary talent and creative flair of mother and daughter-in-law Gilly and Zoe.
Zoe, a mother of four, is married to Gilly’s son Paul. An accomplished artist with extensive knowledge and experience in branding and communication, Zoe joined the family business in 2010 and has shared a close relationship with Gilly since they first met.
“Gilly has always been an inspiration to me. When I first moved to South Africa from the UK, leaving behind my family and friends, both she and her late husband Taffy welcomed and completely absorbed me into their family. The entire Walters family are incredibly generous, caring and supportive.”
The Wedgewood Nougat story started in 1999 when Gilly, an untrained passionate foodie, began hosting small concerts and dinner parties and experimenting with recipes, at her KZN Midlands home. Inspired by the Montélimar nougat that she had tasted while working as an au pair in France in her youth, Gilly created a unique, handmade soft honey nougat as a dessert alternative.
Now over 25 years later, Wedgewood has become a beloved South African brand. Their products are stocked in hundreds of stores, online and of course, at the magnificent Wedgewood Emporiums.
When Zoe joined Wedgewood, she set out to help tell the story of this beautiful family business, which is entirely handmade and has a strong focus on sustainability and giving back to the planet.
She is also the mastermind behind the Emporiums, which are more than just beautiful spaces to browse, sample and buy gift-wrapped nougat. Instead, each one has been carefully designed to celebrate Gilly’s culinary talent and showcase their wide range of products.
“The Emporiums represent the physical essence of the brand while allowing us to engage one-on-one with our customers and give back to the planet,” says Zoe. “As a family and a brand, we are committed to making a difference to local communities and the planet and ensuring Wedgewood leaves a lasting legacy.”
Zoe says one percent of all turnover from Wedgewood’s online and Emporium sales goes to supporting non-profit organisations such as early learning programmes, the Litterboom Project (which removes litter from rivers before it ends up in the oceans), and conservation initiatives with KZN Wildlife.
Reflecting on her relationship with Gilly, Zoe remembers fondly working with her on a project called ‘Art at Wedgewood’. “Gilly has always been an incredible supporter of the creative arts and artists. ‘Art At Wedgewood’, which was a fringe to the Hilton Arts Festival, saw us exhibiting over 40 artists’ work with Gilly’s home as the gallery and her creating the food for the event.
Now a busy working mom of four, Zoe says she and Gilly don’t get to work as closely as they did in the past. “We talk all the time, though and Gilly is still a guiding light for me. She has taken a step back but still pops into Wedgewood daily and remains the essence of Wedgewood. The entire team have embraced her contagious ‘joie de vivre’ and share the same tenacity and exuberance she (and Taffy) always had for the brand.”
Speaking about their Ballito Lifestyle Centre Emporium, Zoe says the centre was the perfect fit for Wedgewood because it is outdoors and offers a relaxed family environment that encourages people to linger and enjoy the experience they have to offer.
