A business mentorship in Gqeberha has sparked a partnership that is changing the way people enjoy chocolate.
COTI Chocolates, founded by Chris Parkin in 2005, has partnered with entrepreneur Patience Agar of Dovi Peanuts to introduce a new range of granola bars coated in no-added-sugar chocolate.
This innovation makes diabetic-friendly chocolates more affordable and accessible in a market where such treats are often out of reach.
Agar, who started Dovi Peanuts by roasting and caramelising artisan peanut butter and selling it at craft markets such as Crossways, met Parkin during a Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber export course.
Assigned as her mentor, Parkin was struck by her passion for natural products and the huge potential for innovation and growth.
“After working together for a while, I was struck by the potential that Patience had with her business,” Parkin said.
“After experimenting, I was keen to find a way to combine her nuts and my chocolates.
“Coating her nuts and granola with our zero-added sugar chocolate just made sense.
“Now she makes her granola bars up the road at her little factory, and we bring them to our factory and coat them in our chocolate,” Parkin said.
Agar had already begun introducing new products into her business.
Now, her website offers an extensive range of nut butters, including peanut, almond, macadamia and cashew varieties.
She also sells a variety of different flavoured nuts and dried fruit combos.
Dovi Peanuts has also branched into dog treats, offering a special jar of peanut butter.
“I met Chris when he became my mentor,” Agar said.
“He has shown me so much about the industry.
“This partnership has allowed us to create something that’s not only delicious, but also healthier and accessible.
“This is also a proud moment because everything we offer is made right here in Gqeberha. It is a proudly Nelson Mandela Bay product,” she said.
For Parkin, the venture is part of COTI’s ongoing mission to innovate.
Since its establishment in 2005, COTI Chocolates has grown into a strong local competitor to household names such as Cadbury and Nestlé, with products supplied to SPAR, Dis-Chem, Clicks and many other retailers across the Eastern Cape.
Parkin has made it his goal to serve what he deems to be a neglected market — people living with diabetes.
“With diabetes on the rise, sugar-free chocolates are often imported and far too expensive for the average South African. We wanted to change that.
“By running a separate production line to avoid cross-contamination, and by adjusting recipes to keep costs down without losing flavour, we’ve created chocolates that are safe, tasty and affordable,” he said.
In 2019, COTI Chocolates conducted a survey of 2,000 diabetic consumers, all of whom agreed the chocolate was not only delicious but also safe because it did not spike their sugar levels.
To put it to the test, a reporter from The Herald who has diabetes, monitored her blood sugar before and after eating the chocolate and found no change, further proving the product’s suitability for people living with diabetes.
The careful innovation has already opened international doors for COTI, which exports its chocolates to the Seychelles and Mozambique, and plans to expand into the US and Germany.
At home, the granola-coated bars are drawing praise for combining wholesome, local ingredients with indulgence that doesn’t compromise on health.
Agar is benefiting from the international exposure as she is now on a trip to Saudi Arabia to meet potential investors.
“This is about more than just chocolate. It is about showing how local businesses can come together to innovate, create and make a real difference in people’s lives,” she said.
Together, Dovi Peanuts and COTI Chocolates are proving that sweet success is best when shared and that chocolate can be both a treat and a healthy choice.
The Herald
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