- Dulce Café
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Dulce Café 
Type Private Company Industry Restaurant, Franchising Founded Port Elizabeth, South Africa (1980) Headquarters Port Elizabeth, South Africa Number of locations 53 Key people Mike Pullen, Managing Director Website http://www.dulce.co.za Dulce Café is the name of a coffee shop/restaurant chain operating in South Africa. Originating in the town of Port Elizabeth, the company has grown to 53 stores throughout the country.
Contents
The Dulce Cafe Story
History
Originally, Dulce was an ice cream manufacturing company in Port Elizabeth. Hubert Stempowski, an Argentine immigrant of Polish-Argentine extraction, founded the company in 1980. He named it "Dulce," the Spanish word for "sweet." Stempowski opened the first Dulce retail store in Rink Street in 1984.
Dulce's ice cream quickly became known for its high quality. It was manufactured on-site and sold directly from the machines to customers, "straight from the cow to the cone."
In 1990 the Rink Street store was sold to Lee and Licia Caldecott, a husband and wife team focused on store design and menu research and development. Mike Pullen then joined the group in 1994 and excelled in his capacity as Managing Director. With Pullens strong financial and managerial skills combined with Lee Caldecotts flair and operational experience the franchise flourished. Between 1995 and 2002 twenty-five more stores were opened nationally focusing on regional shopping centers, small towns and niches where they had captured the markets.
New beginning
The period between 2002 and 2004 was one of consolidation for the company after a management buy-out occurred led by Mike Pullen. The new generation of Dulce Cafe was born.
In 2004 Martin Fuller hailing from England joined Dulce Cafe as the business development director for the company. Fullers strong international business experience have proved to be invaluable to the companies growth. Dulce achieved another coup when Brigid Ryall a well known and highly sought after marketer came on board as a full time employee as National Marketing Manager.
In 2005 the Dulce family was further strengthened through a restructuring of the Operations Support department. Marc Strydom was named manager and has been instrumental in the vast improvement of the Operations Support department. Tracy Harris was appointed as Financial Manager which also strengthened the team significantly.
New Franchises
In 2007 the Dulce Group has successfully launched a new franchise product on the market Deli Biscotti. The first shop has opened in Johannesberg with further stores set to open in areas such as Port Elizabeth and Stellenbosch.
In 2008 the group further expanded and a new franchise was born; AyoBayo meaning "vibe". There are currently four stores in operation in South Africa however 12 more are set to be open in due course.
Current Locations
Eastern Cape
- Beacon Bay
- Boardwalk
- Grahamstown
- Greenacres
- Jeffrey's Bay
- Laser Clinic
- Mercantile Hospital, Port Elizabeth
- St Dominic's Hospital
- St George's Hospital
- Uitenhage
- Vincent Park
- Walmer Park
Gauteng
- Bedfordview Hospital
- Boksburg Square
- Brenthurst Clinic
- Centurion
- Epsom Downs
- Flora Clinic
- Fourways Hospital
- Garden City Clinic
- Greenstone Mall
- Jakaranda
- Krugersdorp
- Multiflora
- Rustenburg
- Senate House
- Three Rivers Spar
- Union Hospital
- Wilgeheuwel Hospital
- Zambezi Junction
Kwazulu-Natal
- Cabana Beach
- Entabeni Hospital
- Ethekwini Hospital
- Galleria, Amanzimtoti
- Hillcrest
- Hilton Quarry Spar
- Parklane Spar
- The Bluff
- Westville Hospital
Northern Cape
- Kimberly
Western Cape
- Bayside
- Cape Town International Airport
- Capegate
- Durbanville
- George Airport
- Mountain Hill, Worcester
- Paarl
- Paarl Mall
- Plumstead
- Stodels Nursery - Eversdal
- Waterstone Village - Somerset West
International Stores
Namibia
- Maerua Mall, Windhoek
External links
Multinational food companies
Categories:- Restaurants in South Africa
- Restaurant franchises
- Coffee Brands
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