A trip to Mexico inspired Cape Town entrepreneur Claire Swanson to create ARK Provisions, a colourful confectionery brand now flying off Checkers shelves.
Image: Supplied.
A trip to Mexico, a lockdown kitchen experiment and a passion for bold flavours have helped transform Cape Town based ARK Provisions into one of the newest success stories on Checkers shelves.
The women-owned confectionery brand has achieved average sales growth of 45% within eight weeks of launching across 11 Checkers stores in Cape Town, bringing Mexican inspired sweets with a unique South African twist to consumers.
For founder Claire Swanson, 46, the journey represented a remarkable transition from making products in her home kitchen to building a retail ready business.
The opportunity began unexpectedly when a Checkers employee discovered ARK’s products at a local sweet shop and shared them internally.
While the flavour combinations immediately attracted attention, the business still needed to meet the operational, food safety and technical requirements required to supply one of Africa’s largest retailers.
Rather than simply listing the product, Checkers worked with ARK through its supplier development and SMME support programme to help the business prepare for retail.
A trip to Mexico inspired Cape Town entrepreneur Claire Swanson to create ARK Provisions, a colourful confectionery brand now flying off Checkers shelves.
Image: Supplied.
“One of the most encouraging aspects of the partnership has been Checkers’ commitment to nurturing small businesses rather than simply listing products,” Swanson said.
“The support, guidance and accessibility of the programme allowed us to enter retail in a manageable way while building confidence in our ability to scale.”
The idea behind ARK started in 2019 when Swanson and her partner, Jacqueline Cloete, 47, travelled to Mexico and discovered Dulces Enchilados, a popular style of confectionery combining sweet, spicy, sour and salty flavours.
The experience immediately connected with Swanson’s own food memories.
“The minute I tasted it, it was super familiar to me, like something I’d grown up eating. I remember thinking this could work in South Africa,” she said.
Back home, the concept remained in the back of her mind until the Covid 19 lockdown in 2020, when she discovered a viral TikTok trend showing Mexican sweets being coated in chamoy and tajín, a chilli, lime and salt seasoning.
Swanson began experimenting with similar flavours in her home kitchen while still working in product development and running a food pop up selling tacos and sweets.
“The response was immediate. It just went bonkers,” she said.
As demand increased, ARK evolved from a side project into a growing business. Orders expanded through social media and word of mouth, with family members and a small team helping with production and distribution.
What started as a kitchen experiment during lockdown has become a fast growing retail success, with ARK Provisions achieving 45% average sales growth in just eight weeks.
Image: Supplied.
ARK was officially established in 2022 after Swanson left her corporate career to focus on the business full time.
To prepare for retail growth, the company invested in food safety certifications, manufacturing systems and production capacity.
A major milestone came when ARK partnered with a female owned confectionery manufacturer in Maitland, allowing production to move into a certified commercial facility.
The partnership also created six additional jobs.
Today, ARK’s Mexican inspired range includes Mixed Mexican Candy, Watermelon Mexican Candy, Peach Hearts Mexican Candy and Strawberry Bites Mexican Candy, available at selected Checkers stores across the Western Cape.
Despite the brand’s growth, Swanson said ARK remains deeply connected to its family roots.
“My family is very much involved in ARK,” she said.
“ARK stands for Always Remain Kind, which is both our family mantra and a tribute to our son Noah, who inspired the brand name. It’s just as much their story as it is mine.”
Swanson leads the company alongside Cloete, while her 14-year-old son Noah has also played an important role in the journey.
The entrepreneur believes the brand’s success is not only about creating a new product category, but also about creating opportunities for others.
Looking ahead, ARK is developing new flavours and seasonal products as it continues expanding its retail footprint.
“Creating opportunities for others while introducing something new and unexpected to consumers continues to be a major source of motivation. It’s our superpower,” Swanson said.
What started as a kitchen experiment during lockdown has become a fast growing retail success, with ARK Provisions achieving 45% average sales growth in just eight weeks.
Image: Supplied.
From a kitchen experiment inspired by Mexico to a growing presence on retail shelves, ARK Provisions’ journey highlights how local entrepreneurs can turn unexpected ideas into sustainable businesses with the right support and determination.
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