LONDON- South African food producer Khayelitsha Cookies has secured new UK supply agreements worth more than R1.4 million, paving the way for its products to be served onboard British Airways (BA) flights.
The Cape Town-based company will also manufacture private-label shortbread products for retail sale in the United Kingdom under separate commercial arrangements.
The agreements mark a major international expansion for the women-owned bakery business, which operates from Cape Town in South Africa’s Western Cape province.
Supported by the UK Trade Partnerships programme, the deal is expected to increase exports while creating additional employment opportunities for women from underserved communities.
British Airways Partnership with Khayelitsha Cookies
Under the new agreement, Khayelitsha Cookies will supply baked products for British Airways inflight services, giving the company access to one of the world’s largest international airline customer bases.
The deal also strengthens trade links between South Africa and the UK through food exports and aviation catering partnerships.
The company confirmed that its products will now reach consumers beyond domestic markets as part of its broader international growth strategy.
Alongside the airline supply arrangement, Khayelitsha Cookies also secured a second contract to manufacture private-label shortbread products for UK retailers.
The export agreements were facilitated through the UK Trade Partnerships programme, an initiative funded by the UK Government to support developing economies through trade expansion.
The programme helps businesses utilize preferential trade arrangements under the Economic Partnership Agreement between South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Under the current agreement framework, nearly 95% of South African goods can enter the UK market without tariffs, creating opportunities for small and medium-sized exporters to scale internationally.
Women’s Employment Growth
Khayelitsha Cookies has built its business model around community upliftment and inclusive entrepreneurship.
The company is entirely women-owned and focuses on creating jobs for women from underserved communities across the Western Cape region.
According to company executives, every 1,000 cookies sold supports employment that benefits between five and seven dependents within local families and communities.
The new export agreements are therefore expected to strengthen both household incomes and regional economic participation.
Operations Executive Tommy Williams said the support provided through international trade programs helped transform the company’s expansion plans into a commercial reality. He added that the contracts would allow South African-made products to reach consumers across the UK market.
The company also expects the partnership to increase production demand, which could create additional hiring opportunities as export volumes grow over time.
UK Trade Support
British officials described the agreement as an example of how targeted trade support can help smaller businesses participate in global supply chains.
British High Commissioner to South Africa Antony Phillipson recently visited the company’s production facility and praised its entrepreneurial and community-driven approach.
He noted that the partnership delivers benefits for both countries by supporting employment in South Africa while introducing British consumers to locally produced food products from the region.
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