Eastern Cape-based Ikhala Products, the first company in Africa to manufacture a complete range of skin products for the darker skin, is soon to distribute its six men’s grooming products to consumers throughout the United States and Canada.

The move follows a 12-day trip by Ikhala Products’ general manager Andre du Plessis. The visit was organised by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The company was established with funding from the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the Swiss-based International Trade Centre in 2001.

“The support from the Americans and Canadians for our company and products was overwhelming. It was especially heartening since we were the only company from Eastern Cape in the South African delegation.”

The men’s grooming range, is to be unveiled to the public this week, comprises a shower gel, shaving gel, face wash, facial scrub, eye cream and moisturising cream. Two other new products – a moisturising cream (SPF 15+) and sun protection cream (SPF 33+) – will also be showcased.

Last year, Ikhala launched nine women’s products. Sales for the range have been encouraging which is distributed through Ikhala’s agent network.

Du Plessis has high hopes for the men’s range. “The range comes at a time when the world is looking beyond traditional cosmetics. Now is the age of cosmeuticals which combines the image-enhancing benefits of cosmetics and takes full potential of the medicinal qualities of plants such as Aloe Ferox,” explains Du Plessis.

He explains that sales should be bolstered by the increasingly growth in men’s grooming products as well as Ikhala’s unique product offering.

“Ikhala’s export products has been especially developed for men’s grooming and made from the newly ‘in-vogue’ Aloe Ferox plant. This plant has an extended range of properties with higher trace elements, which gives it greater medicinal values and wider applications. Furthermore, since such large volumes of Aloe Ferox are found in the province, the product is considerably cheaper than products made from its counterpart in America.

In addition, Ikhala’s black economic empowerment credentials make it hugely appealing to afro Americans.

The company, which operates out of the remote town of Seymour, some 200 kms from East London, has developed into the epicentre for Aloe Ferox harvesting.

News of the international contracts should be welcomed by the worker cooperative which owns 10 per cent of Ikhala and the company’s 40 fulltime employees. Families have doubled their incomes to R1 000 and received training in sustainable harvesting, life skills, financial skills, general hygiene and HIV/AIDS. Ikhala funds the uniforms of the employees during the training. Directors also receive further additional training on their role.

These jobs are further augmented by an initial group of 62 sales agents who generate incomes ranging from between R800 to R5 000.

ECDC project development specialist Tokozile Boboyi says this project is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which will continue to significantly uplift the lives of people in a very poor community who are committed to creating a world class product.

The first order is likely to be shipped within months after the American distributors have been able to secure, on Ikhala’s behalf, approval form the relevant authorities and the first order is confirmed. The certification process by the American authorities is already underway and to date, Du Plessis has had no negative feedback on the range’s ingredients or packaging.

He says the men’s moisturising cream is likely to be exported without the SPF caveat because extensive testing is required for each imported batch and these costs make testing prohibitive.

The men’s range took five months to develop and was done in collaboration with the Society of Cosmetic Chemists of South Africa.

In picture, celebrating the fruits of their efforts are Ikhala Products GM Andre du Plessis and ECDC project development specialist Tokozile Boboyi.