Tiger Brands’ Women Manufacturing Leaders Bring a Little Sweetness into Everyday Lives
Some of life’s sweetest moments feature Tiger Brands’ iconic Snacks and Treats brands. From Jelly Tots, Maynards Original Wine Gums, Liquorice Allsorts, mmmMallows, Smoothies, Jungle Energy Bars and others, each has added bursts of flavour and offers a little indulgence and comfort to everyday life, dare it be said – a little magic. The enviable responsibility of leading the production and quality control of these sweet treats is in the hands of three ambitious local women – Subashani Naidoo, Sherley Monyemorathoe and Thiroshnee Govender. All three women are based at Tiger Brands’ Snacks and Treats factories in the industrial areas of Mobeni and Jacobs, south of Durban on KwaZulu Natal. They are three of close to 4000 women, and growing, in roles at Tiger Brands’ manufacturing sites across South Africa.
Naidoo is Mallows and Jellies Plant Manager overseeing 320 employees. Monyemorathoe is Candy Plant Manager leading over 300 employees, and Govender, as Candy Quality Manager, has the critical task of ensuring the consumer gets the very best when they choose a Tiger Brands sweet product, caring for every quality and safety aspect of the production process and the product itself.
Of the women leaders, Grant Pereira, Managing Director: Snacks and Treats category, says, “At Tiger Brands, we are proud to promote internal talent, and attract high performers into our business. Our teams are passionate about our consumers and our products, and none more so than Subashani, Sherley and Thiroshnee!”
Subashani Naidoo, Mallows and Jellies Plant Manager
Subashani Naidoo has been Mallows and Jellies Plant Manager since Feb 2023, where the much-loved mmmMallows, Maynards and Jelly Tots products are produced.
The sole provider for her three young children at the time, Subashani began her career at Tiger Brands as a casual worker in 1989.
Her determination for a better life for herself and her children, Subashani says she took every opportunity to learn that came her way in the workplace and was offered a permanent role as an Operator four years later. This paved the path for growth in her career with some well-earned firsts, including becoming the first woman at the Mallows and Jellies Plant to drive a pallet jack and the first person on the shopfloor to receive a bursary, which she used to study Production Management. She has since acquired degrees in Business Administration and Supply Chain Management with financial assistance from Tiger Brands.
Her learning and career growth have been nurtured through the years by the organisation. “Yes, traditionally, the manufacturing sector has been male-driven, but I never felt those barriers here, I was always encouraged to learn and grow,” says Subashani.
From Operator, Subashani was promoted to Supervisor and later Production Manager, as notable roles occupied over the years. And 15 years ago, when Tiger Brands acquired the Jelly Tots manufacturing plant in East London, Subashani, as production manager for the Supply Chain, was seconded there to help establish the operation.
Subashani’s current role as Mallows and Jellies Plant Manager takes her to new heights of responsibility with a team of nine taking her lead as they collaborate to ensure quality, safety, cost, production yields, optimisation and logistics.
“Heading up the production of a portion of Tiger Brands Snacks and Treats division, while exciting because our products bring so many smiles to people every day, is a massive responsibility. It requires me and my team to work closely in maintaining exacting standards and quality our consumers expect from us and to never waiver from this,” says Subashani.
Sherley Monyemorathoe, Candy Plant Manager
Sherley grew up on a small farm called Pickum in Bochum, Limpopo province, and was the first girl-child among her classmates to persevere with maths and science throughout high school without repeating a grade. With a Chemical Engineering degree, she began her professional career as a trainee Metallurgist in the steel industry.
Sherley soon joined the food industry working for a large South African food producer becoming the first woman in the company’s 100-year history to join its production division. Her dedication and continuous learning saw her moving up the ranks to leadership positions in a short space of time. She joined Tiger Brands in 2023 as Candy Plant Manager, overseeing a manufacturing plant of over 300 employees producing over 1400 tons of hard candy per month, including South African number-one brands such as Mint Imperial, Fizzers and Fizz Pop to name a few. In her current role, she is responsible for the overall management of the manufacturing processes, people, and machinery as well as compliance of the plant. “Working in the confectionery industry comes with multiple smiles and fulfilment, one can imagine the aroma of tons and tons of fresh and colourful different sweets such as Liquorice Allsorts, Fizzers, Smoothies, Cream Caramel, Toffolux, Fruit Chews, Sparkles and Nougat, on a moving conveyor belt heading for packaging. It gives me a sense of pride compared to any industry I have been involved in. There is actual scientific study behind the scenes to keep products appealing, tasty and relevant to the market”.
As a woman in a manufacturing environment, Sherley says she is sometimes met with disbelief by others. “I think it’s because I’m so tiny and the industry is used to older males in my sort of position.” But Sherley does not let this attitude deter her, attributing her open-door policy at work to building trust amongst co-workers and her peers to discuss challenges openly. “It’s important to let people know they can come to you directly as a leader to discuss anything that will add value to manufacturing. This also helps in building trust between people and leadership.” Sherley says that determination is important part of her work ethic and encourages other women to develop a ‘can-do’ mindset to be successful in the manufacturing sector. “The manufacturing industry is fast-paced and comes with maximum pressure that often needs timely decision making and it sometimes takes long hours of planning in the boardroom that needs a positive and confident attitude which is what keeps me focused attitude keeps me focused. “For women entering manufacturing, a journey of thousands of miles begins with a single step. Develop your skills whenever there is an opportunity, be open to mentorship and collect as much knowledge as possible regardless of what you think you already know.
Sherley Is currently studying towards gaining an LLB degree to complement her Chemical Engineering background as part of her strategic self-development plan.
Thiroshnee Govender, Candy Factory Quality Manager
As Quality Manager at Tiger Brands’ Candy factory in Mobeni, KwaZulu Natal, Thiroshnee Govender ensures that what the food producer’s consumers consume matches the outstanding and stringent safety and quality standards it sets out. Thiroshnee leads a team of quality managers collaborating to ensure only the best leaves the factory and makes its way into stores and homes to be enjoyed by millions. From ensuring food safety PPE requirements are always in place, the production process is undertaken in accordance with food safety requirements, hygiene standards are maintained, and overseeing microbiological and analytical testing of samples.
Born and raised in Chatsworth, Durban, Thiroshnee nurtured a passion for more than just food but the science behind it – its safety for consumption and nutritious value. On completing a Bachelor of Technology in Food Technology at Durban University of Technology, Thiroshnee began her working career in the local KZN food production industry specialising in quality control. Her experience and passion fit the bill for South Africa’s largest food producer when in 2008, she took up a role as Laboratory Manager at Tiger Brands Mobeni. The food producer has been her home ever since where she delights in being accountable for overseeing stringent quality control and safety of processes in the plant that results in a product the consumer is satisfied with and that the business is proud of. “Most people aren’t aware of the stringent quality protocols followed at each step of the process,” says Thiroshnee, adding how each product must go through rigorous tests before it reaches shelves.
“It’s my job to ensure that consistent quality and food safety is maintained with each sweet and chocolate bar. It’s all about the consumer experience.”
Over her time with Tiger Brands, Thiroshnee says that opportunities for women within her environment to expand their skills have been abundant. One personal example, despite not having experience in Engineering, Thiroshnee was given the space to learn and grow in an earlier role as a Process Optimisation Engineer at Tiger Brands’ Mallows and Jellies plant. Following this, came her break as a Site Quality Lead at the same plant. “Taking care of all the systems aspects of quality was a diverse and exciting role because it afforded me the opportunity to understand the business better and take on a broader spectrum of responsibilities across the business,” says Thiroshnee.
In 2021, Thiroshnee drew on her experience at Tiger Brands when she earned a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), focusing her thesis on the effectiveness of quality at the company’s Snacks and Treats sites. Her achievements to date she places firmly with her family and the values they instilled. “I come from humble beginnings and was taught that in life, it’s important to be respectful, honest, helpful, and kind. Those are the values that really define who I am. And I take that with me in all my interactions, especially the workplace.”
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