MBABANE – Eswatini ice cream maker, Scoops N Giggles founder Zandile Mabaso, has returned from a 10-day mentorship programme in Pisa, Italy, with a renewed vision and enhanced technical and operational expertise.
This marks a major milestone in the company’s journey towards commercial expansion.
The mentorship, hosted by the award-winning Gelateria De’ Coltelli, was made possible through support from the European Union (EU) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). This support was delivered under the ‘Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances’ programme, which is funded by the EU and implemented by the ITC in partnership with the Government of Eswatini.
The intensive training exposed Mabaso to world-class gelato production techniques, professional systems and commercial operations, knowledge she describes as “transformative” for her Eswatini-based enterprise.
“I am delighted to bring home a wealth of knowledge and new skills from Pisa,” said Mabaso. “I really wished to learn how to make ice cream from a professional point of view. Being able to train under some of the best people in the world is something I never imagined possible.”
A key outcome of the mentorship was Mabaso’s introduction to structured, commercial-grade production, an area she now sees as essential for scaling her business.
“They made ice cream from a written-down recipe; anyone can take it and produce the same product,” Mabaso said. “My key takeaway was to work on systems to be faster and efficient. I need to have processes in place,” she added.
This insight has become increasingly relevant as demand for Scoops N Giggles continues to grow. Mabaso experienced first-hand the need for establishing standardised systems following her participation in the 2025 MTN Bushfire Festival, where her business recorded its highest revenue in three days.
“I fell sick after the festival, and no one was able to make ice cream. This goes back to setting up systems or processes for my business,” she explained.
Mabaso also noted that the mentorship highlighted the importance of investing in machinery to improve speed and volume. “They made ice cream faster than me because I still have to do everything manually,” she noted.
Certification and Financial Need
Armed with this new knowledge, Mabaso is now advancing plans to transition her home-based set-up into a certified cottage factory. Her production space has already been assessed by the Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA), and she has passed the initial stage of the certification process under the Ingelo Certification Scheme.
“It is feasible to commercialise. I already have my plan in motion. I just need financial assistance,” she said. “We want to supply supermarkets and hotels, but we need the backing from the standards so that our customers can trust us.”
Since beginning her journey with the EU, ITC and House on Fire Future Icons Programme, Scoops N Giggles has demonstrated significant growth. The brand performed strongly at major events, including the MTN Bushfire Festival and the Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF). “Last year, we sold out every day for 10 days at the trade fair,” said Mabaso.
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