The first Dulcé retail store was opened in Rink Street in Port Elizabeth in 1984 by Hubert Stempowski. Dulcé became synonymous with a high quality ice-cream product in the Eastern Cape. The Dulcé group expanded in late 2007 / early 2008, in setting up 2 new Franchise concepts, which with the economic downturn were not too successful, and it was thus decided to rather focus on Dulcé Café. Dulcé Cafe’s successful expansion with our partners in the Middle East, was halted, and mutually dissolved in 2009 when both parties’ expansion plans diverged significantly. Imported Italian Pizzas were added to the menu in 2010. The Dulcé Espresso bar concept, was replaced by a more “On the Go” concept in 2012 – a smaller faster menu for smaller sites, with a lower set up and operating cost.
In early 2013, Mike Pullen sold out his majority shareholding in Dulcé Café SA (to focus on the international market) to Kobus Wiese of Wiese Coffee Holdings.