Suikerbos Confectionery (Pty) Ltd, month end variance, August 2026 close

Suikerbos Confectionery (Pty) Ltd

Office of the CFO · Monthly close variance

Draft for human review

August net revenue closed at R31.4 million, R2.3 million or 6.8 percent under the reforecast: the miss splits between gross sales R1.3 million light and trade over spend of R1.1 million, most of it at Suiderland Stores and Nkosi Cash and Carry. Gross margin came in 475 basis points below forecast, and the cost drivers say why: price, mix and the rand on materials cost R641,000 more than plan, and lower volume through the plant gave R635,000 of it back. The plan from here needs testing on the August trade rate and on price, mix and the rand on materials.

August 2026 close
Actual against the July 2026 reforecast
R thousands, whole numbers
Generated 1 September 2026

Net revenue

R31.4 million

(R2.3 million) (6.8%) against forecast

Forecast R33.7 million. Volume light and trade over spent.

P&L actual and reforecast, August 2026

Gross margin

30.1%

(475 bps) against forecast 34.9%

Price, mix and the rand on materials cost R641,000 more than plan, and lower volume through the plant gave R635,000 of it back.

P&L actual and the cost drivers, August 2026

EBITDA

R2.4 million

(R2.4 million) (49.7%) against forecast

Margin 7.8% against 14.4%, (664 bps).

P&L actual, August 2026

Gross to net and margin, actual against forecast

Line (R'000)	Actual	Forecast	Variance	Variance %
Gross sales	42,980	44,260	(1,280)	(2.9%)
Less: trade promotion	(9,090)	(7,970)	(1,120)	(14.1%)
Less: returns and allowances	(1,420)	(1,510)	90	+6.0%
Less: cash discounts	(1,060)	(1,090)	30	+2.8%
Net revenue	31,410	33,690	(2,280)	(6.8%)
Cost of goods sold	(21,946)	(21,940)	(6)	(0.0%)
Gross profit	9,464	11,750	(2,286)	(19.5%)
Operating expenses	(7,020)	(6,890)	(130)	(1.9%)
EBITDA	2,444	4,860	(2,416)	(49.7%)
Gross margin	30.1%	34.9%	(475 bps)
EBITDA margin	7.8%	14.4%	(664 bps)

Trade over spend by customer, (1,120), of which (1,050) sits with Suiderland Stores and Nkosi Cash and Carry

Customer (R'000)	Plan	Actual	Over plan
Suiderland Stores	3,180	3,910	(730)
Nkosi Cash and Carry	2,060	2,380	(320)
Vaalmark	1,540	1,580	(40)
Independent trade	1,190	1,220	(30)

Net revenue fell (2,280) (6.8%): gross sales (1,280) and trade promotion (1,120)

The axis starts at 29,970, so the steps can be read.

What moved inside cost of goods sold

Lower volume through the plant, 635 less cost. Gross sales 2.9 percent lighter than forecast, so material and direct labour follow.
Price, mix and the rand on materials, 641 more cost. What is left after volume: what was paid for the same work, imported material included.

What this page can prove about itself

PASSThe bridge adds to the net revenue variance. steps -2,280 against variance -2,280
PASSTrade spend by customer ties to the trade promotion line. customers -9,090 against the line -9,090
PASSTrade over spend by customer ties to the trade promotion variance. over spend -1,120 against variance -1,120
PASSGross profit equals net revenue less cost of goods sold. 31,410 less 21,946 is 9,464
PASSEBITDA equals gross profit less operating expenses. 9,464 less 7,020 is 2,444
PASSCost of goods sold drivers add to its variance. drivers +6 against variance +6
PASSEvery percentage and basis point is computed from unrounded figures, once. net revenue shown as one figure everywhere on the page

Suikerbos monthly results Aug26 (from Sage).xlsx, tabs P&L export and Trade spend export. Every line below is the sum of its own accounts in that file.
Suikerbos Confectionery (Pty) Ltd is invented for this dashboard. Every customer, figure and event in it was made up.