Scoops of Purpose: How Sine Ndlela Turned Ice Cream into Joy and Resilience with YoCoco
Scoops of Purpose: How Sine Ndlela Turned Ice Cream into Joy and Resilience with YoCoco. When Sinenhlanhla Ndlela realized the dairy-free ice cream she craved did not exist, she decided to make it herself. What began in her Johannesburg apartment in 2016 became YoCoco, a fun-loving, dairy-free ice cream brand rooted in intention, ethics, and pure joy.
A Scoop of Love from Day One
Sine’s journey began after she removed dairy from her diet on health advice. Missing ice cream sparked reflection on childhood memories: her mom, a young mother, would bring her ice cream after school. That memory became the mission behind YoCoco: serve love through scoops. She tested recipes at her apartment, inviting neighbours from the elevator to taste her creations. That casual feedback loop sparked a movement.
Crafting Intentional Flavours
From the very beginning, YoCoco was more than just dessert. Sine infused the brand with care and meaning, each flavour is loosely based on one of the seven chakras, pairing taste with energy, and the packaging is playful yet eco-conscious. Local ingredients shape their recipe, and the brand champions vegan and dairy-free values without compromising fun.
Milestones on the Road to Recognition
- 2016 Launch in an Apartment
YoCoco started in Sine’s home, with early tasters from the building elevator and a clear intention to “serve love through scoops.” - Rapid Flavour Expansion and Local Markets
As spoons were passed from apartment to market stalls, YoCoco grew its offerings: chocolate, beetroot chocolate, mixed berries, vanilla, golden milk, granadilla, all free of dairy, eggs, and artificial colours. - Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans (2019)
By age 23, Sine had mastered production, distribution, and retail, all without formal ice cream training. - Expansion Across Gauteng, Cape Town, Durban
YoCoco products now grace shelves in five stores across Johannesburg and Cape Town and even in Ballito in KwaZulu-Natal. - Smart Pivot to E-commerce During Lockdown
When COVID lockdown hit, Sine moved fast by launching online sales. Deliveries started in Gauteng, with the mission to provide relief, selling 1,000 tubs funded meals for child-headed homes and disabled individuals.
Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
YoCoco’s path has been anything but smooth. Sine faced steep learning curves, fellouts with partners, unaffordable premises, self-doubt after leaving jobs, and COVID disruptions. Yet she leaned into resilience and community. She embraced her introvert side, letting the brand’s playful energy shine while staying true to its values.
Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- Serve a deeper why
YoCoco is not just vegan ice cream, it’s about recreating emotional memories and sharing love. - Start small, test fast
Sine began in her apartment, asking neighbours for feedback. That low-risk iteration paved the way forward. - Let values drive your brand
Chakra-inspired flavours, eco-friendly packaging, and vegan ethics created coherence and loyalty. - Be adaptable in the face of crisis
The sudden pivot to e-commerce during lockdown preserved YoCoco’s growth and community impact. - Build a business from authenticity
When social messages matter, consumers respond. YoCoco’s alignment with ethical consumption and community care grounds trust. - Own your mistakes and keep going
Sine’s early missteps, failed partnerships, tough decisions, became lessons, not endings.
A Sweet Future Ahead
Today, YoCoco represents more than curated vegan scoops, it stands for joy, purpose, wellness, and resilience. From humble beginnings in an apartment to scooping love across South Africa, Sinenhlanhla Ndlela turned a personal memory into a brand with cultural weight. For entrepreneurs rooted in values, this journey offers proof that authenticity and perseverance can build something both meaningful and delicious.
