Sorbet
Sorbet is a South African beauty-services chain operating salons and specialist grooming formats under the ownership of Clicks Group.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Sorbet, officially known as Sorbet Group, is a South African chain of beauty and personal-grooming businesses. It was established in 2005 by entrepreneur Ian Fuhr, who acquired and rebranded six existing beauty salons using proceeds from the sale of his Super Mart store brand to Edcon Group. From that initial base, Sorbet developed a multi-format, predominantly franchise-operated network serving consumers across South Africa. The brand's offer is built around accessible, professionally delivered personal-care services rather than a single product category. Its network includes conventional Sorbet salons, Sorbet Nailbar locations focused on nail care, Sorbet Hairbar locations focused on hair services, Sorbet MAN locations aimed at male grooming, and Candi&Co. The group also supplies products from a range of international personal-care brands and has developed Sorbet-branded goods for sale through its own stores and Clicks outlets. Sorbet's ownership changed several times as the business expanded. In 2015, Clicks acquired a 25% interest in Sorbet Brands, the entity holding the brand's intellectual property. In 2017, Sorbet was acquired by Long4Life, which was subsequently acquired by Old Mutual Private Equity. Founder Ian Fuhr left the business in February 2019 and later established The Hatch Institute. In November 2022, Clicks announced an agreement to acquire Sorbet Holdings from Old Mutual Private Equity for R105 million. The acquisition was presented as a strategic fit with Clicks' existing retail and health-and-beauty footprint. It also connected Sorbet to the Clicks ClubCard loyalty programme and supported the introduction of a Sorbet-branded product range sold exclusively through Sorbet and Clicks stores. The transaction was approved by South Africa's Competition Commission subject to conditions concerning black ownership among franchisees, local manufacturing, staff training, and support for historically disadvantaged franchise operators. Clicks did not acquire Sorbet Independent Salons, which continued to operate independently from the franchise network. Sorbet remains active in South Africa and operates more than 200 stores across its formats. The group reported performing approximately 3.6 million beauty treatments per year as of 2025. Its positioning combines salon convenience, recognizable national branding, franchise-based local operation, and integration with Clicks' broader retail ecosystem.
History
Sorbet was founded in South Africa in 2005 by Ian Fuhr. Its starting point was the purchase and rebranding of six existing beauty salons. Fuhr financed the expansion with proceeds from selling his Super Mart store brand to Edcon Group. The concept developed into a branded salon network designed to make professionally delivered beauty services available through a consistent national format. During its expansion, Sorbet broadened beyond general salon services. The group established specialist formats including Sorbet Nailbar for nail treatments, Sorbet Hairbar for hair services, Sorbet MAN for men's grooming, and Candi&Co. The business operated primarily through a franchise model, allowing individual operators to run locations within a common brand and service framework. Sorbet also supplied products from various international personal-care companies and later developed its own branded merchandise. Clicks became involved in 2015 by acquiring a 25% shareholding in Sorbet Brands, the company responsible for Sorbet's intellectual property. In 2017, ownership transferred to Long4Life. Long4Life was later acquired by Old Mutual Private Equity, which became the seller in the subsequent Clicks transaction. Fuhr remained associated with Sorbet for 14 years before leaving in February 2019 to establish The Hatch Institute. In November 2022, Clicks announced its agreement to buy Sorbet Holdings from Old Mutual Private Equity for R105 million. Clicks described the deal as a natural strategic fit because Sorbet's beauty-services footprint complemented Clicks' established health-and-beauty retail presence. The acquisition also created opportunities to connect Sorbet with the Clicks ClubCard loyalty programme and to distribute Sorbet-branded products through both businesses. The South African Competition Commission approved the transaction subject to conditions. These included measures intended to advance black ownership across Sorbet franchises, increase local manufacturing of Sorbet-branded products, provide specified staff training, and support the entry of franchisees from historically disadvantaged groups. Clicks agreed to fund start-up costs for at least five such franchisees. Sorbet Independent Salons were excluded from the acquisition and continued independently from the acquired franchise operation. By 2025, Sorbet operated more than 200 stores across South Africa and reported approximately 3.6 million beauty treatments annually across its formats. The brand's current model combines salon and grooming services, franchise participation, product sales, and integration with Clicks' retail and loyalty infrastructure.
- 2025
More than 200 stores and 3.6 million annual treatments
[1]Sorbet is described as operating more than 200 South African stores and performing approximately 3.6 million treatments annually.
- 2022
Clicks agrees to acquire Sorbet Holdings
[1]Clicks announces a R105 million acquisition of Sorbet Holdings from Old Mutual Private Equity.
- 2022
Regulatory approval with franchise conditions
[1]The Competition Commission approves the transaction subject to commitments concerning ownership, local production, training, and franchise development.
- 2019
Founder departs
[1]Ian Fuhr leaves Sorbet in February after 14 years and later establishes The Hatch Institute.
- 2017
Long4Life acquires Sorbet
[1]Sorbet becomes part of Long4Life as its branded salon network continues to expand.
- 2015
Clicks takes a minority stake
[1]Clicks acquires 25% of Sorbet Brands, the entity holding Sorbet's intellectual property.
- 2005
Sorbet is founded
[1]Ian Fuhr establishes Sorbet after acquiring and rebranding six existing beauty salons.
Products and positioning
A nationally recognized, accessible South African beauty-services network combining salon, hair, nail, and grooming formats with franchise operations and Clicks retail integration.
Beauty salons · 2005
Sorbet salons
The core Sorbet salon format provides a broad range of beauty and personal-care treatments through a standardized branded environment. Locations form the foundation of the group's South African network and operate primarily through franchise arrangements.
Nail care
Sorbet Nailbar
Sorbet Nailbar is the group's specialist nail-care format. It focuses the customer experience on services such as manicures and related nail treatments within a dedicated Sorbet-branded setting.
Hair care
Sorbet Hairbar
Sorbet Hairbar is a specialist hair-services format within the Sorbet network. It extends the brand into dedicated hair-focused locations while retaining the group's national operating and franchise identity.
Men's grooming
Sorbet MAN
Sorbet MAN is the group's male-grooming format, designed around personal-care and grooming services for men. It broadens Sorbet's customer proposition beyond its general beauty-salon base.
Beauty services
Candi&Co
Candi&Co is a further salon and beauty-services format operated within the Sorbet Group portfolio. It sits alongside the group's general salon, hair, nail, and men's grooming concepts.
Personal-care products · 2022
Sorbet-branded personal-care products
Following Clicks' acquisition, Sorbet-branded products were introduced for exclusive distribution through Sorbet and Clicks stores. The range complements the group's service business and links salon usage with retail purchasing.
Brand decisions
2022
Clicks chooses to acquire Sorbet HoldingsM&ABackground
Clicks already held a minority interest in Sorbet Brands and identified the salon chain as complementary to its health-and-beauty retail operations.
Action taken
Clicks agreed to purchase Sorbet Holdings from Old Mutual Private Equity for R105 million. The transaction excluded Sorbet Independent Salons.
Aftermath
The acquisition brought Sorbet into Clicks' ownership, enabled ClubCard rewards at Sorbet, and supported an exclusive Sorbet-branded product range in Clicks and Sorbet stores.
Acquisition price. R105 million (Announced November 2022)
2022
Integration with Clicks loyalty and retail channelsStrategyBackground
The ownership change created an opportunity to connect Sorbet's service network with Clicks' existing customer and retail infrastructure.
Action taken
Customers began receiving Clicks ClubCard rewards points at Sorbet, and a Sorbet-branded product range was introduced for exclusive sale through Sorbet and Clicks stores.
Aftermath
Sorbet's salon proposition was expanded with a direct loyalty-programme connection and a retail product extension.
Recent events
- 2022
Clicks announces acquisition of Sorbet Holdings[1]
M&A
Clicks announced that it would purchase Sorbet Holdings from Old Mutual Private Equity for R105 million. The transaction covered the main Sorbet business but excluded Sorbet Independent Salons.
- 2022
Competition Commission approves Clicks' Sorbet acquisition with conditions[1]
Regulation · M&A
Approval of the acquisition included conditions relating to black ownership among Sorbet franchisees, local manufacturing of Sorbet-branded products, employee training, and financial support for new franchisees from historically disadvantaged groups.
- 2022
Sorbet-linked products introduced through Clicks and Sorbet stores[1]
Product launch
Following the Clicks transaction, a Sorbet-branded product range was introduced for exclusive sale through Clicks and Sorbet stores, while customers became eligible to earn Clicks ClubCard rewards points at Sorbet.
- 2019
Ian Fuhr leaves Sorbet to establish The Hatch Institute[1]
Leadership change
After 14 years with the business, founder Ian Fuhr departed Sorbet in February 2019 and later founded The Hatch Institute.
- 2017
Sorbet acquired by Long4Life[1]
M&A
Long4Life acquired Sorbet as the beauty-services chain continued expanding its branded and franchise-based network.
- 2015
Clicks acquires a 25% stake in Sorbet Brands[1]
M&A
Clicks acquired a minority interest in Sorbet Brands, the company holding Sorbet's intellectual property, establishing an early ownership connection between the retail group and the beauty chain.
Sources1 sources
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