10 South African Entrepreneurs Dominating The Food And Beverage Industry
10 South African Entrepreneurs Dominating The Food And Beverage Industry. These entrepreneurs have not only built successful businesses but also brought innovation and sustainability to the forefront of South Africa’s food and beverage industry. Here are ten South African entrepreneurs who are making a significant impact in the food and beverage industry:
Koni Maliehe
Founder of Koni Wines, a Cape Town-based wine brand gaining traction with a strong client base. Koni Wines is one of the few female black-owned wine brands. Koni Wines is synonymous with consistent quality.
Bilqees Essa
Comessa Food Services (Pty) Ltd was co-founded in 2005 by Bilqees Essa and is based in Capricorn Park, Cape Town, South Africa. The company has grown from a small family business to a global leader in flatbread production. Using bespoke baking equipment, in combination with an unparalleled understanding of flatbreads, it produces a range of high-quality, great-tasting products. No task is too small or too big, as the company has the capacity to handle large quantities. This is why it can proudly supply leading retail chains such as Pick n Pay, Checkers, Spar, Food Lovers Market, as well as Hospitality and Food Services Companies, nationwide and in Africa.
Ntsiki Biyela
Aslina Wines is the realization of a dream by Ntsiki Biyela, an award-winning winemaker, who is one of the first black women winemakers in South Africa. Aslina is the name of Ntsiki’s grandmother, whose care and guidance gave her the inspiration to succeed in life and in business.
Lebona Moleli
Mohope Brew is a 100% black owned craft beer company in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company is a proudly South African company which prides itself in the core values of economic empowerment and wealth creation. The company was founded in 2019 by Lebona Moleli, a natural scientist turned serial entrepreneur with business interests in advertising, media, marketing and property.
Itumeleng Mpatlanyana
Itumeleng Mpatlanyana is the founder of Nkukhu Box, a home of grilled chicken embracing Kasi “township” flavours and lifestyle. The company brings quality food and flavours’ originating from the townships, inspired by its own stories and origin. The company is a proud fast food brand born from African townships “e’Kasi”, with an understanding of the township pallet and needs. The brand aims to share its own local stories with the world.
Siwela Sweetness Masoga
Siwela Sweetness Masoga is a biotechnologist, winemaker and owner (CEO) of Siwela Wines Pty Ltd. Siwela Wines is a proudly South African, female black owned wine company. The company is passionate about what it does as it strives to produce unique and accessible wines with consistent quality.
Alessandro Mosupi Khojane
Gemelli Restaurant was founded on the concept of great, wholesome Italian food for the entire family. Founder, Alessandro Mosupi Khojane grew up in Roma, Italy, around a large family who enjoyed entertaining friends, which sparked his own love for people and food. With over 10 years in the industry, Alessandro has developed a passion for seeing truly happy customers enjoying their food experience.
Sihle Magubane
Sihle Magubane is the founder of Sihle’s Brew. This unique coffee brewery, has its company’s specialty blends made from start to finish by coffee originator, roaster and barista Sihle Magubane. He personally selects the beans and blends, roasts and retails them himself. Sihle’s Brew is South Africa’s first individually black-owned coffee brand. Sihle Magubane’s life was turned around when his adventures in coffee began a decade ago. Almost by chance in 2003 he was selected for training at the Ciro Coffee Academy, where he obtained the comprehensive International Barista Certificate through City & Guilds, an internationally accredited training body.
Greig Jansen
Founder of Pura Beverages, a company offering low-sugar soft drinks catering to health-conscious consumers. The company is based in Cape Town, South Africa and it manufactures, distributes, markets and sells “better for you” beverages. This better for you category ( Evolved Refreshment ) is based on global consumer, market research and trends and represents the evolution of beverages, which is rapidly changing consumer drinking habits across the globe.
Carmen Stevens
Carmen Stevens Wines was established in 2011 with its maiden vintage in 2014. Carmen Stevens has been in the South African Wine Industry since qualifying in 1995. Carmen graduated as the first black South African to study the art of winemaking in South Africa. In January 2019, Carmen registered the first 100% black-owned winery in South Africa in the picturesque Stellenbosch.
