Alexandra Masterclass Sparks Township Gastronomy Growth at SA Chef Conference & Expo 2025

AAs part of the SA Chef Conference & Expo 2025 held in Sandton last week, SA Chef Media in partnership with the Wakanda Food Accelerator hosted a high-impact masterclass in Alexandra, Johannesburg, with support from South African Tourism (SA Tourism) and the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB). The initiative aimed to spotlight township gastronomy and unlock economic opportunities in VTSD communities - Villages, Townships, and Small Dorpies - with Alexandra positioned as a vibrant, emerging culinary hub.

The Masterclass: A Catalyst for Economic Opportunity

Held at the YES Ulusha Hub, a youth innovation centre equipped with a training kitchen and textile manufacturing facilities, the masterclass brought together township-based food entrepreneurs and a delegation of industry leaders, including established chefs, restaurateurs, caterers, distributors and food suppliers.

The session focused on practical, solution-oriented discussions designed to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses and products. Key themes included:

• Access to Market: Entrepreneurs engaged directly with chefs and buyers to understand what independent restaurants and hotel chains look for — from packaging and consistency to pricing and delivery reliability.
• Health and Safety Compliance: A health and safety expert unpacked Health and Safety regulations and shared actionable tips on hygiene, documentation, and food handling - essential for entering formal supply chains.
• Funding and Financial Systems: With many township businesses operating in cash-heavy environments, Tyme Bank presented bespoke financial solutions tailored to informal traders. These included tools for managing cash flow, digitizing transactions, and accessing micro-loans.

This direct engagement resulted in leads and opportunities for the entrepreneurs, many of whom connected with distributors and suppliers interested in their products, as well as pathways to explore culinary tours and food events in Alexandra.

Entrepreneurial Exposure at the Conference

Beyond the masterclass, five entrepreneurs from the Wakanda Food Accelerator exhibited their products at the two-day SA Chef Conference & Expo, while others attended as delegates. This gave them access to high-level panel discussions, networking sessions, and exposure to buyers and partners across the food value chain.

Community-Centered Innovation: Gcwalisa Shops

As part of the Alexandra programme, delegates also toured Gcwalisa shops, Wakanda’s micro-retail initiative that allows community members to buy essential goods in small quantities - such as R5 worth of grain or a single nappy. This model supports food security and economic dignity, while inspiring chefs and financial partners to explore new ways of supporting township communities.

Mapaseka Mabote, Programmes Manager at Wakanda said: “For the past three days, it has been a great experience for the Accelerator, especially the SMMEs that we brought in to exhibit and to attend the SA Chef Conference & Expo. It was very insightful. They learned a lot and the good thing also is that some of them got good connections and access to market.”

Cindy Jarvis, General Manager at SA Chef Media, added: “We are proud to partner with a forward-thinking, solutions-driven organisation like the Wakanda Food Accelerator to advance our mission of promoting inclusive tourism, culinary innovation, and entrepreneurial development. With the support of stakeholders such as SA Tourism and the culinary and tourism industries, SA Chef Media will continue to create platforms that connect emerging talent with industry leaders, helping to reshape South Africa’s food and tourism landscape from the ground up.”

Get Involved

To partner with SA Chef Media or for more information about upcoming initiatives, please contact Cindy Jarvis at cindy@filmeventmedia.co.za