Profile - Creating flavours of India.

The dynamic Gillian Downes entrepreneur, businesswoman and food lover.

FOOD PROFILE CREATING FLAVOURS OF

By Anthea Campbell

We chat to Gillian Downes entrepreneur, businesswoman, food lover, who has a zest for life from “Spice and All Things Nice” about her flavoursome journey to developing all things nice and spicey.

EBL: PLEASE SHARE WITH OUR READERS A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?

Gillian: I started my business 17 years ago in my mum’s kitchen in Newlands. I studied a business degree but was always interested in food and nutrition. My business was born out of my passion for food, health and business. My parents brought us up to believe that we could achieve anything we set our minds on!

EBL: WHAT MADE YOU START YOUR BUSINESS, WAS IT A LIGHT BULB MOMENT?

Gillian: It was definitely a light bulb moment. Just a strong sense of I need to follow my heart and be master of my own destiny. Weirdly a strong pull towards spices – almost an epiphany.

EBL: WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THE BRAND?

Gillian: There is a wonderful story behind the brand. I discovered the Balti Curry (which is my signature product) when I was on a holiday down in Torquay in England. I was so blown away by this magnificent curry that I bought all my own spices from a little spice shop in Oxford and a recipe book. When I got back to SA, I started making my own Balti masalas and made the curries for my family and friends. It was an instant hit and well, the rest is history!

EBL: DID YOU RESEARCH YOUR 'IDEA/ CONCEPT' EXTENSIVELY?

Gillian: I did and I was even more determined to build a business around it when I read about the spice routes and ancient spice trading and how they would make the simplest meals delicious with these incredible spice blends.

EBL: WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE TRIUMPH?

Gillian: My number one triumph is getting my product into some of the top delis in the world and managing to keep going when the going gets tough! Always having the faith!

EBL: DID YOU GO ON A SPECIALISED COURSE TO LEARN A NEW SKILLS OR WAS IT LEARNING AS WENT ALONG? Gillian: All learning through trial and error!

EBL: DO YOU USE LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES TO MAKE YOUR VARIOUS PRODUCTS?

Gillian: All local people and some lovely Zimbabwean ladies!!

EBL: CAN CUSTOMERS PLACE A BESPOKE ORDER?

Gillian: Totally. Go to www.spice.co.za - we deliver or you can collect

EBL: WHERE CAN CUSTOMERS BUY YOUR PRODUCTS?

Gillian: Pick n Pay / Spar / Dischem / Wellness Warehouse / Faithful to Nature / Buyfresh / Yuppiechef / The Refillery