MARKET NEWS

Register now for the inaugural SA Chef Conference & Expo

The inaugural trade event, SA Chef Conference & Expo, will take place at the Protea Hotel Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge on 25 and 26 November.

Hosted by SA Chef Media in partnership with the South African Chefs Association and the City of Cape Town, this groundbreaking event is tailored for restaurant owners and executive chefs. The event will convene South Africa’s culinary leaders, from fine dining establishments to hotel and conference centre chefs and SMMEs, to explore business solutions, growth strategies, the latest trends and innovations in professional kitchens, and how to unlock the economic potential of Gastronomy Tourism.

Lance Gibbons, director of SA Chef Media, said this event provides a platform for business owners and executive chefs to break down barriers and foster connections within the culinary industry. The event provides a stage, where delegates can delve into current issues that are affecting the sector and discover strategies and best practices to better serve their customers.

One of the key issues that will be discussed is how to package South Africa as a gastronomical destination, highlighting cultural heritage. This will be addressed during the workshop taking place on the second day, in collaboration with SA Tourism. “Finding the identity of South Africa’s gastronomical sector is key and will be the foundation of the workshop,” Mr Gibbons said.

This event is open to everyone involved in the sector.

Key objectives of the conference include:

• Sharing solutions to the business challenges faced by the restaurant industry, including strategies to recession-proof and mitigate the impact of seasonality.

• Driving innovation and sustainability by exploring new technology solutions, products, services, and culinary trends.

• Developing a concrete plan to position South Africa as a premier gastronomic destination and enhance our share of the culinary tourism market.

Who should attend: Restaurant owners, executive chefs, cooks and caterers, hospitality GMs, culinary and tourism stakeholders, culinary industry suppliers, vendors, and support services.

Featured speakers will include renowned executive chefs and restaurateurs such as Pete Goffe-Wood, Reuben Riffel, Zola Nene, Justine Drake, Coo Pillay, Liam Tomlin, Chris Erasmus, Pete Ayub, Gregory Henderson, along with senior representatives from SA Tourism, the City of Cape Town, Cape Town Tourism and other tourism and hospitality associations.

As the official voice of the SA Chefs Association, we will also be hosting the Cape Town leg of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the association and its significant contributions to the culinary industry with a Gala Dinner and Awards.