Welcome to South African Food Stories

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Proudly South African and deliciously personal. Join your host Nicci Robertson as she explores the rich cultural tapestry that is South African food culture. Listen in on conversations with industry leaders while they discuss passion, perseverance and the challenges of being an entrepreneur in the food and hospitality industry. Subscribe wherever you listen to or watch your favourite podcast - official launch is 8 March 2026.
12 Feb English South Africa Food · Business

Other recent episodes

EP9 - What It Takes to Produce World Class Olive Oil - with Brenda Wilkinson

In this episode of South African Food Stories, Nicci Robertson chats to Brenda Wilkinson, co-founder of Rio Largo Olive Estate, to unpack the unexpected journey that lead to building one of South Africa’s most recognised olive oil brands. With no background in farming, food production, or retail, the Wilkinson family…
3 May 44 min

EP8 - Purpose Beats Product, The Ocean Basket Playbook with Grace Harding

What if everything you think makes a restaurant successful… is completely wrong? In this episode, Nicci Robertson sits down with Grace Harding, the woman behind Ocean Basket’s explosive global growth, and she drops a truth most people in food don’t want to hear: - It’s NOT about the food. -…
26 Apr 42 min

EP 7 - From Fast Food to Real Food, How Gary Jackson is Reinventing How We Buy Food

In this episode of South African Food Stories, Nicci Robertson chats with Jackson’s Real Food Market founder, Gary Jackson, to explore how a personal health crisis led him to rethink everything he believed about food. From chronic illness to clarity, Gary shares how real, unprocessed food became the catalyst for…
17 Apr 1 hr 05 min

EP 6 - Corporate Exit to Culinary Icon, Zanele Van Zyl Unfiltered

Rejected by publishers, she backed herself, and sold out 300 cookbooks in a single weekend. In this episode of SA Food Stories, Zanele Van Zyl sits down with Nicci Robertson to unpack the real story behind her rise, from IT professional to one of South Africa’s most recognisable food voices…
13 Apr 20 min