Calling all foodies, health buffs, and eco-warriors! The Good Life Show (now in its 5th year) is your ticket to a world of delicious discoveries and mindful living. Whether you’re a passionate individual exploring the joys of food and wellness or a trade professional hunting for the next big thing in retail and foodservice, this event is your playground.
The success of the Cape Town leg of The Good Life Show this year has once again solidified its reputation as Southern Africa’s leading platform for sustainable and progressive consumer trends.
Featuring a variety of activities that engaged attendees, the event is said to have attracted an impressive crowd over the course of the event held at the CTICC from 30 May to 1 June.
About the Good Life Show
The Good Life Show is a highly anticipated annual event celebrating the plant-based, natural, and organic industries of South Africa, supporting small businesses as the wellness sector grows.
The Good Life Show is considered Southern Africa’s largest event of its kind, featuring innovative products, chef demos, mixology sessions, and expert wellness advice. Attendees can explore exciting food and beverages, wellness products, and eco-friendly living ideas, making it a unique culinary, health, wellness, and sustainability event.
Activities at The Good Life Show in Cape Town
The show appears to have successfully united a diverse range of industry participants, including exhibitors, suppliers, chefs, wellness experts, and thought leaders. This collaboration fostered a vibrant atmosphere for B2B interactions, consumer engagement, brand enhancement, and product visibility.
Who was there?
Over the course of three days, the event attracted hundreds of enthusiastic and highly engaged attendees, including members of the public, food service professionals, retailers, wellness entrepreneurs, and product developers. All were eager to connect with innovative brands dedicated to plant-based, organic, natural, ethical, and sustainable solutions. The atmosphere throughout the venue was lively, with an abundance of positive feedback from both trade visitors and the general public.
Highlights of the Cape Town show
Marketplace – Among the many highlights was said to be the vibrant Marketplace, featuring a mouthwatering array of food and drinks, cutting-edge wellness products, and sustainable lifestyle options.
Live cooking demos – The Woolworths Good Life Kitchen with Eat Well, led by cookbook author Amy Hoppy, enchanted audiences with live cooking demonstrations from renowned chefs such as Bettina Campolucci Bordi, Jameson Stocks, Abigail Donnelly, Jenny Morris, and Luke Lawrence Barry.
Masterclasses – Visitors enjoyed engaging Masterclasses conducted by celebrity chef Jenny Morris, which included lively cooking and mixology sessions filled with fun, flavour, and flair. Meanwhile, the “Wellbeing, for Everyone” Talks, organised by Wellness Warehouse in collaboration with Holistica Magazine, captivated audiences with enlightening discussions on various topics, including yoga, sustainability, and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Chef lineup – A star-studded chef lineup included international culinary pioneers Dr. Aris LaTham and Jameson Stocks, alongside local talents Greg Henderson, Ru Furusa, and Siphiwe Sithole. Woolworths chefs Anita Van Wyk, Lehanie Müller, Mika Zorgman, and Monique Malan showcased their culinary skills and nutrition expertise.
Overall vibe of The Good Life Show in Cape Town
Cape Town exhibitor feedback was highly positive, with brands praising the event’s organisation, audience quality, and impact on their businesses. Many found the experience energetic and well-coordinated. The strong engagement from health-conscious attendees meant that exhibitors effectively got to build brand awareness, enhance brand visibility, and educate people about their products.
Show producer Heidi Warricker (of Live Events) expressed thanks to all involved in what she deemed a “high-impact event” – and it seems some of the Cape Town sponsors and partners would agree.
Riana Andrews (SA Chef Media) stated it was “a fantastic opportunity to witness the incredible progress in plant-based and sustainable cooking and products” while Marisa Munroe (Woolworths) said that bringing their Eat Well brand to life with activities like live demos and expert tastings helped them to promote “conscious consumption, everyday wellbeing, and future-focused nutrition” at their Woolworths Good Life Kitchen.
Monique Chinnah (Senior Manager for Segment Design and Development, at SimplyBiz® powered by Nedbank) said that the Nedbank sponsored pavilion gave entrepreneurial businesses the “invaluable experience of engaging with a highly receptive audience.”
Layla Singh (Wellness Warehouse) stated that through the topics discussed in their Wellbeing for Everyone Talks in association with Holistica Magazine, Wellness Warehouse was given “an exciting opportunity to connect with the broader community and contribute to on going conversations about wellbeing.”
Fun fact: The plant-based market is projected to grow by $13 billion by 2026! *mind blown*
After Cape Town’s success, it seems like Joburg is in for a treat at the Kyalami International Convention Centre, from 1 – 3 August. You can book your Joburg tickets on Quicket for R175.
Visitors can mingle with famous local and international chefs, discovering products and services in a lively, entertaining, and engaging way. It’s definitely a great way to become familiar with the many exceptional food, beverage, and conscious living brands that are making waves in South Africa.
