From kelp skincare to foraged cocktails: Cape Town gets a glimpse of the future at The Good Life Show

What do kelp-powered skincare, foraged cocktails, plant-based African cuisine, functional wellness products, and beauty innovations inspired by nature have in common? They were among the discoveries drawing thousands of visitors to this year’s Good Life Show, offering a powerful glimpse of how African innovation is reshaping the future of conscious living.

From 29 to 31 May, the Cape Town International Convention Centre became a vibrant showcase of creativity, sustainability and entrepreneurship as food lovers, wellness enthusiasts, home cooks, conscious consumers and curious explorers gathered for Africa’s leading sustainable food, beverage and lifestyle event.

Far from being simply another exhibition, The Good Life Show has evolved into a platform where visitors can experience emerging consumer trends firsthand, meet the people behind pioneering brands, and discover products and ideas that are changing the way people eat, shop, cook, care for themselves, and live.

This year’s event reflected a growing movement towards conscious living, but with a distinctly African flavour.

Across the exhibition floor, visitors encountered everything from indigenous botanicals and honey-based products to natural beauty ranges, gluten-free foods, plant-based innovations, functional beverages and wellness products rooted in traditional knowledge and locally sourced ingredients.

Many of the products on display reflected a broader trend highlighted throughout the show: African entrepreneurs are increasingly combining innovation, sustainability and indigenous knowledge to create products that are not only attracting local consumers but also generating growing international interest.

As the official Host City, Cape Town has embraced this momentum as part of its vision of building an economy of well-being that supports entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable growth.

Opening the event, Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said industries linked to wellness, healthy living, organic products and conscious consumerism are creating important opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

“Events like The Good Life Show provide an important platform for entrepreneurs, local producers and emerging brands to showcase their products, connect with new customers, access new markets and grow their businesses,” he said.

One of the biggest attractions was the new IMBO Theatre of Taste, an immersive 360-degree culinary experience that transformed visitors from spectators into participants.

Across three days of demonstrations, tastings and interactive masterclasses, guests cooked, learned and engaged directly with some of Africa’s most celebrated culinary innovators, discovering new ingredients, practical techniques and fresh ideas for everyday meals.

The programme featured an impressive line-up including Nigerian food sensation Chef T, Food Network star Jenny Morris, Peter Goffe-Wood, Chris Erasmus, Roushanna Gray, Gregory Henderson, Solina Moodley, Black Garlic Chef Clara and Constantijn Hahndiek.

Visitors were treated to an extraordinary culinary journey that ranged from vegetable egusi with oat swallow and coconut vegetable rice with tofu to nori tempura, plantain burgers, poached guava with tapioca coconut porridge and Kalahari truffle samp risotto, showcasing the creativity and diversity shaping the future of food.

For Theatre of Taste sponsor IMBO, visitor responses highlighted a growing appetite for healthier, more mindful food choices.

“IMBO as a brand is all about giving people the edge through Every Day Good Eating. It has been wonderful partnering with The Good Life Show to bring education and inspiration to people in a really engaging way. We have received such wonderful feedback about the versatility of our range and the types of meals that can be created and elevated, as demonstrated by the incredible chefs over the three-day show. We can’t wait to bring more of this amazing content to the next audience in Johannesburg,” said Sharu Sobie, Marketing Manager at PepsiCo South Africa.

Another crowd favourite was the Wild & Stirred Foraging Bar, where visitors embarked on a sensory journey through South Africa’s remarkable botanical landscape.

Guests selected indigenous ingredients, wild flavours and locally inspired botanicals before partnering with expert mixologists to create bespoke cocktails tailored to their tastes. Equal parts theatre, storytelling and sustainability, the experience celebrated the richness of local ingredients while introducing visitors to new ways of thinking about flavour.

Beyond the tasting experiences and masterclasses, the Show offered visitors the chance to discover some of the country’s most exciting emerging and established brands.

From innovative wellness products and natural skincare ranges to honey-based creations, indigenous botanical products, gluten-free foods, functional nutrition, sustainable beverages and environmentally conscious lifestyle solutions, the exhibition floor became a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration for consumers seeking healthier, more sustainable choices.

For many visitors, one of the highlights was the opportunity to meet the makers behind the products; the entrepreneurs, innovators and creators whose passion and purpose are helping redefine the future of conscious living in Africa.

The innovation on display wasn’t attracting attention only from consumers.

Buyers from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America also attended the event, reflecting growing international interest in African wellness, food and lifestyle products. The same brands, ingredients and ideas exciting visitors on the exhibition floor were also attracting attention from buyers seeking innovative products with strong sustainability, wellness and provenance credentials.

For many exhibitors, the show offered a rare opportunity to connect directly with both consumers and potential international partners, reinforcing The Good Life Show’s unique role as a platform for discovery, growth and opportunity.

According to Heidi Warricker, Chief Events Officer at Live Events and organiser of The Good Life Show, the enthusiasm shown by visitors reflected a broader shift taking place among consumers.

“What makes The Good Life Show so special is that it brings together every aspect of conscious living in one place. Visitors can discover exciting new foods and beverages, meet the people behind innovative local brands, learn from some of Africa’s most inspiring culinary talent and explore practical ways to live more sustainably.

“What was particularly exciting this year was seeing how curious people were. Visitors weren’t simply browsing products or watching demonstrations, they were asking questions, learning new skills, meeting producers and discovering products and ideas they had never encountered before.

“For many exhibitors, those same conversations were happening with international buyers and potential partners. That’s what makes The Good Life Show unique. It creates a space where consumers, creators, entrepreneurs and industry leaders come together around a shared interest in innovation, sustainability and better living.”

As the final tastings were shared and visitors headed home inspired by new flavours, fresh ideas and meaningful connections, one thing became clear: the future of conscious living is not being imported from elsewhere.

Increasingly, it is being imagined, created and shared right here in Africa.

For those who missed the Cape Town edition, The Good Life Show now heads to Johannesburg, where it will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 18 to 20 September 2026.

Tickets are available at https://qkt.io/GoodLifeShowAfrica-Johannesburg2026.

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