How two young entrepreneurs turned their passion for healthy eating into Cape Town’s favourite conscious living destination – Wildsprout! 

What started as a tiny café on Loop Street has blossomed into something much bigger than Candice Coles, a young entrepreneur, could have imagined. “There were little to no restaurants available that offered genuinely healthy food made using wholefoods, offering a decent sit-down experience,” Candice reflects. So, they created one. 

From that first small space, her brother Dean joined, and Wildsprout has grown into three bustling restaurant-delis across Cape Town (Kenilworth, Constantia, and Sea Point), plus a factory churning out healthy frozen meals and baked goods that you’ll find stocked in retailers across the Western Cape and beyond.

 

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Wildsprout is not just about the food, it’s about creating a space where conscious living feels accessible. “Young customers have loved this offering,” Candice says about their unique café-grocery hybrid concept. “They could trust that no matter what they were ordering from the restaurant or grabbing from the grocery store, they would be getting a healthy, local and quality product.” 

Dean and Candice believe that young people are driving South Africa’s sustainable food revolution. “The younger generation has often shown a deeper understanding of healthy food and willingness to educate themselves,” Dean notes. And their customers prove these daily – young patrons are the most adventurous, often discovering “hidden gems” like the Superboost drink or matcha lattes, and sharing them on social media. But it’s not just about what’s trending. It’s about a generation that asks questions: Where does my food come from? How was it made? What impact does it have? This curiosity is reshaping how we think about food entirely, and how we consume it.

 

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The future looks bright (and green) for Wildsprout, while they are focusing on growing their online presence, don’t be surprised if more physical locations pop up. “Interacting with our amazing customers is always enjoyable, so who knows, maybe another branch or two,” Dean muses. Their product range keeps expanding too, from their popular frozen meals like Beef Bolognese and Chilli Non-Carne to eco-friendly homeware and personal care products. It’s all part of their mission to make conscious living accessible to young adults starting their environmentally aware journeys.  

Dean and Candice’s advice for young entrepreneurs is refreshingly practical: 

• Back yourself, with confidence and research. Have faith in your vision but ground it in solid business fundamentals. 

• Never stop learning. The information is out there, so use it. Network actively and continuously upskill. 

• Build community. Support your peers and create an ecosystem where everyone can thrive. 

• Blend passion with pragmatism. Trust your gut, but don’t ignore the numbers. 

• Partner with the right payment and point of sale service provider, like Yoco, to take your business to the next level.   

Wildsprout has become more than just a place to grab lunch. It’s proof that young entrepreneurs can reshape entire industries when they combine passion with purpose. 

Photography: Supplied

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And just like that, another year has come to pass. 2016 has been… interesting. It was the year of of the smoothie bowl, the olympics, freakshakes, the death of David Bowie and the rise of Donald Trump. As always, we’re looking ahead! Here are our predictions for the big health food trends for 2017.

By Jana du Plessis

Trend #1: The soup cleanse

We’ve spoken about it before , and we’ll have to say it again as it’s clearly a trend that’s here to stay. Soup cleanses will be taking over from the currently popular juice cleanse. Proponents of this kind of detox say it’s easy on the digestive system and it provides more nutrients than high-fructose juices, but it’s still recommended to be limited to 3-5 days at a time. This cleansing diet is perfect for those of you who want to hit the restart button on your slightly derailed health habits and get back on track with conscious eating and active living.

Trend #2: Watermelon water

Remember when everyone was reaching for a glass of coconut water? Well, coconuts have been replaced by our favourite hydrating summer fruit; watermelon! Watermelon water is nothing more than cold-pressed watermelon (watermelon juice). This sweet delight is not only delicious but high in vitamin C and rich in anti-aging, immune-boosting antioxidants.

Trend #3: Sustainable eating

With the release of Leonardo Di Caprio’s 2016 documentary film, Before the Flood, the average citizen has become increasingly aware of climate change and the impact our consumer behaviour has on the environment. Denmark has proved it’s thinking ahead with an environmental plan that aims to make the country’s agricultural system completely organic and sustainable. This includes limiting imported produce to reduce the country’s carbon dioxide emissions. Next year will be all about buying locally and growing your own veggies. To read more about Denmark’s ideas, click here.

Trend #4: Full-fat dairy

We are thanking the food gods! Butter, cream and all things rich and delicious are making a comeback – and without a trace of guilt! Recent research has shown that introducing a moderate amount of dairy fat into our diets is not as bad for our bodies as we previously believed. The focus is on nourishing, minimally processed foods, and a healthy dose of good-quality cheese!

Trend #5: Kava

When it comes to unusual drinks, kombucha came first and now kava has arrived on the scene. This South Pacific drink has been a staple in their local cultures for thousands of years. Kava is favoured for the slight buzz it gives its drinker – similar to that of alcohol, but without the dreaded hangover. It elevates mood, reduces stress and anxiety, and is a natural pain reliever. It is becoming so popular in Western societies that kava bars are replacing their boozier counterparts all over the United States, and we are sure the trend will be making it’s way to South Africa soon!

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