Q & A MAKERS LANDING
Leading food
strategy and experience
V & A Waterfront Food Lead and GM for Makers Landing, Allister Esau curates spaces celebrating chefs, all kinds of makers, and African culture.
ALLISTER ESAU
Makers Landing brings together craft, commerce and community. What were the hardest trade-offs in turning this vision into a working business?
One of the biggest tensions for us was balancing heart and viability. Makers Landing adjusted its strategy from a commercial food market to a development platform, an inclusive cultural and events space, and an SMME economic engine all at once. That means we weigh the need for financial sustainability against our commitment to inclusivity and opportunity creation.
We’ ve had to make tough calls: choosing slower, communitycentred growth over quick wins; investing in small businesses that need more support rather than tenants who could pay more; and designing systems that honour craft even when efficiency would be easier. The trade-off is always between scale and soul, but with discipline and structure so the model can stand on its own feet.
What does“ success” look like for a food entrepreneur at Makers Landing, and how do you know when the model is actually working?
Success here isn’ t just about revenue, it’ s about transformation. When an entrepreneur gains confidence, sharpens their
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