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11 August 2022 13:00-14:30Innovation City Cape Town

Brewing Success - The vida e caffè Growth Story

With over 200 stores across the African continent, the vida e caffè story is nothing short of inspiring.

Born part out of passion and part out of frustration, founders Brad Armitage and Rui Esteves had enjoyed the coffee culture they had experienced while abroad and were saddened to find that it just didn't exist in South Africa, so they felt compelled to bring their vision to life. A shrine to espresso, Brad and Rui opened the first vida store in Kloof Street in 2001, creating a slice of the European café culture in the heart of the City Bowl.

Join us at Innovation City on Thursday 11 August at 1pm as we host vida e caffè CEO Darren Levy and Vusi Vokwana, Founder and Director of Kasi Catalyst, responsible for expanding the vida e caffè footprint into Langa.


All you need to know

Where: Innovation City, Darter Studios, Darter Road, Longkloof, Cape Town

What: Brewing Success: The vida e caffè Growth Story

When: 11th August 2022

Time: 1pm-2:30pm

Details: Join us at Innovation City on Thursday 11 August at 1pm as we host vida e caffè CEO Darren Levy and Vusi Vokwana, Founder and Director of Kasi Catalyst, responsible for expanding the vida e caffè footprint into Langa.

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Speakers

Darren Levy
CEO of vida e caffè

With a powerful personal coffee journey, Darren holds a B. Bus. Sci. with an Honours in Finance. Darren started his career as a Management Consultant in Cape Town and then made the move up country. While in Johannesburg, Darren spent 10 years at the helm of a large retail holding company servicing multiple brands. A move back to the Mother City followed, to pursue an expanding career opportunity which then led him to head up the CEO role at vida e caffè.

As a narrative that runs through Darren’s life, coffee weaves together family, sport and community, and it all starts with vida e caffè. Coffee shops were a reprieve from the daily grind of his demanding career and this ritual led to Darren having weekly visits at the vida e caffè on Kloof Street while in Cape Town for business. 

When his wife opened a delicatessen in Parktown North, Johannesburg, Darren insisted on it having a coffee bar. He trained as a barista and would work behind the machine most Sundays, noting that his interaction with customers and the process of creating the perfect caffè was always the highlight of his weekend!

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Vusi Vokwana
Founder and Director: Kasi Catalyst

Vusi is an entrepreneur, Founder and Director, with over 15 years of experience in helping and guiding corporates looking to enter the township and rural areas (mass market) ethically and sustainably.

She shows communities how to leverage their collective buying power to revitalize their local economy, and bring dignity back to townships and rural areas.

She opened up Langa's first vida e caffe in 2020. 

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Organized by

Innovation City Cape Town@innovationcitycpt