From Kitchen Experiments to No.1019 Sauce

Every great brand has a story, and for No.1019 Sauce, it’s one rooted in family, heritage, and the bold love of flavour. Born in the quiet stillness of the pandemic and inspired by the fiery habaneros of Ghana, No.1019 has grown into a 5 pepper blend relish sauce inspired by Ghanaian and South African flavours. Carrying the spirit of Tlhabane, the home where its founder grew up, learned the magic of food, and found comfort in the kitchen, each bottle is a taste of memory, culture, and connection.

In this interview, we dive into the journey behind the name, the flavours that set it apart, and the vision of turning a simple sauce into a taste of home.

Q: Can you tell us the story behind No.1019 Sauce,  where did the name come from and what inspired you to start?

A: When the world stood still during the pandemic, I found myself back in Tlhabane, the place I grew up, after more than a decade away. Jobless, anxious about the uncertainty of those days, I turned to the one place that always felt like a sanctuary: the kitchen.

From my time in Ghana, I carried with me a love for the fruity fire of habanero peppers — flavours that danced on every plate and lingered in every memory. I kept thinking, if I could bottle this feeling, this taste, people would fall in love with it too.

So, I experimented. I blended peppers, spices, and stories, creating sauces I first shared with family and friends. Their excitement turned into encouragement: “You have to sell this.” That spark became No.1019 Sauce.

The name? It’s a tribute to my grandparents’ house number — 1019 — the home where I was raised, fed, and loved. Every bottle honours the meals, memories, and laughter from that yard in Tlhabane.

Q: Growing up, did food and flavour play a big role in your household?

A: Growing up, food wasn’t just fuel. It was theatre, tradition, and togetherness. Our Sunday lunches stretched late into the afternoon because each dish was crafted with care. Everyone in my family has their speciality dish: my mother with her prawn curry, my father with his beef goulash, my grandfather’s delectable meatballs, and my grandmother’s meaty bones soup. I remember having a tough time breaking the news to her when I turned vegetarian in university.

Meals in our home were never small. My fondest memory is our front yard being filled with people enjoying meals that were not commonly eaten in most households. That spirit of hosting, sharing, and celebrating through flavour is what lives on in 1019 Sauce.

Q: What’s one childhood memory that shaped your love for creating sauces?

A: My mother has played a significant role in influencing my love for big and bold flavours. She has a curious mind and palate, always eager to try new food products. Whenever the opportunity came up, she would take us out to restaurants. I believe I get my curiosity about food from her, and my passion for flavour from my dad.

We had really good lunch boxes growing up, always with a special condiment, like pepper piquante dips and jalapeño dips from Meze Foods. I still remember the day she brought home Lea & Perrins Hot Pepper Sauce when I was in high school. It blew my mind, and I’ve never looked back since then!

Q: What makes your sauce proudly South African? Are there local ingredients or traditions that inspire it?

A: Having had the opportunity to travel and taste dishes prepared in other countries, I can confidently say South African dishes are bold with flavour. We don’t compromise on taste, and that’s exactly what our products reflect, bold flavour and versatility, aligned with our culture as South Africans.

Q: How do you see No.1019 Sauce fitting into everyday SA meals – from braais to kota to Sunday lunch?

A: My dream is for 1019 sauce to become a household staple that brings convenience to the single mom who is too tired to prepare an elaborate meal, the bachelor who wants to spice up takeaways, or the caterer preparing feasts on a budget.

From oysters and salads to grilled meats, stir fry, kota, potjie, or a Sunday braai, the 1019 range is designed to be a staple on every table.

Q: Starting a food brand in South Africa isn’t easy. What have been your biggest challenges and proudest moments so far?

A: Starting a food brand in South Africa hasn’t been easy. Awareness is everything, but marketing requires resources we don’t always have.

Still, there have been proud moments:

• Winning a Gold Medal at the Aurora Taste Challenge

• Getting stocked at restaurants, pubs, and Spar stores

• Hearing customers say, “I can’t cook without 1019 anymore.”

Q: What advice would you give to other young South Africans wanting to turn their kitchen creations into a business?

A: Invest in the aesthetics of your product. It plays a big part in drawing people to your brand and making them want to try it. Remember, people eat with their eyes first, so it’s very important to invest time and effort in how your brand looks.

And don’t wear your struggle.

Q: Have there been any surprising or funny moments on your journey,  like a sauce “fail” that didn’t make it to the shelves?

A: When Checkers turned us down because they had “too many hot sauces” already, it pushed us to rethink our brand. We realised 1019 isn’t just another hot sauce, it’s a cooking companion. A paste, marinade, dip, dressing, and basting sauce, all in one.

Q: Where would you like to see No.1019 Sauce in the next 5 years – local shelves, restaurants, or even international markets?

A: My dream is to see 1019 Sauce travel across the African continent. In West Africa, for example, I imagine it transforming jollof rice, no need for endless ingredients when one jar of 1019 delivers all the flavour.

Closer to home, I want it on braai tables and kitchen shelves everywhere. I’d also like to supply hotel groups and restaurant franchises across South Africa and beyond.

Q: For those who haven’t tasted it yet, how would you describe the flavour profile of No.1019 Sauce in three words?

A:

• Sauce: Tangy, spicy and sweetish

• Relish: BBQ, smoky and juicy

Q: How do you want people to feel when they open a bottle of No.1019 Sauce and taste it for the first time?

A: When you open a bottle of 1019 Sauce, I want you to feel like you’ve come home. Like you’ve found the missing piece to your meals.

Q: Finally, South Africa loves a good braai, what’s your ultimate braai plate and how does No.1019 Sauce feature on it?

My perfect braai?

• Fish, chicken and pork, marinaded and basted with hot No.1019 Sauce

• Chakalaka prepared with hot No.1019 Sauce

• Pap with hot No.1019 relish

• Potato salad on the side

• And a cheeky splash of mild No.1019 Sauce as a dip for snacks

That’s not just a meal. That’s 1019. That’s home.