The journey of Pesto Princess: from a single jar to a culinary empire
The princesses of Pesto Princess knows their job is all about caring for one another, while creating the best Pesto
Image: Armand Hough
From a single jar of pesto to a 100-strong team in a state-of-the-art facility, Pesto Princess has become one of South Africa’s most beloved food brands. But the story behind it is far from conventional and its founder, Kathleen Quillinan, never set out to build a food empire.
“I tasted my first-ever pesto in my late twenties,” Quillinan recalled. “It was gifted to me by a friend who had studied in Florence. He knew how much I loved trying new dishes so, on one of his visits, he produced this little jar of green sauce from his suitcase. He boiled a packet of spaghetti, loosened the pesto with some of the boiling pasta water and some olive oil, and coated the hot pasta with this intriguing sauce.
One mouthful, and I was hooked!”
That moment lingered in her memory and eventually bloomed into a business idea. Years later, when planning a range of products to sell at a local market, that unforgettable first taste inspired her to recreate the experience for others.
But the early days of Pesto Princess were anything but glamorous.
“Our tiny kitchen was completely overrun by the aromatic pesto-making process, such that making yourself a sandwich and a cup of coffee became impossible. I must commend my family for their patience during this startup phase, which saw packaging filling all the rooms, large fridges lining the passage, and our small team of five people beavering away from Monday to Friday.”
Initially, the business was meant to be nothing more than a side hustle.
“To be honest, this was only supposed to be a side hustle to fund further opera singing studies. I have not studied business, nor am I a chef, so it is only with the skill, commitment & leadership of my team members that the growth and longevity of this business have been unlocked. Our team is now 100-strong and we have a state-of-the-art food facility (that we call ‘The Palace’) in Capricorn Park.”
Pesto Princess Foods founder, Kathleen Quillinan
Image: Armand Hough
Among her proudest achievements is the company’s contribution to social impact.
“Being able to say that Pesto Princess has raised over R850 000 for the non-profit, Ladles of Love, gives us a deep sense of purpose. Food insecurity is a sad reality in South Africa, and since we’re in the food industry, it was fitting that we address it with our Buy 1 Give 1 Campaign which launched in 2017. For every Pesto Princess soup sold through SPAR stores, a hot meal is served to someone in need. The day is coming closer when we’ll be able to say that together with SPAR and our customers, we’ve raised R1 million!”
At the heart of Pesto Princess lies a people-first philosophy, something Quillinan explained is not just lip service.
As a woman in business, Quillinan believes her approach to leadership is deeply rooted in care. “Our company culture is expressed in two words: We Care. This may sound stereotypical, but women are nurturers. Caring comes naturally. At Pesto Princess, we remind ourselves and our teams that the most important person we need to care for is ourselves. Easy to say. Hard to do. We want all staff to live balanced lives, with manageable levels of stress, and we hold ourselves accountable for fostering a healthy, psychologically safe working environment for all.”
But the road hasn’t been without challenges. One early stumbling block came from an unexpected source: basil.
“I did not realise that the herb, sweet basil was an annual plant that loses its leaves in the Cape winter. I was devastated when our local supply ran dry, and a flurry of creativity followed during which we made rocket pesto and coriander pesto to tide us over until spring crops were ready. We still have Thai Pesto – a coriander-based pesto spiked with chilli – in the range, but the rest were discontinued when we learned that you could ‘import’ fresh basil from the north of South Africa since the climate allows it to grow all year round.”
Even the brand name itself has a story full of spontaneity. “The name was born in a moment of spontaneity behind the trestle table at a weekend market. Someone asked me what the name of the business was, and this quirky name just shot out of my mouth.
"I needed to call this potential customer on the Monday morning to arrange a bulk delivery. Before I could finish introducing myself over the phone, he completed my sentence by saying ‘Oh yes, it’s the Pesto Princess!’. I knew from that moment that the name was memorable, yet playful.”
As for her personal favourites in the product range, classic Basil Pesto. In second place is Basil & Chilli Pesto, a plant-based pesto which is so beautifully balanced. Mash into cream cheese and pile onto crackers.”
To women dreaming of launching their own ventures especially in food and manufacturing Quillinan offers clear-eyed, heartfelt advice:
“Work with what you have and just get started. Don’t give up too soon and take care of yourself, and those who matter most.
“Business can be all-consuming, especially in the startup phase. Make sure you prioritise your own wellbeing and keep your life in balance. Easy to say. Hard to do. If I have a regret, it’s not going on more family holidays when my children were small. Money can be made and lost and earned back again. Time with loved ones cannot be bought back.”