Exhibiting at International Food & Drink Event (IFE) 2025

Tio Zé is a South African brand specializing in authentic Piri Piri sauces and oils, deeply rooted in Portuguese culinary heritage. Based in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, the company blends traditional flavors with modern food production techniques, offering a bold and fiery flavor experience inspired by Mozambican-Portuguese cuisine. With a growing customer base both locally and abroad, Tio Zé is quickly positioning itself as a premium name in the world of spicy condiments.

Core Business

Tio Zé’s business centers around crafting and marketing small-batch, high-quality piri piri sauces and oils. Their products are inspired by the legacy of Portuguese settlers in Southern Africa and incorporate traditional ingredients like bird's eye chilies, garlic, lemon, and bay leaves.

The company maintains a strong focus on authenticity, with recipes passed down through generations and refined to meet modern quality standards. Their production processes are designed to retain the raw intensity of piri piri while maintaining shelf stability and appealing packaging for retail markets.

Product & Service Offerings

Tio Zé offers a compact but powerfully curated product line:

• Piri Piri Sauces:

  • Hot Hot: A robust blend for those seeking intense heat.
  • Mild Hot: Balanced spice for wider palates.
  • Chunky Hot Hot Hot: Textured and extra-spicy for connoisseurs.

• Piri Piri Oil:

  • Hot: An infused oil designed for marinating, basting, and drizzling.

Their products are sold in glass bottles, emphasizing sustainability and product integrity. The brand's design language reflects heritage, simplicity, and strength — qualities that resonate with both traditional and experimental cooks.

Specialisation and USP

Tio Zé’s unique selling propositions include:

• Authentic Lusophone recipe base from Mozambique and Portugal.
• Handcrafted in South Africa, ensuring freshness and traceability.
• No artificial preservatives, with a focus on natural fermentation and infusion.
• Heat levels to suit every palate, from mild to extremely hot.

Financials

As a privately-owned company, Tio Zé does not publicly disclose financial data. However, its expanding footprint in regional and national food expos — including the International Food & Drink Event (IFE) in London — reflects consistent business growth and rising international interest.

Tio Zé has also secured placements in local gourmet food retailers and has begun penetrating boutique food markets and delis in other African and European regions, signaling its viability in premium condiment spaces.

Shipment Records

According to insights from import-export tracking platforms, Tio Zé has initiated international shipments in recent quarters:

• Export regions: United Kingdom, Namibia, and Portugal.
• Documented shipments: Estimated 20+ small-batch consignments in the last 12 months.
• Channels: Retail partners and trade expos.

This pattern indicates early-stage export growth, with high potential for scale through distributor partnerships.

Target Market

Tio Zé’s primary markets include:

• Ethnic cuisine enthusiasts seeking authentic Portuguese-African flavor profiles.
• Spicy food lovers who value artisan craftsmanship.
• Gourmet retailers and delis looking to expand their ethnic food offerings.
• Export markets in Europe where piri piri flavors are gaining popularity, especially in the UK and Portugal.

The company also appeals to chefs and foodservice professionals who use piri piri as a signature flavor enhancer.

Capabilities

• Small-batch production with flexibility for custom blends and white labeling.
• Local sourcing of core ingredients, ensuring freshness and traceability.
• Shelf-stable formulations ideal for both domestic retail and export.
• E-commerce and wholesale readiness with streamlined fulfillment processes.

Certifications and Compliance

While Tio Zé does not list specific global certifications like HACCP or ISO, its manufacturing is compliant with South Africa’s National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) and food labeling standards. The use of natural preservatives and traditional preparation methods also aligns with clean-label trends in international markets.

Customer Testimonials

Feedback from both local stockists and end consumers highlights:

• Authenticity of flavor and the quality of heat without chemical additives.
• High packaging appeal that matches international standards.
• Repeat purchases and giftability, especially from customers of Portuguese heritage.

The brand’s Instagram and Facebook pages feature customer reactions and food styling using Tio Zé sauces, underscoring its organic growth and community engagement.

Major Achievements

• Featured exhibitor at IFE London, one of the world’s leading food & beverage shows.
• Successful launch of the Chunky Hot Hot Hot variant, which quickly became a favorite among chili lovers.
• Growing presence in South African gourmet stores, including online platforms and weekend markets.

Tio Zé continues to build on its cultural authenticity and artisanal craftsmanship to bring the original piri piri flavor to a global audience, one bottle at a time.