Meet the 20 most influential hospitality heavy-hitters leading SA’s food and wine industry out of the COVID-19 crisis

As South Australia emerges from lockdown, we profile 20 heavyweights driving our restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars out of the economic turmoil caused by a global health crisis.

Adam Liston, Josh Baker, Simon Kardachi, Sali Sasi, Paul Baker and Nathan Sasi are all influential names in SA’s dining scene. Picture: Matt Turner

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Going out to eat is one of the first pleasures we’re allowed now COVID-19 restrictions are loosening.

South Australia is a high-quality food and wine state, a top class restaurant destination and so far, one of the best performers in the world to limit the viral spread.

The hospitality industry – all our favourite restaurants, hotels, pubs, wineries, bars and cafes – is one of our greatest economic engines and one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus health crisis.

Some establishments have simply shut their doors and will never reopen, costing thousands of jobs, particularly those of young South Australians.

But SA’s food and wine service sector is one of our most innovative and resilient, run by exciting and talented people, who have proved to be some of the most creative in the nation.

Now they have the opportunity to get us back to the table, and can be some of the first to respond and recover. How will they lead the way and reinvent their businesses? And who will be the champions of our hospitality industry?

TAP EACH PHOTO TO LEARN ABOUT THESE INDUSTRY LEADERS