Feasty Foodz: Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurship

Amanda Nicolson - Feasty Foodz

For Feasty Foodz founder and proud Torres Strait Islander woman, Amanda Nicholson, business is about far more than food. It is about culture, storytelling, self-determination, and creating opportunities for future generations.

With family connections to Erub on the Eastern Islands of the Torres Strait, as well as K'gari, Rotumah, Lifou and Parem through her maternal and ancestral family lines, her identity is deeply woven into everything she does.

"My identity as a Torres Strait Islander woman influences everything I do," she says. "I work in the food industry showcasing Torres Strait Islander food while honouring how my mother and Elders taught me to cook using traditional techniques."

Building a business grounded in culture

Founded in September 2017 as a privately-owned for-profit catering business, Feasty Foodz was the result of a vision years in the making.

"I already designed what I wanted to do. It was a matter of putting it out there and declaring it," she says.

Entrepreneurship runs through her family. Her grandmother sold homemade frying-pan damper, while her mother made and sold molasses and manyota damper within their church community. Another early influence was Aunty Sarah China, whose stall at Rusty's Markets in Cairns sparked inspiration. Her daughter, Caleece Bosuen also invested in the business in 2023.

"I loved seeing Aunty Sarah and how she was an influence on my young life to be a business owner one day."

Those experiences planted the seeds for what would become a successful Indigenous-owned enterprise built on culture, knowledge, and community.

Showcasing authentic Indigenous Australian cuisine

The turning point in her journey came while studying and working as a chef.

She recalls a Swiss executive chef asking students to define Australian cuisine. While many suggested foods such as sausages, prawns, lamingtons and pavlova, the chef challenged them to think more deeply.

"He told the students they had two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander chefs in the class who had grown up with their own cultural cuisines. He encouraged them to ask us about our food and traditions."

That moment became a catalyst.

"I was determined that I was going to showcase the food I grew up eating and cooking because it is authentically Indigenous Australian food."

Today, Feasty Foodz proudly shares Torres Strait Islander cuisine while celebrating the cultural practices, ingredients and stories that accompany it.

"I do not need to justify why I'm eating domboy with molasses to anyone. It forms a part of my cuisine. I'm proud of my cuisine, and it tastes better too."

More than a food business

What began as a catering business has grown into something much larger.

With guidance from business coach Aaron Sansoni and the strategic knowledge gained through her MBA studies, she began exploring new opportunities, partnerships, and ways to expand the business.

"I started mapping out what else could be created," she says.

Today, Feasty Foodz encompasses cultural experiences, innovation, business development, and consulting projects, reflecting her strength in identifying challenges and developing practical solutions.

"This proves that my food business doesn't just sell food."

Preserving culture through storytelling

For her, food is one of the most powerful ways to connect people with Torres Strait Islander culture.

"When I present Torres Strait Islander food, I'm not simply presenting ingredients or recipes. I'm carrying forward the cultural knowledge, family connections, traditional methods of cookery and stories of place that I was raised with."

She is passionate about ensuring cultural knowledge is represented accurately and with integrity.

"My videos are one way I exercise that responsibility, demonstrating the techniques passed down to me, sharing the story behind the food and keeping that knowledge strong for the generations that follow."

Through every dish, story and demonstration, she continues to preserve and share cultural knowledge while educating broader audiences about Torres Strait Islander traditions.

The power of Indigenous business

As an Indigenous entrepreneur, she has seen firsthand how supporting Indigenous businesses creates benefits that extend far beyond a single contract.

"When Indigenous businesses win meaningful work, they can employ people, purchase from other businesses, invest in equipment, develop products and create further opportunities."

At Feasty Foodz, this commitment is demonstrated through employing 100 per cent Indigenous staff in recent years.

"Most of my clients support First Nations businesses like mine to fulfil contracts. This helps our businesses showcase our services and capabilities."

She believes Indigenous businesses play a vital role in driving economic independence, creating jobs, and building long-term prosperity.

"We are not only consumers of services. We are chefs, consultants, innovators, tradespeople, tourism operators, technology founders and employers."

"Growing Indigenous businesses means creating jobs, skills, assets, intellectual property and intergenerational wealth."

Advice for the next generation

Looking ahead, she sees enormous opportunities for young First Nations entrepreneurs.

With access to technology, social media and global markets, today's young people have tools previous generations could only dream of.

"My message is to test the waters. You don't have to wait for someone else to create your business plan or idea. Start small, try your idea, understand whether people will pay for it, learn from what works and build from there."

But she believes cultural knowledge remains just as important as innovation.

"Learn from your Elders, not from your mobile phone. Take part in food preparation for cultural ceremonies. That is how I was taught."

Feasty Foodz stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when culture, knowledge and entrepreneurship come together, creating opportunities not only for today, but for generations to come.