Edward Cussons
Secretary, FSPA
Edward brings decades of hands-on experience in restaurant and commercial kitchen design. He began his career at the Midrand head office of Famous Brands in 1997, working in the Steers Development division as an in-house designer. Using AutoCAD, Edward produced detailed working drawings for new restaurant rollouts—ranging from seating layouts and catering equipment plans to ceiling, lighting, building, tiling, plumbing, electrical, and floor plans. These drawings formed the foundation for project managers and contractors responsible for building stores across the country.
During his time there, Edward contributed to the development of several well-known quick-service brands, including Steers, Debonairs Pizza, Fishaways, Longhorn, and Church’s Chicken. He fondly recalls the fast-paced rollout era, particularly the milestone of expanding Debonairs Pizza to 100 outlets within just two years. By the time he left in 2003, Edward had progressed to the role of Design Office Manager.
Edward continued working with Famous Brands on a freelance contract from his home office until 2005. Afterward, he expanded his freelance work to include other South African brands such as Fontana Chicken, Roman’s Pizza, St. Elmo’s Pizza, Tuscan BBQ, and Pizza Del Forno.
Since 2022, Edward has broadened his portfolio to include full commercial kitchen design, working on projects for prominent restaurants, hotels, butcheries, delis, and quick-service supermarket kitchens across South Africa. His practical industry knowledge and long-standing involvement in food service development bring valuable insight to every project he undertakes.
