Connections Esther & Matt Johnson
For Esther and Matt, owners of Ditters Nuts, connection is not an abstract concept — it’s woven into every part of their lives. Twenty-five years of marriage, seven years as business partners, and a lifetime spent in South Australia have taught them that the most meaningful connections are always about people.
One was born here, the other migrated from Kuala Lumpur in the 1980s. Together, they have experienced South Australia as both hometown and new home — a place where every major life milestone has unfolded.
In 2018, with backgrounds in economics, marketing, advertising and design, they took on an unexpected role: custodians of Ditters, Adelaide’s — and Australia’s — oldest nut retailer. What began as curiosity about a fading local icon became a mission to revive a business that had been part of South Australian life for generations.
Every day, we hear customers share their memories of visiting Ditters with their parents and grandparents. We are fascinated by how these heartwarming memories intertwine with the unique experience of growing up in South Australia, and we love discovering these new connections to South Australia every day while we work.
When asked what connection they are most grateful for, their answer is simple: each other. “As life partners and, for the last 7 years, business partners, we are truly grateful for one another,” they reflect. “Our combined personalities, skills, and experiences make it possible for us to run Ditters together. We would be at a loss without each other in both life and work.”
For Esther and Matt, staying connected to what matters most means prioritising people above all else. “In our experience, the things in life that matter most to us are never about money or material things; they are almost always about people. So, we try to put people first.”
In reviving Ditters, they have become more than business owners — they are keepers of memory, connection, and South Australian heritage.