The winners of the fourth annual Absa Business Day Development Awards have been announced, with Tiger Brands claiming the coveted title of Overall Winner.
The annual awards programme recognises companies that are making significant strides in terms of their supplier development initiatives by acknowledging those who go beyond the scorecard, fostering learning, showcasing best practice and encouraging intersectoral collaboration to create scale and impact.
The 2021 awards were presented in partnership with Arena Holdings, Fetola and Cold Press Media, with winners announced at a hybrid event held at The Empire Conference and Events Venue in Johannesburg on Thursday, 18 November 2021.
“At Absa we are particularly pleased that since their launch in 2018, the Supplier Development Awards have grown significantly – in their importance, number of participants and, more importantly, their impact … It is critical now more than ever for corporates in both the public and private sectors to use their supply chains to help develop and grow small suppliers, who are the real drivers of economic growth and job creation,” says Vusi Fele, chief procurement officer at Absa Group.
And the winners are…
The 2021 results are audited by BDO South Africa, and the winners are as follows:
Overall Winner sponsored by Absa:
Tiger Brands
The Newcomer Award:
Uyandiswa Project Management Services
Innovation Award:
V&A Waterfront
Youth Focus Award sponsored by Absa:
Anglo American Zimele
Women Focus Awards sponsored by Cold Press Media:
Empact Group
Rural and Township Focus Award:
Spar
Emerging Technology Award:
Exxaro Resources
Localisation Award:
Empact Group
Collaboration Award sponsored by Fetola:
Tiger Brands
Covid-19 Recovery Award (Special 2021 Award):
Distell
Impact Award sponsored by Business Day:
Anglo American Zimele
Small Supplier Award sponsored by IDC:
Stellar Agri nominated by Distell
Outstanding Growth in a Small Supplier Award (Special Award):
MB Resources nominated by Exxaro Resources
Sub-Saharan Africa awards
For the first time since inception, the Absa Business Day Supplier Development Awards has been extended to include nominations from sub-Saharan Africa, to inspire African companies to join the supplier development ecosystem and participate in the awards in future.
Judges African Commendation for Commitment to Economic Empowerment Across the Supply Chain:
Debswana (Botswana)
Judges African Commendation for Commitment to Women Inclusion in the Supply Chain:
Safaricom (Kenya)
Judges African Commendation for Commitment to Localisation of the Supply Chain:
Tullow Oil (Ghana)
Judges African Commendation for Commitment to Pioneering Supplier Development:
Vodacom (Mozambique)
Catherine Wijnberg, CEO of Fetola, founding partner and technical lead of the Absa Business Day Supplier Development Awards, comments, “The increased interest from companies wanting to be part of the learning ecosystem and the high quality of this year’s finalists, indicates that supplier development is becoming recognised as a valuable strategic lever to drive inclusive growth.”
