Johannesburg, 08 June 2023 – Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) is stepping up its
commitment to youth empowerment even further through an exciting partnership with the Top
16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs).
CCBSA will be sponsoring the ‘beverages’ category at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards
on the 15th of June at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Regarded as the gold standard of youth excellence, the Top 16 YOBAs serve as an initiative to
empower and celebrate outstanding youth across various industries in South Africa. The awards
provide a platform where young innovators are recognised for their contributions, not only to the economy, but also to the overall image of the country.
“We are thrilled to have CCBSA as our partner in this exciting venture, as their brand aligns
perfectly with ours. CCBSA’s focus on enriching the youth makes them an ideal sponsor for the
‘beverages’ category,” said Pat Mahlangu, CEO and founder of the Top 16 Youth-Owned
Brands Awards.
The beverages category encompasses both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
industries, and aims to celebrate beverage manufacturers, drink establishments, and personnel
such as mixologists and bartenders.
CCBSA has a number of initiatives which focus on youth empowerment as part of the
company’s economic inclusion strategy, particularly for empowering youth, women and rural
communities.
Nozicelo Ngcobo, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability Director at CCBCSA, says as part of this approach, CCBSA has adopted the three pillars of education, employability, and entrepreneurship as a framework for its economic inclusion strategy.
This strategy encompasses a number of initiatives such as our Study Buddy Fund Bursaries,
the Mintirho Foundation which supports agri businesses, and the company’s hugely successful
Bizniz-in-a-Box programme which assists township and rural entrepreneurs to grow their small
businesses.
CCBSA has invested in multiple skills development and entrepreneurship as well as supplier
development incubation programmes to boost income, provide sustainable earning potential
and improve skills and business knowledge for youth, resulting in them accessing other
opportunities and growing their businesses.
“We are committed to playing our part to co-creating solutions for youth and women
development and supporting their dreams and aspirations in South Africa, and in doing so,
contributing to reducing unemployment and eradicating poverty and inequality,” Ngcobo said.
“Young people are resilient and are innovative. But we need to meet them at their most need
and support them so that they can realise their hopes and dreams, be it through accessing
tertiary education, recruiting them in our organisations or helping them start and grow their businesses. By meaningfully enabling their growth, they can contribute to their communities,
and create a positive impact in society”.
Ngcobo added that by championing these values, CCBSA, together with the Top 16 YOBAs,
was looking to foster a culture of responsible entrepreneurship and pave the way for a more
sustainable and inclusive future for all.
“We are grateful for CCBSA’s support in our mission to recognise, uplift, and celebrate young
entrepreneurs. Establishing strong partnerships like this will not only fuel the growth of these
remarkable brands but also inspire other entrepreneurs to pursue their entrepreneurial goals,”
added Pat.
Beyond celebrating the achievements of young entrepreneurs, the partnership between the Top
16 YOBAs and CCBSA aims to promote sustainable business practices and social
responsibility, as both entities recognise the significance of sustainability and community
engagement.
“This collaboration is in line with our mission of making a difference and empowering local
brands. It is a testament to our commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship and providing
opportunities for the next generation of business leaders in South Africa,” Ngcobo concluded.
BiB is now in its seventh year and has supported over 700 entrepreneurs across several
provinces including Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It has
provided 758 containers, including 400 for young entrepreneurs, and has spent more than R120
million towards BiB-related initiatives.
This year, the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards celebrations will span two days during the
Festival of Youth-Owned Brands, taking place from 9am to 5pm on the 14th and 15th of June
2023 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The event will culminate in an award ceremony on the
evening of the 15th.
ENDS.
Released by Lerato Agency on behalf of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards
Media enquiries
Khanyi Maisela
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065 965 0562
ABOUT TOP 16 YOUTH-OWNED BRANDS AWARDS
The top 16 youth-owned brands awards are a platform that celebrates and recognizes youth excellence. This spectacular initiative aims to support youth-owned brands and makes sure that their efforts are seen. These awards acknowledge that these youth-owned brands are contributing to job creation and economic development in South Africa. What started off as an online portal that celebrates the excellence of brands has now become a platform that these brands are given a chance to shine and known throughout the country. Shining a light on the ones who dare to make a difference.
About CCBSA
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) is a proudly South African company which began operating as a legal entity in July 2016, after the merger of six non-alcoholic ready to drink bottling operations. We are level 1 B-BBEE empowered company. We employ over 7000 people at 13 manufacturing facilities across the country. As a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) and a bottler for The Coca-Cola Company, our vision is to refresh Africa every day and make our continent a better place for all.
We manufacture and distribute Coca-Cola beverages that make life’s everyday moments more enjoyable, while doing business the right way. The result is shared opportunity for our customers, our employees, our communities, and our shareholders. We conduct our business ethically, transparently, and conscientiously.
We espouse an inclusive business culture to reflect our African identity. We accelerate sustainable, profitable revenue growth across all categories and offer an innovative portfolio of products that respond to customer needs and consumer preferences. Profitability is important, but not at any cost. People matter. Our planet matters. We do business the right way by following our values and partnering for solutions that benefit us all.
