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News MEA Markets is proud to host this innovative award that honours the trailblazers shaping Africa’s economic landscape and driving progress on the global stage. Africa in 2025 is a continent of extraordinary momentum and opportunity. With rapid advancements in infrastructure, technology, and education, nations across Africa are unlocking their vast potential. From the groundbreaking achievements of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to the growing network of smart cities and green energy projects, the region is poised to become an even more influential force in the global economy. African businesses are not only the lifeblood of local economies but are also increasingly driving global trends. The continent’s abundant natural resources, coupled with a growing emphasis on innovation and sustainability, are creating industries that are competitive on a global scale. Africa is emerging as a global leader in innovation, with cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Cape Town becoming tech hubs filled with thriving startups in fintech, e-commerce, and blockchain. The energy sector is also transforming, as large solar farms in North Africa and wind projects in East Africa position the continent at the forefront of renewable energy, with nations like South Africa and Morocco setting sustainability benchmarks. Meanwhile, agriculture remains a cornerstone of Africa’s economy, evolving with modern techniques, Agri-tech investments, and high-value crop exports. The African Excellence Awards 2025 are returning, celebrating the innovation, resilience, and transformative impact of African businesses across the continent and beyond! AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
News Contents 4. Pink Elephant South Africa: Best Global IT Service Management Specialists 2025 6. SSTM Egypt: Leading IoT Solution Provider of the Year 2025 – Egypt 8. Cynosure Aesthetic: Best Plastic Surgery Facility 2025 – Nigeria 10. Savour Solutions (Pty) Ltd: Most Innovative Dairy Solutions Experts 2025 – South Africa 12. Wealthbag Logistics: Best Customs Clearing & Freight Forwarding Company 2025 – Zimbabwe 14. Universal McCann Nigeria: Best Full- Service Media Company 2025 – Lagos 16. Compliance Hub Consulting (Pty) Ltd: Best Corporate Compliance Solutions Provider 2025 - South Africa 17. ROTOCON: Best Label Printing & Converting Equipment Partner 2025 – South Africa & Client Service Excellence Award 2025 18. Great Brands Media –Michelangelo Magazine: Best Luxury Tourism Magazine 2025 – Southern Africa & Client Satisfaction Excellence Award 2025 19. Empire Media 102: Best Out-of-Home Advertising Agency 2025 20. Eden Heights Realty Ltd: Most Trusted Real Estate Company 2025 – Nairobi 21. Akmenite Ltd: Best Mineral Processing & Export Company 2025 22. Khayelitsha Cookies: Best Cookie Bakery 2025 – Cape Town & Community Empowerment Excellence Award 2025 23. British International School of Tunis: British School of the Year 2025 – North Africa & Curriculum Innovation Award 2025 24. ESOM Green Power Technology: Best Solar Design & Installation Company 2025 – Benin 25. Amekh Group: Supply Chain Operations & Quality Excellence Award 2025 – MEA 26. OABS Development: Best Agricultural Development Organisation 2025 – South Africa & Client Service Excellence Award 2025 27. Fusion CX: Best CX Management Company 2025 – Morocco 28. Diesel Electric Services Pty Ltd: Best Turnkey Generator Systems & UPS Solutions 2025 – Gauteng 19. 10.
MEA | African Excellence Awards 2025 Globally, Pink Elephant has been a leader in IT management and consulting for over 45 years, shaping the digital industry from its early days and driving innovation worldwide. Pink Elephant South Africa is one of the largest divisions under the global Pink Elephant umbrella, providing a series of IT service management (ITSM) solutions, as well as managed service desk, ITSM education, and advisory services. We caught up with Leith Collyer, Pink Elephant South Africa’s managing director, to find out more. From its home in the Gauteng province, South Africa’s financial and digital hub, Pink Elephant South Africa drives digital transformation through a series of high-tech ITSM solutions and the provision of state of-the-art IT service desks, all underpinned by best practice. This approach taken by the specialists behind the company is holistic and strives to see people empowered through a combination of the right skills, automation, and the enabling of agile service delivery through the delivery of advanced technologies. Pink Elephant South Africa boasts a diverse client base spanning everything from large retail groups and hospitality brands through to financial institutions and organisations in the public sector. Many of these clients choose Pink Elephant South Africa as a result of its unique ability to spark company-wide digital transformations, as elevating their IT service delivery through Pink Elephant’s unrivalled expertise can have a lasting impact on the people, processes, and technologies behind their business’ success. Driven by a series of core values comprising excellence, integrity, innovation, and continuous improvement, Pink Elephant South Africa embeds these into its internal culture via initiatives such as structured management, regular training, and open communication, as well as by promoting accountability at every level of the business. As Leith told us: “Our commitment to both the voice of the customer and the voice of the business ensures we prioritise not only the results we deliver, but also the way we engage with our clients and teams.” The commitment to fostering meaningful relationships and long-term value present across Pink Elephant South Africa is reflected through its latest strategic focus, which involves both the implementation and expansion of its coveted NextGen Service Desk model. In essence, this future-proof, customer-centric approach sees traditional IT support turned into a value-driven experience aligned with the needs of today’s modern digital enterprises. Just some of the key selling points of NextGen Service Desk include omnichannel communication. This uses channels most commonly preferred by customers and employees alike, such as email, social media, and mobile apps, proactive and consistent support, and even automated efficiency. This is also seen through its use of technologies such as chatbots and virtual agents. Data-driven insights and enduser centricity round out this list. These features translate into real value. The model boosts staff productivity by increasing task completion rates by 40% and reducing repetitive task handling by 45%. It improves resolution times by increasing issue resolution by 35% and cutting wait times by 30%. Customer experience is also enhanced, with satisfaction levels rising by 30% and complaints decreasing by 20%. Additionally, operational costs are reduced by 40%, and average response times are decreased by 50% thanks to the system’s 24/7 availability. The deployment of NextGen Service Desk is a five-phase process, beginning with a company contacting Pink Elephant South Africa after growing tired of its traditional service desk, which often lacks the speed and self-service capabilities of modern solutions. Phase two sees this award-winning IT management specialist conduct a comprehensive assessment of this current service desk, going beyond highlighting any inefficiencies with current problem-solving methods to proactively understand a business’ unique needs. From here, the third phase of this approach sees Pink Elephant South Africa set about transforming a traditional service desk into its NextGen Service Desk, a feat it achieves via a robust roadmap ensuring an effective, structured transition. This leads to the penultimate phase, during which the expert team behind the solution evaluate outcomes to verify that its exacting standards are met. The fifth and final phase then sees users empowered to resolve their own issues through intuitive self-service and automation options. Thanks to the combination of the in-depth nature of this approach, as well as the numerous benefits to clients of using the NextGen Service Desk model, this technology has already been deployed across several leading organisations across the country’s insurance, mining, and hospitality sectors. The company has faced success across these areas in particular due to responsiveness and operational efficiency both being business critical. Beyond this service transformation, Pink Elephant South Africa is also committed to upskilling IT professionals, which it does by adhering to internationally accredited best practice frameworks such as ITIL (Informational Technology Infrastructure Library), the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), and advanced service management disciplines. This ensures the future-proofing of teams and sees businesses ready to assign talent to IT roles that are currently emerging, or even those yet to currently exist. Diving deeper into the impact this has, Leith described: “These efforts support both workforce development and local job creation, all whilst helping clients reduce risk, improve service performance, and elevate digital maturity.” These are just some of the ways that Pink Elephant South Africa is reimagining the customer journey across IT service management, with its projects directly contributing to the growth of Africa’s digitally confident, skills-driven economy, which is itself currently in a state of transformation. “As Africa experiences rapid digital growth and infrastructure modernisation, our solutions enable businesses to remain agile, resilient, and competitive in an evolving economy.” All of this adds up to a company that is distinguished as a result of its integrated offering. Pink Elephant South Africa goes beyond consulting: its specialists train, implement, manage, and optimise ITSM at every turn. Leith added: “Our NextGen Service Desk framework, Best Global IT Service Management Specialists 2025
5 Best Global IT Service Management Specialists 2025 combined with our proprietary maturity models and data-driven insights, gives clients both strategic clarity and operational efficiency. Few companies offer the depth and breadth we do in the ITSM space on the continent.” Of course, it helps that that Pink Elephant South Africa is part of the wider Pink Elephant brand, which brings decades of leading ITSM expertise to the table, not to mention an established reputation worldwide and a unique ability to leverage its resources and adapt global best practices to suit market across Africa. For Leith, this combination of local relevance with global credibility is what sets the company apart. However, with ITSM consulting services in South Africa constantly changing, Pink Elephant South Africa continues to evolve its service staying one step ahead of the curve. To this end, the company’s focus for the rest of 2025 and beyond is to deepen its impact through advancing the rollout of the NextGen Service Desk, all whilst extending its advisory services. In addition, the embedding of data-driven insights into its offerings using predictive analysis will see clients move to insight-led, initiative-taking service improvements. A company playing a pioneering role in the future of service management on the continent, Pink Elephant South Africa goes beyond keeping pace with global trends, it sets them locally. This can be seen across everything from its maturity models and predictive analysis to its AI-powered service desk solutions, positioning the company as the top ITSM service provider in Africa. For this, its team are more than worthy of being recognised as the Best Global IT Service Management Specialists 2025 in this programme. Contact: [email protected] Company: Pink Elephant South Africa Web Address: https://pinkelephant.co.za/
MEA | African Excellence Awards 2025 SSTM (Smart Solutions for Technology Management) Egypt is an Egyptian-American company delivering fully bespoke IoT and AIoT solutions for use within the industrial, agricultural, and smart infrastructure environments. On the back of its comprehensive selection of flagshiplevel tools, SSTM Egypt collaborates with clients of all shapes and sizes, with some of its most notable partners including GSK, Pfizer, Orange and Vodafone. We caught up with Amr Talaat, the company’s founder and managing director, to find out more about what makes it a leader in this space. ounded in 2016, SSTM Egypt has been creating novel solutions to solve some of Africa’s most pressing challenges for almost a decade. Its expertise in the realm of customisable, low-power, field-ready IoT and AIoT technologies serves as the groundwork for what has been a truly transformative journey – one defined by adherence to core values such as agility, innovation, customisation, integration, and reliability. The result is lean design, collaboration-driven development, and solutions as practical as they are scalable. SSTM Egypt’s early days saw the company get stuck in with researchand-development engagements alongside a number of multinational organisations, resulting in a core set of IoT building blocks which its subsequent solutions could build off. This saw the company design custom communication models for use in low-power asset tracking; develop integrated sensor boards for Zigbee and LoRa, and build the initial version of IoTPiA, a now-flagship system enabling flexible communication across several channels. “These systems were deployed in pilot sites ranging from smart agriculture initiatives to university research projects, validating their real-world performance in harsh and lowinfrastructure environments.” Today, SSTM Egypt’s unrivalled portfolio of solutions includes such pioneering offerings as CoolTeck, a smart monitoring system utilised across industrial refrigeration and pharmaceutical logistics. Having revolutionised cold-chain monitoring in Africa, this robust and certified system boasts such industry-leading features as a 4G module, embedded sensors, and seamless cloud-connectivity capabilities. Whether they are tracking the temperature and humidity of their stock in real time, monitoring several warehouses and transportation units Leading IoT Solution Provider of the Year 2025 – Egypt F from the one central platform, or even receiving instant alerts via text or accompanying cloud dashboards, clients including GSK and Pfizer love how simple the CoolTeck system is to navigate and the quantity of useful features it is delivered with as standard. In addition to being fully operation within Egypt’s health and food logistics ecosystems, CoolTeck is also being rolled out in the Gulf region, an expansion fuelled by governments in these nations investing more time and energy into the likes of health resilience, regulated pharma logistics, and automated compliance. This, combined with the plug-and-play nature of this IP67-certified system, makes it the ideal solution for those looking to protect their goods whilst bolstering their operational effectiveness. The second system comprising this flagship line-up is AirZenn, which was launched by SSTM Egypt in an attempt to counteract the rising population and urban density issues being faced across Africa’s nations. AirZenn tackles these challenges by delivering a flexible, scalable air-quality monitoring platform. The system is used across everything from industrial zones and schools to construction areas, where it offers reports on areas including CO2 levels and ambient temperatures to noise levels and hazards. Exploring this process further, Amr told us: “Cities and municipalities alike are using AirZenn to meet their environmental regulation targets, improve zoning decisions, and even engage with public health initiatives. Its modular sensors then also connect via LoRa or BLE, pushing data to the cloud with local fallback storage for redundancy. This is a particularly key feature in regions with inconsistent connectivity.” The final platform to mention is IoTPIA, which was touched on above. As the most versatile platform for IOT/AIoT development in Africa, this solution is the backbone of many of SSTM Egypt’s projects and was described by Amr as being a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ for IoT. Simply put, the system combines multi-protocol support with advanced security, flexible
7 Leading IoT Solution Provider of the Year 2025 – Egypt integration, and cloud-agnostic computability – making it useful for powering everything from smart-lighting controllers to waste-bin monitors and parking sensors. The IoTPIA platform drastically reduces IoT project timelines from 12-18 months to under three weeks, offering clients a massive time and cost advantage. This is particularly critical in Africa, where agility and affordability are both key.” All of these solutions reflect SSTM Egypt’s mission to design and develop innovative products geared towards improving quality of life for those in industrial, municipal, and residential environments across Africa and the Middle East. This mission aligns with the aims of Africa more broadly – an economic climate where digital transformation, sustainability, and industrial competitiveness are all top priorities. Diving deeper into this, Amr explained: “Our solutions are designed to fill the critical gap between global innovation and local implementation – enabling governments and businesses to adopt intelligent systems without an overdependence on foreign platforms.” Beyond this, SSTM Egypt’s local focus also contributes to local empowerment and the provision of affordable digital infrastructure for underserved areas. In a similar vein, SSTM Egypt is equally committed to contributing to Africa’s rapidly diversifying economy, a feat it achieves by creating local jobs in area such as training and maintenance, improving local prospects by offering internships and university kits, digitising existing systems to help industries enter into the digital age without costly infrastructure developments, and even promoting environmental awareness. As for the company’s next steps, upcoming initiatives include scaling the deployment of CoolTeck across North Africa and the Gulf, launching IoTPIA as a SaaS platform for the public – unlocking faster onboarding and more customisation, and even adding TinyML capabilities to some of its devices to promote better decision making. Last but not least, SSTM Egypt is dedicated to co-developing smart-city pilots alongside local leaders, growing Africa’s smart infrastructure through traffic and pollution systems. Ultimately, SSTM Egypt stands out in the field of customised industrial IoT for a number of reasons: the speed of its customisations (days as opposed to months), a deep industrial focus grounded in real-world results, and an end-to-end capability that sees everything handled inhouse – from the hardware prototypes to the firmware. As Amr himself eloquently put it: “This makes us more than just a product provider – but a reliable technology partner that walks with our clients from concept to rollout and beyond.” A versatile visionary with unprecedented abilities and a dual nature as both a deep-tech provider and a trusted local implementation partner, SSTM Egypt is setting the standard across everything from smart, coldchain monitoring systems to low-power smart sensors. Its unrivalled IoT/AIoT platforms help present Egypt, the rest of Africa, and the Middle East as innovative IoT competitors on the world’s stage, making the company a fitting winner of this award and more than deserving of a place in this programme. Contact Details Contact: Amr Talaat Company: SSTM Egypt Web Address: https://sstm-eg.com/
MEA | African Excellence Awards 2025 Standing as the most populated country in Africa, Nigeria is a growing hub for the medical tourism market – offering significant opportunities for the sector. At the forefront of this evolving industry is Cynosure Aesthetics, a unique medical facility providing nonsurgical and surgical aesthetic procedures in alignment with global best practices. Helmed by Dr. Ogbe Omoruyi, Cynosure Aesthetics is on a mission to meet the increasing demand for aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in Nigeria, all the while setting exceptionally high standards across the field. Based in Lagos, Cynosure Aesthetic is more than a plastic surgery clinic; it is a testament to Dr. Omoruyi’s vision and the dedication of his team to providing world-class aesthetic care to its community in Nigeria. Since its inception in 2016, the facility has offered affordable, high quality services that rival the best international providers – not only transforming the lives of countless individuals but also shaping the future of healthcare across the country. Today, Cynosure Aesthetic proudly stands at the forefront of medical tourism reversal, upholding the highest standards of patient care and surgical excellence. Cynosure Aesthetic offers a comprehensive range of aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries, leveraging advanced technologies and techniques to achieve its clients’ wants and needs. These procedures include liposuction, mini-abdominoplasty, nasal injury repair, otoplasty, rhinoplasty, skin graft surgery, medial thigh lift, scar revision, fat transfers for liposculpturing, and a variety of breast surgeries, such as lump excision, conservation, mastectomy, and augmentation – with implants and with fat. Combining world-class expertise with a deep understanding of the unique aesthetic needs of its clients, Cynosure Aesthetic has certainly distinguished itself as a premier facility renowned across the African region for its cutting-edge technology, personalised care, and commitment to safety – each of these qualities combining to ensure exceptional outcomes that exceed client expectations. Its dedication to delivering transformative results, whilst stringently upholding the highest ethical standards, makes Cynosure Aesthetic the trusted leader in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. To maintain its position at the industry’s forefront, Cynosure Aesthetic is driven by a series of core values, which combine to form the very foundation of its sustained success. Comprising excellence, innovation, teamwork, credibility, and compassion, each of these values contribute towards a seamless, patientled experience that delivered by a team of hardworking professionals expertly trained to uphold these values at all times. Each member of its team prioritises excellence through an unwavering commitment to exceptional results and promote innovation by embracing creating thinking and state-ofthe-art technologies, adopting a collaborative approach at all times. The facility ensures that every member of staff demonstrates integrity, trust, and transparency in all interactions, as well as a commitment to compassion through patient-centric care rooted in empathy and understanding. “The internal culture in our organisation is grounded in our core values,” Dr. Omoruyi told us. “These values shape the way we interact with patients and colleagues, and they are consistently reinforced throughout the organisation to maintain a high standard of service delivery. We attract the best talent by aligning our recruitment strategies with the core values of our internal culture. We understand that attracting the right candidates goes beyond qualifications; it’s also about finding individuals who resonate with our mission and are committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care.” To ensure that all members of the team remain aligned with Cynosure Aesthetic’s vision, the facility conducts monthly clinical meetings. In these meetings, staff from different units present on various medical topics relevant to the hospital’s practice. These sessions promote interdisciplinary learning and help to keep everyone informed about ever-evolving best practices. This day of the month is set aside exclusively for training and capacity building, with no surgeries performed whatsoever – allowing staff to focus entirely on learning, including how to effectively operate new or specialised equipment. With this approach, Cynosure Aesthetic is wellequipped to lead the market with exceptional, unrivalled surgical solutions and patient-led care. The facility has recently seen a significant milestone in the establishment of a larger, state-of-the-art hospital in a more accessible part of Lagos. This facility is equipped with advanced medical technologies and modern infrastructure designed to enhance patient care and comfort. Not only is this facility designed to boost patient comfort and improve care, but it also features a significantly upgraded Accident and Emergency department. Previously, Cynosure Aesthetic’s emergency services were rather limited in scope, with a strong focus on plastic surgery-related cased. However, the new unit has been expanded and equipped to handle a broader range of emergencies – medical, surgical, and traumarelated – establishing it as a crucial resource for the surrounding community. This upgrade ensures that Cynosure Aesthetic can provide timelier life-saving interventions at a more readily available level to people in the area, especially during critical situations where every second is crucial. From an economic perspective, this expansion has created new employment opportunities across the region – both directly within the hospital and indirectly through supporting industries, such as medical suppliers, construction, and local businesses. Not only that, but it has also contributed significantly towards Nigeria’s healthcare industry by improving access to quality plastic surgery services, thus reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to the mainland for such services – another step forward in Cynosure Aesthetic’s mission to reduce outgoing medical tourism. “The completed expansion also reflects a growing trend,” commented Dr. Omoruyi, “of healthcare investment in Africa – demonstrating that high quality, locally accessible healthcare can be achieved on the continent. We are working to help retain healthcare spending within Africa – particularly within the field of plastic surgery – ultimately supporting the continent’s sustainable economic development.” From committing to continual improvement to delivering practices wholly rooted in patientled care, Cynosure Aesthetic has risen to stand as a leader in Nigeria’s medical landscape. Balancing its social responsibilities with Best Plastic Surgery Facility 2025 – Nigeria
9 Best Plastic Surgery Facility 2025 – Nigeria its pursuit of surgical excellence, Cynosure Aesthetic exemplifies just what modern healthcare in Nigeria can achieve. Through an unwavering focus on accessibility, innovation, and compassionate service, Cynosure Aesthetic is not just setting benchmarks – it is redefining them. In every procedure, every patient interaction, and every milestone achievement, the facility champions a future where worldclass aesthetic care is not a luxury but a standard, right at home. Contact: Dr. Ogbe Omoruyi Company: Cynosure Aesthetic Web Address: www.cynosureaesthetics.com
MEA | African Excellence Awards 2025 Savour Solutions (Pty) Ltd is a food preservation company specialising in reducing waste and extending the shelf life of products across the food industry. From its home in the KwaZuluNatal province of South Africa, the company delivers a range of advanced solutions to culinary, meat, dairy, and produce manufacturers of all shapes and sizes, from large-scale food processers to those African SMEs that share its passion for innovation. On the back of the company being recognised with this award, we caught up with Luba Schotter, its founding director, to learn more about these solutions. egardless of their size or speciality area, all food manufacturers are passionate about product quality, sustained freshness, and innovating within their space. Through products like organic acids, botanical extracts, bio-disruptive extracts, and a state-of-the-art range of food preservation technology, Savour Solutions supports them across these areas. Helping its clients work towards their shared goal of “fresher for longer”, the company guarantees the longevity of their products, all without having to sacrifice on quality or taste. Be it keeping grated cheese fresh so that it can be safely exported, stabilising meat products during load shedding (the process where electricity companies disconnect power in certain areas to manage demand), or even stopping fresh fruits and vegetables from turning bad, Savour Solutions’ cutting-edge solutions strengthen supply chains and support the security of the food sector at every turn. The company’s tagline, “The Missing Piece in Freshness”, reflects not only these aims, but also its status as a trusted industry partner. Led by the guiding principle of sustainable practice, Savour Solutions’ ethos revolves around a respect for food – from farm to fork. This is seen through its “zero waste, zero to landfill” pledge, highlighting the company-wide belief that waste reduction is a responsibility that should be shared across the food industry’s entire value chain. By helping manufacturers, retailers, and even consumers to preserve the quality of goods and extend shelf lives, the team here are more than doing their part and stopping good food from being wasted. The sustainable undercurrent that runs throughout Savour Solutions can be seen across the actions the company takes on a daily basis. For example, the team here are always working towards the next innovation concerning their sustainable-focused products, honing their manufacturing processes to make them more responsible, and collaborating with their partners to optimise entire supply chains. Beyond Most Innovative Dairy Solutions Experts 2025 – South Africa R this, staff are simply encouraged to think sustainably – raising the bar for better practice across the space as they do so. A big part of what makes Savour Solutions so special is that its focus rests on creating solutions that align with the specific challenges Africa is facing when it comes to issues around food preservation and the reliability of supply chains. The company’s recent projects are all fitting examples of this, particularly its work with dairy products, which has been singled out with this award. It is in this area that Savour Solutions’ preservation technology shines, with food processors seeing returns from retailers massively decrease. “Some processors have even reported zero returns since the adoption of our unique preservation technology. This has not only reduced food waste but also improved profitability and consumer trust.” Diving deeper into Savour Solutions’ dairy-based solutions, the company’s main areas of focus within this category are preventing cheese mould (which it does through the use of Savacin) and yoghurt contamination (with its all-natural additives having been shown to boost the shelf life of yoghurt products by as much as 20 days), as well as treating cheese brine with a uniquely formulated bio-disruptive technology to keep it contaminate free. Moreover, Savour Solutions is proud to report that it has recently completed a successful trial concerning a product relating to refrigerated grated cheese, which can now last up to an impressive nine months without spoiling. The reverberations of this breakthrough are sure to be felt across this sphere, with dairy producers across Africa now finding it easier to expand their operations and go international – without fears around the quality of their products being impacted. Long term, this could significantly increase Africa’s global-trade footprint. Outside of dairy, Savour Solutions’ expertise is also afforded to meat producers, where the company again homes in on the issues unique to the African food industry in an attempt to raise standards and eradicate waste. When it comes to meat, the unreliability of cold-chain infrastructure and the impact of load shedding in Africa result in unstable conditions, which could prove detrimental to product safety. Using biodisruptive technologies such as Bio Tech D and Surf X, Savour Solutions is able to prolong freshness and reduce loss. Similar solutions are also deployed to manufacturers of fish, with equally impressive results. As Luba explained: “We are currently developing a solution tailored for fresh tilapia, which is a vital source of protein for many African communities. Our goal is to significantly reduce spoilage during both harvesting and distribution, enabling more efficient supply and also creating export opportunities for many aquaculture operations across the continent.” As these examples show, the great work Savour Solutions is doing goes beyond reducing food waste and extending the shelf life of products – it is also empowering businesses across Africa to complete on the global stage, creating jobs for developing communities and ultimately strengthening the resilience of a continent that has long faced hardship. “In an economic climate where every resource counts, our mission directly contributes to building a more sustainable, affordable, and foodsecure future for Africa”, Luba added. Given the transformative impact it is continuing to have on food manufacturing and processing in Africa, Savour Solutions has an incredibly bright future ahead of it. Although its focus today is solely on Africa – especially the SADC region – growing interest from companies abroad could see the company expand outside of the continent within the next few years. When it does, it will take its mission of “zero waste, zero to landfill” with it, helping to reduce food waste globally in the process, just as it has already with Africa. Finally, concerning the more immediate future, Savour Solutions is seeking to continue to build a name for itself in African markets, nurturing relationships with like-minded companies and also expanding its distribution network. Alongside this, the aim is to continue to introduce
11 Most Innovative Dairy Solutions Experts 2025 – South Africa new innovations in the field of preservation, as well as to lay the groundwork for its aforementioned international growth so that it may strike when the time is right. Ultimately, when it comes to pinpointing what makes Savour Solutions such a standout in the realm of sustainable food processing, it all comes down to the company’s status as much more than just a supplier. Everything from its shelf-life extension solutions to its food preservation technology showcases the company as a mission-led innovator, and a company tackling the very real issue of food waste through a combination of practical science and a relentless focus on sustainability. This makes it the ultimate partner for its clients. “Savour Solutions (Pty) Ltd is more than a food preservation company – we’re a purpose-driven partner working to reshape the future of food in Africa and beyond.” Contact: Luba Schotter Company: Savour Solutions (Pty) Ltd Web Address: https://savoursolutions.com/
MEA | African Excellence Awards 2025 A member of a renowned global network, Wealthbag Logistics is an arm of Wealthbag Investments. The customs clearing and shipping company is present at all Zimbabwe’s major ports of entry, able to move valued cargo to and from anywhere in the world. We caught up with William Chibanda below, Chief Marketing Officer at Wealthbag Logistics, as the company is named in the African Excellence Awards 2025. Wealthbag Logistics was founded in 2014, with the aim of becoming the most sought-after customs clearing and global freight forwarding partner of choice. The company serves a diverse clientele that cuts across numerous markets, including mining, agriculture, manufacturing, energy and fuels, telecommunications, and the retail sector. With no job too big or too small, Wealthbag Logistics approaches every need of its customers with the utmost flexibility and determination, adding value to their business operations. “Our mission is to exceed customer expectations,” William told us, “by providing superior customs clearance and global freight forwarding solutions that include air, sea, road, and rail. This mission aligns with the current economic climate in Africa by facilitating trade and ensuring efficient movement of goods, which is crucial for economic development.” Since its inception, Wealthbag Logistics has operated upon a foundation of quality, innovation, and flexibility, allowing these values to guide its every decision. The company has made a commitment to offering unparalleled 24/7 services, ensuring that clients receive timely and efficient logistics solutions. Emphasising this customer-centric approach, Wealthbag Logistics tailors its services to meet the individual needs of each client it serves, further fostering trust and long-term partnerships across the industry. Wealthbag Logistics stands out in the market for its excellence, but what makes the company truly unique is its comprehensive service offering, which includes customs clearance; freight forwarding via sea, road, and air; general and bonded warehouse management; imports and exports; logistics; and now, product sourcing. The company’s strength lies not only in its vast knowledge and industry experience, but also in its dedicated client-centricity, continually working towards its overarching goal of adding value to its clients’ businesses. By maintaining membership in global logistics networks and strategically positioning itself at major border ports, Wealthbag Logistics has ensured that it continues to provide seamless and efficient services to its clientele. The company has established its main branch at Beitbridge, which is the main hub for all inland shipments into Zimbabwe from South Africa. Alongside this, Wealthbag logistics maintains branches at Forbes Border Post to cater to shipment coming into Zambia through Beira Port and Chirundu Border post, as well as representations at Nyamapanda and Plumtree border posts. To retain its position at the forefront of the industry, Wealthbag Logistics understands that it must keep a close eye on its internal operations. The company strives to foster an internal culture centred on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction and routinely invest in employee training and development to ensure that each member if the team is equipped with the necessary skills to deliver unmatched services. By promoting open communication and innovation amongst its team, Wealthbag Logistics ensures a cohesive and motivated workforce, with each member working towards a shared vision of excellence. Accomplishing such a culture is no easy feat, and so the work starts from the initial hiring process. “We seek candidates who are passionate about logistics and customer service,” William explained. “We offer internships and training programmes, providing opportunities for growth and advancement. By creating a supportive work environment and offering competitive benefits, we attract and retain the top talent in the region.” Wealthbag Logistics is not only dedicated to the growth and development of its team, but also deeply committed to uplifting the communities it serves. The company has been involved in a number of corporate social responsibility initiatives, such as providing sustainable sanitary wear to its local community, as well as organising a Christmas party in commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December. At its core, Wealthbag Logistics understands the true importance of giving back to its community and always strives to make a positive impact through various corporate social responsibility programmes. The company’s drive to better serve its community goes hand-in-hand with its commitment to top-notch client service. In recent months, Wealthbag Logistics has broadened its offerings to include global product sourcing, with the aim of enabling Zimbabwean businesses to access a wider network of international suppliers and strengthen their market presence. Not only does this expansion reflect Wealthbag Logistics’ determination to diversity its offerings to deliver exceptional solutions, but it also reflects the company’s resolve to empower businesses across Africa to grow and thrive with newfound access to a broader range of products. Looking ahead, Wealthbag Logistics plans to further refine its operations by expanding its offerings and strengthening its presence throughout the region. At present, its enhancement initiatives will focus on leveraging cutting-edge technologies and building strategic network partnerships, with the ultimate aim of enhancing its operational efficiency and continue to contribute significantly to the growth of Africa’s economy. “In the coming year, we intend to focus on digital transformation to streamline operations and improve customer service,” William shared. “We also plan to explore new markets and service areas, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the logistics industry in Africa.” From its unparalleled expertise to its peopleled approach, Wealthbag Logistics has certainly solidified itself as the go-to partner for customs clearing and freight forwarding solutions across countless industries. Today, Wealthbag Logistics stands as a company renowned for its commitment to excellence and has been recognised as such in the African Excellence Awards 2025 with the title of Zimbabwe’s Best Customs Clearing and Freight Forwarding Company 2025. For more information, visit Wealthbag Logistics’ official website today. Company: Wealthbag Logistics Web Address: www.wealthbag.co.zw Best Customs Clearing & Freight Forwarding Company 2025 – Zimbabwe
13 Best Customs Clearing & Freight Forwarding Company 2025 – Zimbabwe
MEA | African Excellence Awards 2025 In today’s fast-paced environment, brands now need more than mere marketing; they need dedicated storytelling, strategy, and seamless execution across platforms. There is an almost overwhelming demand for businesses to remain relevant in this space through the ongoing provision of relevant and engaging content. Enter Universal McCann Nigeria, a leading full-service media agency based dedicated to removing the guesswork from marketing by providing clients with comprehensive media strategies and solutions. As Universal McCann Nigeria is named in the African Excellence Awards 2025, we found out more about its superior services. niversal McCann Nigeria, an affiliate of IPG Mediabrands, is an instrumental player in the global advertising sphere, contributing to a network of more than 18,000 media and marketing specialists across 130 countries. Based in Lagos, the company serves a diverse range of global and local clients, hailing from an array of sectors that include finance, oil and gas, streaming services, online retail, fast-moving consumer goods, telecommunications, and non-governmental organisations. Combining better science and better art, Universal McCann Nigeria delivers better outcomes for its clients during critical media moments. To achieve this, it offers a comprehensive suite of services, comprising media strategy, planning, buying, and execution, leveraging local insights, global reach, and proprietary tools such as the Growth Accelerator. As a result, the company has achieved a leading reputation for exceptional marketing solutions that are simply unmatched by its competitors. Since its inception, Universal McCann Nigeria has operated upon a study foundation of core values. These values entail respect for all; accountability to excellence; a commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion; collaboration through trust; and an unwavering responsibility to its local communities and the future. The company utilises its core values to shape its daily operations – from client engagements to internal decision-making – ultimately fostering a Best FullService Media Company 2025 – Lagos U culture deeply rooted in care, transparency, and excellence. In fact, Universal McCann Nigeria allows these values to guide it towards its overarching mission statement, which is to empower brands to achieve their full growth potential through a people-first approach, strategic connectivity, and the smart usage of artificial intelligence. In a challenging economic climate driven by a number of varying factors, this mission aligns with the landscape’s need for efficiency, innovation, and local adaptivity – continually ensuring that brands thrive even amid the uncertainty of ongoing market fluctuations. The market is crowded with emerging marketing entities, all striving to position themselves at its very forefront. Universal McCann Nigeria stands out from the crowd for its data-driven innovation, bespoke client strategies, and curiosity-led philosophy. The company employs proprietary tools such as its Growth Accelerator, customised specifically for the Nigerian market, as well as fostering a culture that encourages bold-thinking and challenging norms – resulting in campaigns that truly shine. Universal McCann Nigeria’s approach has consistently driven remarkable results, underscoring its reputation as a trailblazer in the media industry. The agency has delivered transformative projects, including the highly successful launches of Spotify and Amazon Prime Video in Nigeria, each underpinned by deep local insights that redefined entertainment consumption nationwide. UM Nigeria has also facilitated the re-entry of Emirates Airline after a three-year hiatus and successfully launched American Express into the Nigerian market. These milestones not only reflect the agency’s exceptional execution capabilities but also its significant contribution to shaping Nigeria’s media, entertainment, and digital economy. Another notable project is the Breath of Life Campaign, revolving around a Prime Video original film following a gifted clergyman who rediscovers his purpose through an unexpected friendship - a powerful story of faith, loss, and redemption. The film has been praised for its emotional depth, strong performances, and storytelling, making it a standout in Nigerian cinema. Breath of Life received multiple awards at the 2024 Africa Magic Viewer’s Awards
15 Best Full-Service Media Company 2025 – Lagos and is a prime example of Universal McCann Nigeria’s innovative campaign capabilities. What’s more, Universal McCann Nigeria significantly influences the ongoing development of its country through the unwavering support of local Nigerian brands. Alongside this, the company also contributes towards social sustainability by supporting educational initiatives that are targeted at underprivileged children through non-governmental organisation partnerships, reinforcing its commitment to community development. Not only have these initiatives driven the team’s sense of purpose and organisational pride, but they have also impacted countless lives in the local community. At its core, Universal McCann Nigeria is a company that believes in supporting and mentoring the next generation, particularly young women. The company is proud to stand as a trailblazer for women in leadership across the advertising sector, striving to expand opportunities and make the sector more accessible to a broader range of people, including continually underrepresented and underserved groups. Universal McCann Nigeria’s CEO, Oyebimpe Fayemi, embodies this vision as a dedicated ally in advancing inclusive leadership, steering the mission with strength, resilience, and a commitment to progress. Internally, Universal McCann Nigeria has cultivated a team culture that prioritises empowerment, ownership, and professional development. The company strives to avoid micromanagement, instead encouraging autonomy and ensuring that each member of the team is recognised for their contributions. Alongside this, the team are equipped with ongoing industry-specific training, certifications – such as ARCON -, and continuous learning programmes to empower them to excel. As Universal McCann Nigeria continues to grow, the company maintains its progressive internal culture by fostering mutual respect, innovation, and resilience amongst the team. When expanding the team, Universal McCann Nigeria seeks out individuals who demonstrate adaptability, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. Possessing ACRON certification is a standard requirement for candidates, with the company investing in professional development post-hire. Combining global strength with a personalised approach has enabled Universal McCann Nigeria to take the unique position of “the big boutique agency” – a position that has enabled the company to attract top talent from across the region. This is an advantageous position for Universal McCann Nigeria to assume, propelling the company forward in its vision of empowering brands to reach their full growth potential. Moving forward, Universal McCann Nigeria aims to continue evolving its strategy tools and expand its service capabilities further, with plans to deepen its partnerships with local and international brands across diverse industries, whilst scaling up community impact initiatives. Each carefully crafted strategy marks a pivotal step towards the agency’s ultimate goal: elevating Nigerian brands to global standards – a mission that has rightfully earned Universal McCann Nigeria the prestigious title of Lagos’s Best Full-Service Media Company 2025. Contact: Omobola Olajide Company: Universal McCann Nigeria Web Address: www.universalmccann-nig.com
MEA | African Excellence Awards 2025 16 Best Corporate Compliance Solutions Provider 2025 - South Africa Compliance Hub Consulting (Pty) Ltd (CHC), proudly recognized as South Africa’s Best Corporate Compliance Solutions Provider in 2023, 2024 and 2025, has been a cornerstone of South Africa’s business landscape since 2012. Their experienced team of experts brings over 70 years of combined knowledge to assist local and international companies of all sizes in navigating the complexities of corporate compliance. ailored Solutions, Enhanced by Unrivaled Innovation CHC understands that a one-size-fits-all approach falls short. They prioritize creating practical solutions specifically designed to address each client’s unique compliance requirements. This client-centricity, further enhanced by innovative tools like CHiP, their AI-powered chatbot offering immediate access to key compliance information, solidifies their position as the leading provider in South Africa. Core Values: Driving Client Success and Cutting-Edge Solutions A set of core values guides CHC’s day-to-day operations. These values emphasize client focus, leveraging experience, a holistic approach, staff and client education, integrity, efficiency, and a drive for innovation. This commitment to innovation is evident in the recent launch of CHiP, our AI-powered chatbot designed to provide clients across South Africa with instant answers and streamline their compliance processes across various areas, including B-BBEE. Mission: Empowering South African Businesses Through Expert Compliance CHC’s mission statement aligns perfectly with the current economic climate in South Africa. They strive to make compliance work for businesses, not the other way around. This translates to supporting the sustainable success of each client, with a particular focus on BroadBased Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) compliance, aligning with government initiatives to promote economic transformation and inclusion throughout the nation. Future Focus: Cybersecurity, Sustainable Supply Chains, and Intelligent AI Assistance for South Africa Looking ahead, CHC plans to focus on two key areas: cybersecurity compliance solutions and building ethical and sustainable supply chains. They aim to empower South African businesses to navigate the growing threat of cyberattacks and comply with data protection regulations. This commitment to constant innovation also drives their development of tools like CHiP, an AI-powered chatbot that provides clients across South Africa with instant access to compliance information and guidance, making navigation of complex regulations more efficient. Building South Africa’s Leading Team of Compliance Experts Attracting and retaining top talent is a priority for CHC. Their stellar reputation as South Africa’s best corporate compliance solutions provider plays a significant role. “Our team’s extensive experience and high average tenure – eight times the national average – reflects our expertise and reputation,” they say. “This attracts candidates seeking to work with established professionals and learn from the best in the country.” A competitive salary and benefits package, coupled with a positive and collaborative work environment, further strengthens their employee value proposition. Furthermore, CHC utilizes skills-based and cultural fit assessments during recruitment, ensuring a strong cultural fit within their team. Investing in the Future of South African Compliance The compliance landscape in South Africa is expected to continue growing in complexity. CHC anticipates an increase in demand for their services and plans to expand their team to meet this need. Investing in training and development will ensure their staff stays current with industry changes, allowing them to evolve alongside the field and continue providing the best service in South Africa. The Undisputed Leader: Corporate Hub Consulting Corporate Hub Consulting (Pty) Ltd’s dedication to client service, innovation, and its unwavering commitment to the field of corporate compliance have rightfully earned them the title of South Africa’s Best Corporate Compliance Solutions Provider 2025. The future is bright for this exceptional company. Contact Details Company: Compliance Hub Consulting (Pty) Ltd Contact: Hilton Johnson, CEO Email: [email protected] Website: www.compliancehub.co.za T South Africa’s Trusted Compliance Partner: Guiding South African Businesses to Unparalleled Success
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