KENYA – The winners of the individual honorary awards and the contestants for the competitive categories at the Africa Food Industry Excellence Awards 2018 have been announced.

The individual winners of the honorary Awards categories are some of the most outstanding investors and industry managers from 6 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa, while almost 60 entries were received from companies in the region.

“This year’s Awards ceremony is set to be entirely different from the first one we hosted last year. The interest and response has been, to say the least, very humbling to us as the organisers. We realise that the industry has been waiting for this kind of initiative for a long time,” says Francis Juma of FoodWorld Media, the organisers of the Awards ceremony.

With a strong field of founders from the region, this year’s edition includes two new categories for the individual winners: the Most Influential Food Industry Manager and the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award that celebrate some of the most influential industry managers and young investors in the region.

In a major boost to the Awards, some of the most outstanding small, medium and large companies sent their applications to be considered for the opportunity to win in various competitive categories.

These included entries for the New Plants of the Year, New Products of the Year and Company Initiatives of the Year, which covered Sustainability and Training Initiatives of the Year.

Now in its second year, the Africa Food Industry Excellence Awards seek to recognise the most outstanding innovations and excellence in Africa’s food, beverage and milling industry.

The Awards had an expanded scope not only in the categories available but also in the countries covered, with companies and individuals from 7 countries – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Burundi – eligible to participate.

The Awards ceremony is planned for September 14, 2018 at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya from 14.00 hours till late.

“We expect a full house at the Awards ceremony, which will be one of the most important networking platforms this year for all the industry stakeholders in the region. We expect Government officials to join the industry and other stakeholders in an evening of fun and celebration that will not be forgotten for a long time,” says Juma.

Preceding the Awards ceremony proper will be a number of panel discussions where the finalist companies in the various categories from the region will discuss some of the market trends, opportunities and challenges they face in their path to excellence.

More information about the event Awards can be found at www.awards.foodbusinessafrica.com

Here is the list of winners of the individual award winners and the entries for the competitive categories for this year’s Awards ceremony.

A short-list of the finalists for the competitive categories will be released shortly.

HONORARY INDIVIDUAL AWARDS CATEGORIES WINNERS

NAME COMPANY
AFRICA FOOD INDUSTRY CHAMPIONS
Kevin Ashley Founder, Java Restaurants
Said Salim Bakhresa Founder & Chairman, Bakhresa Group
Khalid Mohammed Founder & Group Chairman, Trade Kings Group
Dr. Carl Irwin Former CEO, Zambeef Products PLC
Mustafa Awel Managing Director, Mullege PLC, Ethiopia
Andrew Rugasira Founder, Good African Coffee, Uganda
Jane Karuku Managing Director, Kenya Breweries Ltd
Lucy Karuga Founder, Eldoville Dairy
Dipam Shah Managing Director, Glacier Products
Dr. Mohammed El Sahili Founder & Chairman, Fairy Bottling, Zambia
OP Narang Former Resident Director, Agrochemical & Food Company
Gavin Bell Founder, Kengeles Restaurants
MOST INFLUENTIAL FOOD INDUSTRY LEADERS
David Heath Manufacturing Director, Brookside Dairy
Gaudence Mukolwe Former Brewer, Tanzania Breweries Ltd
Grace Ngari Former Quality Assurance Manager, Nestle Kenya
Professor S.K Mbugua Lecturer, Food Science Nutrition & Technology, University of Nairobi
Caroline Outa Head, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Certification
Lawrence Lusiola Former Lead Auditor, SGS Kenya
Dr. Jan Low Principal Researcher, International Potato Center

 

YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS OF THE YEAR
NAME COMPANY
Elizabeth Gikebe Mhogo Foods Ltd
Martin Ssali Smart Foods Ltd, Uganda
Senai Wolderufael Feed Green Exports Ltd, Ethiopia
Eric Muthomi Stawi Foods Ltd

NEW PRODUCT OF THE YEAR CATEGORIES CONTESTANTS

CATEGORY OF PRODUCT COMPANY
DAIRY PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
BIO Yoghurt fruit on the bottom Bio Foods Ltd
BIO Barista Milk Bio Foods Ltd
Delamere Fruit Yoghurt Brookside Dairy Ltd
Fresh Dairy Flavored Yoghurt Brookside Dairy Ltd, Uganda
Dairy Fresh Yoghurt (Disney pack) Brookside Dairy Ltd
Dairy Fresh Flavored Milk UHT (Disney pack) Brookside Dairy Ltd
Dairyland Ice Cream Glacier Products Ltd
Dairyland Extruded Ice Cream Glacier Products Ltd
SOFT BEVERAGES PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Schweppes C+ soft drink Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, Kenya
Minute Maid Fruity Boost with Milk and Nutrients Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, Kenya
Minute Maid Juice with Fruit Bits (Orange & Mango) Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, Kenya
Tunda Fruit Juice UHT pack Tropikal Brands Ltd
Suntop Juice UHT pack Bidcoro Africa Ltd
Squishy fruit drink Squishy Drinks
Club and Club Energy Drink Highland Mineral Water Ltd
Thunderlight Energy Drink can Fairy Bottling, Zambia
HOT BEVERAGES PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Attitude teas Gold Crown Beverages Ltd
Minute Maid Fuze Tea Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, Kenya
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Tusker Cider East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), Kenya
Zinga Beer East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), Kenya
Orijin AHS (Spirit) East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), Kenya
Smirnoff Ice Green Apple Flavor East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), Kenya
CHILLED AND FRESH PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
QMP Chicken Nuggets Quality Meat Packers Ltd
Aunty Betty’s Ready Meal Rice Caliber Foods Ltd
MILLED, CEREALS & PULSES PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Amaize Premium Sifted Maize Meal Capwell Industries Ltd
Amana Rice & Pulses Unga Holdings Ltd
Ndungo Meals Ready-to-use supplementary food Prosoya Kenya Ltd
Nootri Family of nutritious flours Africa Improved Foods Ltd, Rwanda
Noodies Ugali Noodles with Sukuma wiki Bidco Africa Ltd
Mhogo Cassava Flour Mhogo Foods
SUGAR AND CONFECTIONERY PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Dairyland Compound Chocolate Glacier Products Ltd
Dairyland Chocolart bars Glacier Products Ltd

NEW PLANT OF THE YEAR CATEGORIES CONTESTANTS 

COMPANY DETAIL
DAIRY PLANT OF THE YEAR
Sameer Agriculture & Livestock Ltd New dairy in Nakuru, Kenya
New KCC Ltd Expanded dairy plant in Eldoret, Kenya
SOFT BEVERAGES PLANT
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, Kenya New hot-fill beverage plant in Nairobi, Kenya
Tropikal Brands Ltd New juice drinks plant in Nairobi, Kenya
Fairy Bottling, Zambia New soft drinks plant in Lusaka, Zambia
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PLANT OF THE YEAR
East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), Kenya New Canning Line Nairobi,Kenya
CHILLED AND FRESH PLANT OF THE YEAR
Quality Meat Packers Ltd New chicken nuggets factory in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenchic Ltd New processed chicken plant in Thika, Kenya
MILLING PLANT OF THE YEAR
Proctor & Allan EA Ltd New breakfast cereals plant in Limuru, Kenya
Africa Improved Foods Ltd New milled products plant in Kigali, Rwanda
SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY PLANT
Glacier Products Ltd New chocolate factory in Magana, Kenya
Wrigley’s East Africa Ltd New Sweets Factory, Athi River, Kenya

COMPANY INITIATIVES OF THE YEAR CONTESTANTS

COMPANY DETAIL
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), Kenya Energy efficiency improvement program in Nairobi, Kenya
Bio Foods Products Ltd Lighter PET milk bottle introduction, used bottle return program and energy efficiency program in Nairobi, Kenya
Fairy Bottling Zambia Ltd Implementation of the Alliance for Water Stewardship International standard in Lusaka, Zambia
New KCC Ltd Water, energy and waste management initiative in Dandora plant, Kenya
TRAINING/CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, Kenya Apprentice program at the factory in Nairobi, Kenya
East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), Kenya Training program at the factory in Nairobi, Kenya
Fairy Bottling, Zambia Training Program at the factory in Lusaka, Zambia

SUPPLIER PROJECT/INITIATIVES OF THE YEAR CONTESTANTS

COMPANY DETAIL
SUPPLIER PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Capel Food Ingredients Ltd New flavors factory in Nairobi, Kenya
Afribon Ltd New flavors factory in Kiambu, Kenya

 

COMPANY DETAIL
SUPPLIER TRAINING INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Buhler Ltd Millers training program in Ethiopia
Ingredion Holding LLC University students training program in Kenya and Uganda

 

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (R&D) TEAM OF THE YEAR CONTESTANTS

COMPANY DETAIL
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF THE YEAR
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, Kenya New product entries above
East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), Kenya New product entries above
Brookside Dairy Ltd New product entries above
Bio Food Products Ltd New product entries above
Glacier Products Ltd New product entries above