Western Cape Business 2017 edition

FOCUS
• Abagold Ltd, the world’s largest
abalone producer outside
Asia
• Afrinatural Holding, producers
of natural botanical ingredients
from all over Africa
• All Women Recycling, transforming
plastic waste into
beautiful handicrafts
• Bassalicious, producers of a
range of vibrant and tasteful
natural sauces
• Chimpel, an innovative design
and manufacturing company
producing exotic leather
merchandise
• Franz Falke Textiles, producers
of socks and fine hosiery
• Geo Data Design, a geospatial
solution provider providing
industry-leading geographic
solutions tailor-made for
Africa
• JF Hillebrand, an international
service provider specialising
in the logistics of beer, wine,
spirits and keg supply chain
management
• Klein Karoo International,
the world’s leading producer
of ostrich goods, including
meat, leather, feathers and
by-products
• Mervyn Gers Ceramics, specialits
in bespoke dinnerware
designed in collaboration with
award-winning chefs
• Oh Voila design, manufacture,
retail and wholesale of
affordable fashion jewellery,
accessories and corporate
handmade gifts
• Peninsula Drums, specialises
in the manufacture and
reconditioning of metal
and plastic drums as well as
bulk containers
• Technical Systems, a key manufturer and world-wide distributor of
livestock feeding equipment
Abagold Ltd won both the overall prize for excellence in exporting, which
included R50 000 in cash and the Cape Chamber award for the best nonmanufacturing
company.
For the first time in the history of the competition, there was a tie
for second place with Franz Falke Textiles, which won R20 000 worth
of IT assistance from Auric Consulting, and Geo Data Design winning
a R20 000 branding refresh supplied by Fable Design (also an Auric
Consulting company).
The Transnet Port Terminals Trophy for the best engineering/manufacturing
company went to Franz Falke Textiles (Pty) Ltd. The company
makes 8.5-million pairs of running socks, mostly for the United States
market and is the first textile company to be an export winner for
many years.
Geo Data Design (Pty) Ltd, a company that interprets satellite images
and information, won the Credit Guarantee Small Exporter Trophy
and the Gerald Wolman Trophy for excellence in exporting to African
countries. It also shared the overall second prize with Franz Falke
Textiles (Pty) Ltd.
Another double winner was Technical Systems (Pty) Ltd, which
manufactures automated feeding systems for intensive pig and poultry
farms. It won the Bonitas Innovation Trophy and the SAGITA Trophy
for excellence in design.
The Nedbank Trophy for Transformation went to Bassalicious (Pty)
Ltd, a company that produces and exports quality sauces.
The Exporter of the Year is not judged on the volume or value of
product produced, but on excellence in exporting. This creates a level
playing field for both big and small exporters.
For the 2016 competition, we did some arithmetic and found that
the entrants earned more than R3-billion in foreign exchange for the
Western Cape. The finalists alone brought in more than R1.7-billion! Add
to that the previous entrants that continue to export, and we are looking
at many billions of rands brought into the Western Cape economy.
Also, the provincial government and the City of Cape Town are keen
to promote business and go out of their way to make it a little easier
to get things done. The Chamber believes that this kind of teamwork
and quality of enterprise and innovation shown by our exporters will
make for a better future for us all. Here’s to the 27th Exporter of the
Year in 2017!
For more information on the 2017 Exporter of the Year competition,
please email Mary-Jean Thomas-Johnson at mary-jean@
capechamber.co.za or contact her on +27 21 402 4300.
61 WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2017