SOUTH AFRICAN BREWERIES: Toasting a Future Filled with Cheer
The South African Breweries (SAB) is today the world’s largest brewer and a truly landmark South African company. As it has throughout its lifetime, SAB continues to go beyond beer brewing and use its legacy and heritage to support, empower and uplift in order to better lives across the country it has always been proud to call home.
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More than 125 years has passed since SAB’s humble beginnings, a time in which change has been rife and significant. Throughout roaring inflation, political violence, labour unrest and restrictive trading sanctions, SAB has remained guided by the vision of its original team of leaders to create a sustainable business that would develop and invest in the communities within which it operates.
“What was once the passion project of a man from England has now become a fixed point on the South African landscape,” SAB beams, “working in balance with the land and her people, to create something magnificent.
“We’ve had many challenges along the way, but have weathered the course. From the first batch of home-brewed beer, to a state-of-the-art facility overflowing with love for our craft and our country, we’ve learned what it means to grow, and what it means to be part of something great.”
PROUDLY LOCAL
“We always have been, and will continue to be, a part of the fabric of South Africa. For us, South Africa is not just another market. South Africa is our home.”
Over the years, SAB has become truly entrenched in the landscape of its place and culture of origin. “As South Africa goes through changes,” SAB expands, “we have changed too – finding new, better ways to source ingredients, produce world-class beer, and give back to the people and places we work with.
“Our home comes first. To date, we source almost 100% of our raw materials locally, which includes the local farms which grow the ingredients used to brew our quality beers, and the factories that produce the bottles they come in. It’s a closed loop, with South Africa situated perfectly in the centre.”
Fittingly, SAB maintains a steadfast commitment to giving back more than it takes, creating numerous funds and programmes to ameliorate the communities which enjoy its beers and renovating and improving the taverns that stock them, as well as platforms for young people to learn and grow to become future leaders and innovators.
“Our philosophy is rooted in bettering lives across the country, and it starts in South African soil,” says SAB. “Part of building an empowered nation means working with the people who call that country home; all SAB operations are localised to the country they’re in.
“We make sustainable investments, creating opportunity for employment across South Africa and driving real, tangible economic growth wherever the SAB logo is displayed.”
SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN
Social innovators have been among the most richly-recognised by SAB in recent years, with more than R15 million awarded to 17 entrepreneurs at the 13th annual SAB Foundation Social Innovation and 8th annual Disability Empowerment Awards last October. “These awards stand as a testament to the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to fostering entrepreneurial development in South Africa,” the company stated.
“The programme is focused on supporting businesses that have developed products, services, business models and processes which directly address social challenges, while simultaneously creating a sustainable business model,” added Bridgit Evans, SAB Foundation Executive Director. “It is heartening to see these deserving entrepreneurs provide solutions for the challenges affecting communities across our country with their innovative approaches.”
The all-encompassing drive to support and sustain extends through the lifeblood of SAB, with the company able to proudly toast its inclusion among the Top Employers for 2023. “As a business that is focused on leading and growing the beer category responsibly, SAB also has an ambition to be the employer of choice in South Africa,” the company rounded up, with Vice President of People, Bridget Makhura, leading the celebrations.
“SAB is a company that has a wide footprint with a workforce of more than 5 600 employees. This recognition bears testament to the strength of our employer brand and our ability to attract great people who help shape our amazing company and its iconic brands,” she declared.
“We are deliberate in our efforts to create a thriving workplace for all our employees which empowers them to dream big and create a future with more cheers.”