Events, news and future developments

Excellence in business rewarded

NELSPRUIT- The glitz and glamour of the Lowveld attended the prestigious Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (LCBT) Annual Awards on Saturday at the Emnotweni Arena in Riverside.
The rewards recognize excellence in the business and tourism community and are the only platform in the Lowveld that specifically honors outstanding accomplishments in business and tourism operations and leadership in the region.
Mr.  Dave Walters of MPowerFM eased the tension of the 39 finalists with his tasteful wit as 13 awards were presented. They were categorized under Specific Awards (Entrepreneur, Franchisee and Environmental Awards), Hospitality Awards (Small, Medium and Large Enterprise Awards in the hospitality industry), Business Awards (Small, Medium and Large Enterprise Awards) and Special Awards (Community Service, Tourism Personality, Business Personality and Leadership Awards).
Winner of the PricewaterhouseCoopers LCBT large enterprise award, Mr. Koos de Wet of A1 Fisheries, is the only winner that scored 100% in all the categories in the public survey.
“He completely blew us away with his business ethics and respect for his employees and consumers,” said Ms Janitta Pieterse of LCBT. Speakers at the event emphasized the volatility of the changing national and international market and how it impacted on the business and tourism sector.
“Business operates in an ever-changing environment and those who want to be successful must be able to adapt to the new challenges that the change brings,” said Mr. Johan Barnard chairman of the LCBT. According to Barnard, LCBT’s aim is to help create an environment that is conductive to a vibrant and growing economy. A Year ago nobody would have believed that South Africa would be left in darkness because of Eskom’s incapacity to provide for the growing demand in electricity. The LCBT has been involved with different role players throughout the year in order to reduce the effects of the changes in the marketplace.
Meetings were held with Eskom and Mbombela regarding load-shedding and its effect on business, traffic flow and consumer spending. The LCBT was also involved with Mputo Corridor Logistics Initiative and with Komati Ngwenya Private Sector Forum, supporting the need for a dam for the Lowveld region.   But, as LCBT president Ms. Helen Thrush pointed out, the purpose was not to try to give a run down of local or international economics, “We are going to focus on the work which we have done for you, our members and our extended effected community over the past 12 months. Let’s take responsibility for and support one another to make a difference in our community, “she said.

Price waterhouseCoopers/LCBT Large Enterprise Award
Mr. Koos de Wet- A1 Fisheries
The judges’ comment
The applause from the company’s employees is testimony to the leadership of Mr. Koos de Wet and their amazing achievements through sheer hard work and team spirit. He was a worthy recipient of the LCBT Leadership Award in 2007 and his business has become a legacy to its people: Scoring a staggering 100% in our public survey, they have raised the bar for those to follow in the years to come.
This award is presented to a business with an annual turnover which exceeds R20 million but is less than R20 million per annum and which has performed exceptionally in all aspects of business. 

A road safety campaign in conjunction with local and traffic authorities aimed at creating awareness and the consequent safekeeping of children using the road.

A1 Water, the product of a bottling plant, will soon be available to the community at affordable prices. Developed in response to the huge problem contaminated water poses, this product is being marketed at schools and clinics as well as A1’s outlets to try and combat disease and illness caused by water unfit for human consumption.

A1 Champion Awards will go to members of the community who achieve greatness and their respective fields of expertise .Examples include a 20 year-old woman from Bushbuckridge who qualified as a helicopter pilot and works for the Nelspruit police service and the men’s hockey team who took part in trials and beat White River. The A1 Community Award is aimed at people who make a difference in their community.

A1 Newsletter arrived as promised get it by all A1 Fisheries shop's for FREE.