5 Features on latest social media platform, Threads

Launched last week, Threads has smashed the record for the fastest-growing consumer app, beating the ChapGPT record with over 100 million new users in 5 days.

The new social media platform which is set to be Twitter’s rival from Meta has had a lot of people wanting to jump on the platform due to a few changes Twitter has implemented since Elon Musk took over. you can access Threads from its desktop site at Threads.net or by downloading the app for iOS and Android.

Here’s what you need to know about Threads

1. Like, share, and quote

This option is similar to Twitter. You can like the Thread someone has made, quote and reply to it. The quote and reply option will show on your profile. You can’t see what someone else liked on their profile. The sharing option is interesting because it allows you to share someone’s Thread on Twitter, which is a bit ironic. You are also able to share your Thread on your Instagram feed and story.

2. Threading

To create a thread on Twitter, there is a plus sign to add another tweet under your initial tweet and the following tweets will be considered a thread. However, on Thread you have to click the Return button 3 times to create a Thread (multiple threads under the initial thread).

3. Search Button

What’s trending? This option is different on Threads from Twitter, on Threads, it is used to search for accounts to follow. While on Twitter you can find out what a lot of people are tweeting about in your area or country. To find out what people are threading about, you have to scroll the timeline, which makes the platform a little bit more interactive. It is unclear if the Trending option will be available on Threads any time soon.

4. Import Information

When you join the platform you use your Instagram handle, Threads gives you the option to import all your Instagram information. This means that you can follow the people you follow on Instagram and use the same bio. This makes it easier to find your Instagram community and when they join the platform they can request to follow you.

5. Character limit

On Threads, you can create text-based posts with up to 500 characters as well as share photos and videos up to five minutes long. Twitter Blue subscribers can increase their character limit to 25,000. Users who aren’t subscribed to Twitter Blue have a character limit of 280.

Threads is still a work in progress and there are more changes to be expected as the platform grows. Download the app to be in the know.

The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards Announce 2023 Jury

The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (the YOBAs) brought to you by Standard Bank have announced the 2023 jury.  

Professionals, marketers and academics around South Africa applied to be a part of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards judging panel. This year, the application for the judging panel was open to the public. The public could nominate either themselves or individuals who met a very strict criterion. The jury criteria included that the nominee should at least be an expert or an academic in the particular field they will be judging.  

Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards 2022

The YOBAs celebrates and recognises youth-owned brands in South Africa. It has enlisted 29 leaders in the marketing, communications, academia and entrepreneurship industry to assess and shortlist over 2 500 nominations. 

Due to the success of the award ceremony last year, the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands have received a large number of nominations this year, which sparked the idea of getting more judges. The judges that have been selected are masters in their field and specialise in the categories that they will be judging.  

Pat Mahlangu: Founder and CEO (Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards)

“We are thankful for the industry giants for taking time off their hectic schedules to join our judging panel. It is encouraging to have people of their calibre support youth initiatives,” said Pat Mahlangu, the founder and CEO of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards. 

For the second year, the chairperson of the jury is the Integrated Media & Digital Director of Tiger Brands Sadika Fakir and the voice of marketing, Lebo Lion as the deputy chairperson.  

Sadika Fakir: Integrated Media & Digital Director (Tiger Brands)

The chairperson of the jury, Sadika Fakir says, “we are so honored to have such an exceptionally high calibre of judges for our Top16YOBA 2023 panel. Our judge panel brings excellence, skill and wisdom.” 

Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards 2023 Jury

The judges that will be a part of this year’s two-day festival are the following:  

1. Sadika Fakir (Integrated Media & Digital Director Tiger Brands) 

2. Lebo Lion (Voice of Marketing, Beople SA) 

3. Dr Beate Stiehler-Mulder (Marketing Coordinator UJ) 

4. David Tshabalala (Award Winning Graphic Designer, Illustrator & Content Creator Slaying Goliath) 

5. Thembi Sehloho (Marketing Director Tiger Brands SA) 

6. Mosa Ntwampe (Marketing & Corporate Communications Sakhumnotho) 

7. Dr Marcia Lebambo (Senior Lecturer Tshwane University of Technology) 

8. Bulelani Balabala (Creative Director IAF Brands) 

9. Katlego Dithlokwe (Founder & Brand Strategy Consultant the Hyphen) 

10. Lindy-Lou Alexander (Global Marketing Head for Personal and Private Banking Division 
Standard Bank) 

11. Masingita Mazibuko (Executive Brand & Marketing Telkom) 

12. Palesa Mabuse (Senior Managing Partner Nalesa Media) 

13. Yasira Cajee (Marketing Officer Wits Business School) 

14. Cameron Belling (Head of Marketing Bluff Meat Supply) 

15. Boitumelo Mohube (Marketing Executive and Communication specialist Founder of Mohube Media) 

16. Thabani Khumalo (Brand Manager – Premium & Value Brands (Beverages) Tiger Brands) 

17. Tammy Darroch (Marketing Director Kellogg South Africa) 

18. Ponatshego Makhuza (Shopper Marketing Lead Unilever) 

19. Bogosi Motshegwa (Chief Creative & Strategy Officer Brandreserve Co. Thinkeneur) 

20. Kovini Moodley (Founder Boss Babes) 

21. Shiko Mamotheti (Digital Strategist and Director Nerdware) 

22. Deshnie Govender (Marketing & Culture Leader in Tech) 

23. Albert Makoeng (Divisional Sales Director Nfinity Influencer) 

24. Khanyi Tshume (Head of Strategy TLC Worldwide Middle East & Africa) 

25. Wendy Silinyana (Founder and Director Virtue Business Solutions) 

26. Lerato Selialia (Senior Experience Strategist Immersion Group logo) 

27. Lebohang Matsoso (Lead: Brand Marketing Communications Mercedes-Benz South Africa) 

28. Fatima Ouanssaidi (CEO and a co-founder On-Point PR) 

29. Vuyokazi Mhlope (Marketing Manager Showmax) 

The awards will be preceded by the Festival of Youth-Owned Brands on the 14th & 15th of June 2023 at Sandton Convention Centre. The awards show will follow on the evening of the 15th where the expressive visionaries will be celebrated and recognised also at the Sandton Convention Centre. 

Top 16 Youth-Owned Brand Award winner, Delivery Ka Speed, creating jobs

Godiragetse (Godi) Mogajane, a young CEO and entrepreneur from Hammanskraal is alleviating unemployment and creating jobs in townships. At just 25, Godi has been able to launch Delivery Ka Speed in over 10 townships in a space of two years and plans to take it nationwide. Delivery Ka Speed simply means “Speedy Delivery” in Sepitori. Sepitori is the urban lingua franca of Pretoria and the Tshwane metropolitan area in South Africa. It is a combination of Tswana and influences from Tsotsitaal, Afrikaans and other Bantu languages of the region. 

Godiragetse (Godi) Mogajane

Delivery Ka Speed is a food delivery service for Ekasi. They believe in bringing accessibility to townships and elevating the Kasi lifestyle. Being from the township himself, Godi identified two problems that communities were faced with. Firstly, he recognised the unpleasant customer journey that people go through to get fast food in the townships. Secondly, he acknowledged the increasing rate of youth unemployment in the townships.  

Delivery Ka Speed team members

In order to solve these problems, Delivery Ka Speed was formed to not only alleviate unemployment amongst the youth but also create a pleasant customer experience. This platform has given many young people a chance to provide for their families and contribute to economic growth. Delivery Ka Speed works with locals and only hires South African youth. They have over 40 drivers in all locations they operate in. The locations that Delivery Ka Speed operates in are namely; Hammanskraal, Soshanguve, Mobopane, Katlehong, Sky City, Vosloorus, Tsakane, Mamelodi, Hebron and recently Bela-Bela in Limpopo. Delivery Ka Speed will be launching in Mankweng on the 24th of March 2023. They have also had the honor to win the Top Services Brand Award at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards.  

Godiragetse accepting an award at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards 2022

According to Godi, innovation is a critical vehicle for inspiring change, and as a result of this, he has been driven to adding value and creating transformational change by using his uncanny instincts, hence the development of Delivery Ka Speed.  

Delivery Ka Speed is still growing and is expected to dominate townships all across South Africa.  

5 major brands exploring the metaverse

Many brands are dipping their toes into this digital realm called the metaverse, from digital fashion, NFTs and the buying of land. Facebook rebranded as Meta in the past year showing the significance of the metaverse. The metaverse is described as one of the most exciting and complex landscapes in the history of digitalization and Web3. The metaverse contains all these popular digital sectors such as NFTs, cryptocurrencies and play-to-earn. 

We looked at the five major brands that have set foot in the metaverse.

1. Balenciaga

Balenciaga launched a unit business dedicated to the virtual space, the fashion house created its own video game for its Fall 2021 collection, and they showcased an entire runway with 44 clones of one model. The brand further partnered with the famous video game Fortnite on in-game items. 

2. Coca-Cola 

Coca-Cola launched their first NFT collection in 2021, together with a virtual event in Decentraland. This launch was part of their Friendship Day campaign. After Covid-19 came with restrictions Coca-Cola organized a virtual party on top of their virtual coke can building and visitors could win very rare wearables, and there was an auction of the Coca-Cola Friendship Box NFT package. 

3. Sephora 

Sephora launched its virtual artist app, which uses AR (augmented reality) and facial recognition software to help its customers try on make-up products and see how it looks on them without actually physically being in a store or possession of the products. The app provides personalized step-step makeup tutorials to help customers recreate the looks they like- a fun way to shop. 

4. Disney

Disney parks entered the metaverse with a virtual world stimulator which provided a highly immersive individualized 3D virtual experiences without requiring users to wear an augmented reality AR viewing device. Their MagicBand+ is also a segment of the virtual world allowing users to engage with content like never before. 

5. Hyundai 

Hyundai’s latest campaign advocates for sustainability and the brand targeted tech-savvy individuals through Roblox to give them the digital automotive experience. The Hyundai Mobility Adventure video game introduces people to the thrills of driving and sustainable transportation, the video game was launched in 2021. 

What makes the metaverse different from other online platforms?

Many more brands are slowly entering the metaverse and the next coming years are going to be a revolution in how people interact with brands and their user experience will be transformed in unimaginative ways. 

What interests most brands is the thrill of exploring this new concept in digitalization with different dynamics to it and vast opportunities. The metaverse is currently a blank canvas and many unique brands are bringing their different elements into the aggregate space. 

The majority of different online social platforms and digital spaces are tightly controlled by a single company from their servers and when you exit from one platform to the next you need to sign up with a new identity. The metaverse allows you to use a single identity to travel across the network of virtual landscapes. This concept mirrors the real world just as in the real world you have one identity and one passport to travel across continents. 

Do you think the metaverse will revolutionalize the way we interact with brands in the coming decade?

Trevor Noah heading home for the Savanna comedy live tour

The South African-born comedian heavyweight, Trevor Noah has officially partnered up with the famed Savanna Premium cider. The comedian took to social media on Monday announcing his partnership with the cider brand.

‘I’ve been away from Mzansi stages for too long, and so much has happened – I’m excited to be back in front of a home crowd’, said the comedian.

Savanna is thrilled to have Trever Noah back home, marketing manager Eugene Lenford stated that, “We believe comedy is a human right, and that South Africans’ superpower is our ability to laugh in the face of challenges. Our purpose as a brand is to uplift and unite our nation through humour. We have a crisp, witty perspective on daily life, societal norms, culture, and traditions in SA,”

The live tour will take place from 31 August – 15 September 2023 and the currently confirmed dates are as follows:

  • GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World, Cape Town: 31 August 2023 – 3 September 2023
  • Durban International Convention Centre: 7 September 2023 – 10 September 2023
  • SunBet Arena, Pretoria: 12 – 15 September 2023.

Tickets are currently on sale at trevornoah.com  

Heritage brands that you assumed were South African 

Heritage Day is appreciably celebrated in South Africa annually on the 24th of September. It is a day that commemorates the country’s heritage and its people while promoting cultural diversity. 

South Africa is known as a ‘Rainbow nation’ and emanates from its rich cultural history and heritage. The day was first celebrated in 1995 post-apartheid and is also known as National Braai Day. 

Many iconic brands have blended well into the South African heritage and have existed for generations, immensely contributing to the country’s identity. 

Here are three heritage brands that are not South African: 

Zam-Buk

Zam-Buk has been around since 1902 and has become part of many South African households. Zam-Buk was founded by Charles Edward Fulford, a businessman from England, and owner of Zam-Buk Company of Leeds. The product was first sold through his Bile Beans company as a herbal balm and antiseptic ointment. 

Aromat 

Most households have incorporated Aromat in the food generation after generation, but this commonly used spice is not South African. In 1952 a man named Walter Obrist, who worked for Knorr developed Aromat. The product is of Swiss origin but has added zest to many South African households that it feels like a national brand. 

Carling Black Label 

The most popular beer beverage in South Africa, loved by many, is originally a Canadian product developed by Thomas Carling in 1840. Over the years, the brand found its way into the South African lands sponsoring the pre-season friendly match featuring two of the most popular football clubs, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. 

Sunlight 

Sunlight has been the go-to brand when it comes to washing dishes or removing tough stains. The brand has become essential in many households. 

However, Sunlight was founded in late Victorian England by William Hesketh Lever in 1885during the country’s era of poverty and ill-health and was introduced to South Africa in 1891. 

Lerato Agency Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

Founded in 2020 by Pat Mahlangu, Lerato Agency turned 2 on the 9th of July 2022. Lerato Agency is a PR & Marketing agency founded with the purpose of crafting brands that people love.

The starting point of Lerato Agency

Lerato Agency was born at a critical time in South Africa. When the world was still trying to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, Lerato Agency was born. While a number of businesses were closing down and people were losing their jobs, Pat Mahlangu unlocked opportunities through Lerato Agency. During these dark times filled with uncertainties about the future, all the world needed was ‘Lerato’ (love) and togetherness.

Lerato Agency became a ‘beacon of hope’. Regardless of the economical state of the country at the time, the agency was set on creating opportunities and contributing to the economy of South Africa.

Image: Lerato Agency Logo

The ‘Lerato’ in Lerato Agency

‘Lerato’ means love in seSotho, because Lerato Agency’s core value is crafting brands that people love. The agency consistently thrives to build brands that people can resonate and fall in love with. Like every love story, Lerato Agency has five love languages – being digital marketing, public relations, content creation, experiential marketing and design. The aim is of the agency is to form meaningful, long-lasting relationships with its clients and their customers.

Brands Lerato Agency has worked with

For the past two years, Lerato Agency has worked with a number of brands, such as Brand Africa, Brand SA, SAMRO, Aunt Caroline and Himalaya to name a few. One of the biggest projects the agency has worked on is the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBA).  

The creative team of Lerato Agency was behind the inaugural Top 16 YOBA awards, using the beloved five love languages. The agency is run by the youth and advocates for the youth, which is why it was the perfect fit for the Pat on Brands initiative, YOBA.  

The agency has continuously reflected the hard work of those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to craft brands that people fall in love with. Lerato Agency intends to keep the momentum and continue moving to greater heights. Here’s to more years of spreading ‘Lerato’! 

A new online bartering platform, CirculateIt launches in South Africa

New online bartering platform, CirculateIt launched on the 4th of July 2022. CirculateIt is a platform created to make life easy and convenient for people to exchange goods and services without using money in the process. The brand name says it all “Circulate it” – encouraging people to ‘circulate’ their pre-owned goods/services for their desired goods/services.

Bartering Explained

Bartering is a cashless exchange system that dates back to 6000 BC – where 2 parties trade goods and/or services directly, without the use of money. Bartering has been practiced for years, even before the existence of money, people used to trade and exchange items. The whole concept of bartering is to save money and avoiding waste by trading what you may no longer want for something you really want.

Image: Supplied

CirculateIt

CirculateIt is the modern bartering platform, because it uses technology to bring 2 parties together with a mutual agreement to exchange/trade items.
“CirculateIt aims to unlock the latent potential of bartering to give frugal consumers access to more goods, services and reduce waste” says Frank Ogagba – Chief Executive Officer

Instead of discarding goods you no longer need or want, rather trade them in for goods you really need or want. CirculateIt is currently launching the platform for people residing in the Gauteng province, and as time progresses, they are willing to expand to other provinces. The public is always keen on trying new things, especially new technology – hence CirculateIt sees the idea of bartering as a great fit into the market. The platform is new, it’s fun, it’s convenient and most importantly it’s cost-effective.
“Price hikes and the cost of living are trends that make it difficult for most South Africans to make ends meet. Ways to save money are more pertinent than ever. CirculateIt.online gives South Africans a new way to save money, and even better, get what they need without paying. The platform enables people to barter trade products and services for what they need”, adds Frank Ogagba

Image: Circulate It Logo Supplied

Going into the month of July [savings month] the platform educates the public on not only saving money, but saving and preserving the environment. CirculateIt cannot wait to be the go-to bartering platform in South Africa and it cannot wait to switch things up in the market – #letsswitch.

KFC’s Kentucky Town Warms Up Cape Town This Winter

Bringing the heat to Cape Town this Winter, KFC South Africa is opening the doors to it’s limited-edition pop-up store; Kentucky Town.

As the Winter chills roll in, KFC brings a lil’ heat to the Canal Walk KFC restaurant – in the food court – for a limited time only from the 7th to 17th of July. Just 11 days, in honour of their Original 11 Herbs and Spices Secret Recipe.

Limited-Edition Menu

For 11 mouthwatering days KFC will be serving up a hot new limited-edition Menu with some KFC meals that you’ve never seen before – and may never see again.

The special Kentucky Town Cape Town menu will include some of the top favourites from the original pop-up store such as the Doughnut Zinger Burger and Spicy Chips flavoured with Tabasco. However they will be turning up the heat with a stack of new and exciting limited-edition items. In homage to the city and culture of Cape Town, the menu includes the limited-edition KFC Gatsby as well as KFC Chachos (like Nachos), Simba Crunch Zinger Wings, Kentucky Fried Oreos with Soft Serve and a Midnight Mojito to seal the deal.

Image: Kentucky Fried Oreo and Soft Serve
Image: KFC Gatsby
Image: KFC Midnight Mojito

KFC’s Famous Sauces On Sale

KFC’s famous sauces will be on sale again! The ‘Zinger Sauce’ and The ‘Dunked Sauce’ flew off shelves last year. You can get these KFC sauces for R50, however there will be a limit to stock.

Image: KFC Sauces

Limited-Edition Winter Gear & Gadgets

This is perfect for all collectors. What’s a new Season without a fresh new look? Kentucky Town Cape will offer new Winter Gear Collection for sale.

Capetonian’s most-groomed can prepare their beards and moustaches for the limited release of The Colonel’s Beard Oil inspired by the secret 11 herbs and spices recipe. Moreover, there is limited-edition KFC 11 Herbs and Spices Fire logs, so you can cozy up to our famous KFC aroma all Winter.

The Winter Gear Collection will also include limited-edition items such as the Colonel’s Onesie and KFC PJs. This is all in addition to Zinger sleep shorts, vests, trakkie pants, hoodies, and Winter accessories.

The best part? All proceeds from sales will be donated towards the KFC Add Hope initiative. Add Hope helps provide nutritious meals to underprivileged children in South Africa. So now you can look good this Summer and DO good at the same time! Yaas please!

MTN Pulse Helps MDU Cleaning Services with R50 000 To Help Rebuild Store

Youth-Owned Brands are driving the economy with ways of combating youth unemployment in South Africa. After recognising these brands owned and run by the youth, Pat on Brands has noted that we shouldn’t only recognise them in celebration but also in hard times. Not new to the Pat on Brads platform, MTN Pulse has came forward with a donation to MDU Cleaning Services.

Image: Instagram

MDU Cleaning Services

MDU CLEANING SERVICE is a convenient cleaning service company founded by Mduduzi Mnisi. The company initially started in 2015 in Soweto, Orlando as ‘Sayenza Lento Tekkie Wash’ meaning “We doing this”, translated to English and later changed the name to MDU CLEANING SERVICES. The company provides cleaning services for shoes, bags, cars and carpets.

According to a statement by MDU CLEANING SERVICES; “Our main facility which we use not only for our cleaning services but also for storage caught fire as a result of a short cause by a resurgence of electricity after the third phase of load shedding Stage 4.” The business not only used its premises for cleaning services, but for storage use as well – which was a great contributor to the premises catching fire. Cleaning products are highly flammable, causing the fire to spread and not only burn the premises, but also burn the possessions of the customers”.

Image: Instagram

MTN Pulse Donation

Following in the steps of helping youth-owned brands MTN has brought forward a donation of R50 000 and a year of connection to MDU Cleaning Services. MTN Pulse is no stranger to the Pat on Brands platform, as they were the sponsors of the Technology category at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards. Almost at the end of Youth month and stepping to Mandela Month it is important to celebrate the youth for the amazing things they do, and help them when needed.

“It is MTN Pulse’s mission to empower young people through all seasons and not just in the good times and with this in mind we could not turn a blind eye to a youth-owned brand in need, most especially not during Youth Month We wish Mdu a speedy recovery of business and we look forward to seeing his business flourish once more”, says Mirriam Mathebula, Youth Manager for MTN Pulse.

Pat on Brands recognised a youth-owned brand that needed help and offered a way to help them get back on their feet. MTN Pulse is also urging big brands and corporate to lend a help and offer their resources to this small business.

Pat On Brands donates R5 000 to a youth-owned cleaning service company in Soweto

Just two weeks after Pat on Brands celebrated the efforts that the youth of South Africa have made, and continue to make, towards the shared economic future of South Africa at the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBA). YOBA is an initiative by Pat on Brands, aimed at recognizing brands that are owned and run by the youth in South Africa. We as Pat on Brands, are devastated by the unexpected loss experienced by a youth-owned business in Soweto (MDU CLEANING SERVICES) as their premises caught fire due to loadshedding.

According to a statement by MDU CLEANING SERVICES yesterday: “Our main facility which we use not only for our cleaning services but also for storage caught fire as a result of a short cause by a resurgence of electricity after the third phase of loadshedding stage 4.” The business not only used its premises for cleaning services, but for storage use as well – which was a great contributor to the premises catching fire. Cleaning products are highly flammable, causing the fire to spread and not only burn the premises, but also burn the possessions of the customers”.

MDU Cleaning Service

MDU CLEANING SERVICE is a convenient cleaning service company founded by Mduduzi Mnisi. The company initially started in 2015 in Soweto, Orlando as ‘Sayenza Lento Tekkie Wash’ meaning “We doing this”, translated to English and later changed the name to MDU CLEANING SERVICES. The company provides cleaning services for shoes, bags, cars and carpets.

Image: Supplied

Pat on Brands Offers Help

For a brand that is on the pulse with the youth such as Pat on Brands, we took it upon ourselves to offer a helping hand to MDU CLEANING SERVICES by donating a sum of R 5 000 to help them bring their business back to life again. The Pat on Brands initiative, YOBA does not only exist to celebrate and recognise youth-owned brands, but it exists to also empower and uplift the youth of South Africa.

“Just over a week ago, we were celebrating youth-owned brands at the Top 16 Youth Owned Brands Awards. As a youth owned business ourselves, we see it fit to lend a helping hand to fellow youth-owned business – Mdu Cleaning Services. We believe that what we can offer them can make a huge difference and help their business rise from the ashes”, says Pat Mahlangu – Founder and CEO of Pat on Brands / Lerato Agency

South African youth have a long history of challenging the status quo. On 16 June 1976 – the date we now know as Youth Day. Till this day, the youth are the drivers of economic growth and job creation in South Africa.

Small businesses play a key role in growing our economy and creates jobs for over 60% of the country’s population. This means that the more support this small business receives, the more people they can employ, the more successful and stronger our country becomes.

It will be wonderful to see other businesses, brands, and companies that have the capacity to offer a helping and grow our economy.

Siwela Wines crowned the Top Beverage Brand – Sponsored by Black Crown

On the 15th of June 2022, the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBA), an initiative by Pat on Brands took place at The Capital: On the Park in Sandton. The purpose of the initiative is to celebrate and recognise brands owned and run by the youth. Only one brand had the honor of walking away with the bragging rights in each of the 16 categories. ‘Beverage’ was one out of the categories and Siwela Wines got to walk away as the Top Beverage Brand, sponsored by Black Crown.

Siwela Wines

Siwela Wines is an award-winning female-owned wine company, founded by Siwela Sweetness Masoga. The founder, Siwela was born in Soweto, Gauteng and raised in Marulaneng Ga-Mphahlele, Limpopo. She studied Biotechnology in Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Microbiology and fermentation as her majors sparked curiosity and interest in wine making. Siwela’s interest in winemaking paid off as her brand, Siwela Wines is now an award-winning beverage brand. She could not be present to accept the award, but her team accepted the award on her behalf.

Image: Siwela Wines Team Member Accepting Award

Black Crown as Beverages Category Sponsor

Black Crown, a gin & tonic brand by South African Breweries (SAB) sponsored the Beverage category. The drink has clean, crisp flavors of lemon and lime, crafted with eight proudly African botanicals. Black Crown is all about being unapologetically African and “owning your crown”. “We want to remind Africans that their dreams are theirs for the taking. Encourage them to have full confidence in their capabilities and belief in their destiny. We are honored to sponsor the beverage category and shine a spotlight on young African creatives that deserve to be crowned. So let every sip of Black Crown remind you to #OwnYourCrown”, says Claudia Schmid, General Manager of Black Crown.

Image: Black Crown Set Up At Top 16 YOBA

On the night of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards, the Black Crown team setup next to the YOBA registration table to offer guests their welcome drinks after completing their registration process. Black Crown got the opportunity to showcase their new addition to the royal Black Crown family – being the new Black Crown gin & dry lemon with marula. The new Black Crown drink is infused with African Marula fruit, available in a 440ml can and has been made available at all retailers.

Siwela Wines owned their crown as the brand was celebrated and recognized as the top ‘Beverage’ brand for the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards – proudly sponsored by Black Crown.

Nando’s Brings Exciting #PeriTricks to The Heart of Braam

Nando’s celebrates launch of two new PERi-PERi Bag & Bake flavours with #PERiTricks pop-up in the heart of Braam! Synonymous with creativity, Nandos showcases this with the launch of two new variants of the Bag and Bake product. The new variants, namely Paprika Citrino and Smokey Churrasco will be launched at the new pop-up located in Braamfontein between 24 June and 10 July 2022.

Image: Supplied

Flavours In The Bag

The Paprika Citrino is paprika and lime-flavoured and with the recipe perfected, the brand needed to come up with a name that only Nando’s could own and besides, just calling it Paprika and Lime would’ve been much too meh. So, after a bit of back-and-forth, Paprika Citrino seemed to be the best choice. Here’s why it makes perfect sense, with those six little syllables the brand is able to do more than just describe a flavour. It gives Nando’s an opportunity to evoke its rich Afro-Portuguese heritage and invite customers to enjoy a vibrant, spicy, uniquely Nando’s experience. The second new variant is a little more complex in its flavour profile. With rich, oaky, savoury notes balanced by a subtle sweetness, the finished product’s smokey taste is evocative of chicken braaied over wood. It was this sense of “that’s-close-but-not-quite-right” that inspired the name Smokey Churrasco.

Image: Supplied

#PERiTrick

These two flavours inspired a whole range of #PERiTrick recipes – that could be cooked any time, anywhere any way – even in your dorm room with an iron or in a tumble dryer – yes, a tumble dryer – if you don’t have access to a kitchen to utilize the more conventional appliances such as a toaster, air fryer or microwave. Once the recipes are prepared, guests will have the option to enjoy their creation/treat in a pod on-site or take it home to indulge and enjoy.

With the pop-up, Nando’s also celebrates the creative skills of young and talented individuals such as award-winning textile and surface designer, Bonolo Chepape. Bonolo together with the help of culinary-minded design agency Studio H came up with original themes for the launch. Food Stylist and Chef Keletso Motau, styled the video shoots and facilitated the recipe videos while Cinematographer, Earl Abrahams captured and packaged all the video. Chepape says she drew inspiration for the patterns and colour palette from Nando’s brand heritage as well as textile weaving techniques and Bauhaus-inspired elements of Mozambican architect, Poncho Guedes. “I wanted the design to be playful and reflect the experimental and experiential purpose of the pop-up.”

Image: Supplied

Nando’s Vanessa Nunes, Marketing Manager for Groceries says, not only did Chepape receive the Best Textile Design award at 100% Design South Africa 2018, she was a finalist in the Nando’s Hot Young Designer Pattern Hunt in the same year and a recipient of the 2019 Design Foundation Future Found Award. “Our collaboration with Bonolo and Keletso is part of our ongoing drive to nurture creative talent in South Africa. As an authentically home-grown brand, we welcome all South Africans to a seat at our table. At our pop-up store, they’ll be able to engage with our brand in an interactive and fun way and gain greater insight into the creativity and innovation that drives our brand,” she says.

Anyone can experience the pop-up between 24 June and 10 July 2022, by booking at https://www.nandos.co.za/popup and walk-ins are always welcome.

Brand Africa endorses the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards

Thebe Ikalafeng

Africa’s most authoritative intergenerational movement aimed at inspiring a brand-led African renaissance, Brand Africa endorses the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards – an initiative by Pat on Brands. Established in 2010, Brand Africa’s goal is to drive a brand-led transformation of the continent’s brand, image and wealth.

Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands

The Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands rankings are the most authoritative survey and analysis of brands and underlying businesses in Africa, covering 30 countries that represent all the continent’s five economic regions.

Pat on Brands announced the launch of the inaugural top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards. First of its kind in South Africa, the awards aim to give recognition to proudly South African Brands owned and run by the youth. The youth of South Africa and Africa at large are the key drivers to economic growth and job creation. The creativity and innovation of the youthful population plays a significant role in the continent’s economic transformation.

“Recognizing that 70% of the population in Africa is under 30 and that only 20% of brands Africans admire are made in Africa, these “Pat on Brands Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards” are an important and timely initiative to inspire youth to lead the African renaissance,” Thebe Ikalafeng – Founder and Chairman, Brand Africa.

Brand Africa Endorsement

This endorsement is important for the Top 16 YOBA as it affirms its position to recognize brands that are owned and run by the youth.

“The endorsement by Brand Africa is testament to need to create excitement about made in Africa brands, particularly those that are youth-owned. It is truly an honour that an organisation of such a high stature as of Brand Africa is recognizing our initiative as a driver for the African renaissance. As the youth put it “Real Recognises Real,” Pat Mahlangu – Founder and CEO of Pat On Brands.

Top 16 YOBA will be hosted on 15 June in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Comedians Stuck in a Flying Fish Billboard on William Nicol Drive

Make some Flying Fish Pressed Lemon out of life’s lemons with every What The Flying Fish!? (WTFF) moment as Flying Fish brings you an entertaining source of fun, light-hearted escapism to their fans. Flying Fish has decided to take ownership of these modern landscapes and create a playful, interactive inception experience for their followers.

Stuck in a Flying Fish Ad Campaign

“As a brand, we are now encouraging everyone to take those moments in life where perceptions of our reality make us go: “What The Flying Fish? and embrace them. Moreover, have a laugh at themselves, and then share that memory, because whenever you are faced with something delightfully unexpected, chances are you’re stuck in a Flying Fish ad. Take flight from the mundane and flow with the possibilities. Fans can now join the movement and watch an ad within an ad. The campaign allows them to enter the world of self-aware characters or even create their own reality-bending moments online.

Tumi Stop Nonsons and Mashabela

Two well-loved South African comedians, Tumi Malita “ Stopnonsons” & Mashabela Galane, are making this a reality. You can find them, literally, stuck in a billboard, in-person – yes inside a billboard! at one of the busiest intersections and traffic count areas in Gauteng. Get ready for multiple 12 hour-long live-roasting sessions of passers-by on William Nicol drive on the 9th – 11th May 2022. Keep a lookout on social media for content posted daily about the experience on the brands pages or come on down lets see what unfolds.

“Flying Fish is all about celebrating the unique and the unexpected and giving people a chance to experience things that are far from the ordinary.
That’s why we consistently try and provide South Africans with new and exciting experiences and moments to enjoy. This is the very first time South Africa has seen something like this. We are revamping an ordinary concept and adding our flavour to it.” added Zachary Kingston Marketing Manager for Flying Fish South Africa.