Three awards. One determined ISSA team.
It has been a challenging year, but our teams continue to show what is possible when we stay focused, pull together and keep delivering. Illovo Sugar South Africa has brought home two Gold awards and one Silver from the annual ABF Sugar Excellence Awards, recognising outstanding performance across our operations, Corporate Affairs and Commercial teams.
🥇 Eston Mill – Gold, Factory of the Year
🥇 ISSA – Gold, Advocacy and Engagement Award
🥈 Commercial – Silver, Commercial Team Award
The awards were presented by ABF Sugar Divisional CEO Paul Kenward at the recent ABF Sugar Leadership Conference.
Eston takes the top factory honours
A huge congratulations goes to the Eston team, which was named Factory of the Year following its disciplined focus on getting the factory basics right.
The achievement is particularly significant given the leadership changes Eston has experienced recently. Through the transition, the team has remained focused on the job at hand, maintained momentum and continued to deliver. That speaks volumes about the depth, resilience and commitment of the entire Eston team. We also congratulate Dennis Dlamini, who led Eston as General Manager until recently and played an important part in the journey that has culminated in this recognition.
ISSA MD Ricky Govender says winning Factory of the Year is a fantastic achievement. “Keeping that title will take the same discipline, teamwork and relentless attention to the basics. Eston has shown what it is capable of, and there is every reason to believe the team can do it again. The challenge now is simple: keep raising the bar!”
Words of congratulations also came from ABF Ceo George Weston, as well as ABF Chief People and Performance Office Sue Whalley.
Advocacy that makes a difference
ISSA also struck Gold in the inaugural Advocacy and Engagement Award, recognising the work being done to engage government and policymakers around the issues that matter to the sustainability of ISSA and the wider South African sugar industry.
It is an important reminder that advocacy is not simply about having conversations. It is about building relationships, influencing the environment in which our business operates and helping create the conditions for a more sustainable future.
Commercial brings home Silver
Our Commercial team added another reason to celebrate, earning Silver in the Commercial Team Award.
The accolade recognises the team’s leadership and impact in the industrial channel and beyond, and the determined work being done to strengthen our commercial performance.
A moment to be proud of
Three awards. Three different areas of our business. One common thread: our people.
In a tough year, these awards are proof that progress is possible when we remain disciplined, resilient and focused on the things that matter. We thank everyone who has contributed to these achievements.
Let’s celebrate this moment, and then keep going.
