Tabitha Karanja, the founder of Keroche Breweries, the first ever brewery to be owned by a Kenyan, has been named Africa’s Business Woman of the Year.
Ms. Karanja was named in the 2014 edition of CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards Presented by Johnnie Walker Blue Label (AABLA). The winners of the award were announced at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg.
Although Ms. Karanja faced many challenges building her business – including competition from multinationals, high taxation and meddling from high powered government officials – her resilience has seen the business grow into a respected company.
Beyond the expectations of her detractors, Karanja invested in a Ksh.1 billion ($11.6 million) plant with the capacity of producing 6,000 half-litre bottles per hour. With its flagship brands, Summit Lager and Summit Malt, the brewery has proved resilient in the market.
“When Keroche … commenced operations … fingers were pointed at us and the rumours of they-can’t-do-it was written on the faces of many who never believed a Kenyan company could penetrate in a grid-tight multinational market where the end justified the means even if the means isn’t justifiable,” says Karanja.
She plans to increase the firm’s 20% market share to 40% in the next three years following an increase in its production capacity to 15,000 bottles per hour. Karanja also hopes to extend beyond beer into the soft drinks business.
“With the continent hosting eight of the world’s fastest growing economies, Africa is internationally perceived as the next great business frontier, which is both exciting and inspiring,” says Jeff Milliken, Director of brandhouse.
“As such, in the AABLA, it has been both rewarding and heartening to survey Africa’s corporate landscape and discover so many exceptional men and women who are making their indelible contribution toward the progress of the continent into a globally competitive entity with a strong internal business sector.”
The ceremony presented the coveted title of Young Business Leader of the Year jointly to Group CEOs of South Africa’s leading activations agency, The Creative Counsel, Gil Oved and Ran Neu-Ner. The two were recognised for using their collective charisma and entrepreneurial spirit to build the company into the top-ranking marketing, media and advertising group in the country.
For his sustained success and bold contribution to solutions-based business and IT strategies across multiple platforms for companies of varying sizes, Asher Bohbot (South Africa), CEO of Enterprise Outsourcing Holdings (EOH), was named Business Leader of the Year.
The prestigious accolade of Entrepreneur of the Year went to Executive Chairman of JSE-listed brokerage, Brimstone Investment Corporation, Fred Robertson (South Africa). Robertson was honoured for his demonstrated leadership on both the national and international business stages and, in particular, through his directorship and co-founding of numerous leading black economic empowerment (BEE) companies.
The award recognised her unfailing resilience and matchless business sagacity over nearly two decades in growing a company that now employs over 300 people and gives back to the community by educating the country’s youth.
The AABLA Finale partnered with BMW South Africa to ensure the awards finalists and judges were transferred to and from the event in style and comfort. The Finale was also supported by the IDC and the Gauteng Department of Economic Development.