Amorim Cork South Africa was awarded its first recognition as International Business of the Year at the South African Portuguese Chamber of Commerce’s (SAPCC) Business Excellence Awards, announced last weekend at an event sponsored by ABSA Bank and held at the renowned Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg.
The event brought together the Luso-South African business community to celebrate outstanding achievements and recognize individuals and companies that have made significant contributions to their industries and communities across ten categories.
Amorim, represented by Joaquim Sá, Managing Director of the global cork company’s South African arm, was recognized for being a leader in sustainable cork production and for its significant contributions to the South African wine industry.
Sá, who has been heading Amorim South Africa since 2005, expressed that the award from the SAPCC was tremendous recognition for Amorim Cork—a proud Portuguese fourth-generation family business that leads the world in producing cork, a natural product deeply embedded in the traditional fabric of Portugal.
“It is a true honor to receive this award, which underscores the Amorim family’s 150+ years of entrepreneurial vision and determination, and the commitment of an incredible team of professionals,” said Sá.
With Amorim’s primary business being the marketing, distribution, and sale of cork stoppers to the wine industry, Sá noted that Amorim is immensely proud to be seen as a partner of the dynamic Cape wine industry, which is internationally referred to as one of the most exciting wine regions in the world.
“To unlock the versatile potential of cork, we are also actively exploring opportunities beyond its traditional use in wine closures,” said Sá. He emphasized that Amorim continues to drive sustainable innovation across multiple sectors, delivering solutions that meet the growing demand for greener, high-performance materials. Cork’s unique properties—lightweight, elastic, and highly sustainable—have enabled its application in diverse industries, including aerospace, construction, automotive, and fashion.
And concluded “Amorim looks forward to forming new partnerships with like-minded, entrepreneurial companies. These collaborations will foster further innovation, allowing us to continue advancing cork’s potential in innovative and sustainable ways.”
2024 SAPCC Award Winners:
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Diogo Mendonça, Blacksmith Culture, for his innovative leadership in creative content production and expanding Blacksmith Culture across South Africa.
- Industry Impact Award: Reef Tankers, represented by Victor Ferreira, recognized for significant contributions to the transportation and logistics sector.
- Business of the Year (under 100 employees): Compact Cool, represented by Jose and Pablo Simões, acknowledged for excellence in delivering high-performance cooling solutions.
- Large Business of the Year: Unitrade Management System, represented by Jad Pereira, celebrated for its leadership in voluntary buying associations and success with brands like Powertrade and Bestbuy.
- Brand of the Year: Nando’s, represented by Fernando Duarte, recognized for staying true to its Portuguese roots while achieving global success.
- Family Business of the Year: Plastic Ideas, represented by the Do Rego Family, a multi-generational company offering innovative packaging solutions.
- Digital Innovation Award: Global Kinetic, represented by Sergio Barbosa, honored for cutting-edge technology and transformative digital solutions.
- International Business of the Year: Amorim Cork South Africa, represented by Joaquim Sá, leading the industry in sustainable cork production and contributing significantly to the wine industry.
- Businessperson of the Year: Jorge Mendes, CEO of Cell C, for his exceptional leadership and business acumen in driving Cell C’s turnaround and growth.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Mimi Jardim, for her lifetime contributions to Portuguese culinary heritage and her beloved role in the South African community.