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Pat On Brands On the Pulse with Brands and Youth.

On Tuesday, at the stunning Courtyard Hotel in Waterfall City, the energy was electric as we celebrated the spirit of yo...
15/05/2025

On Tuesday, at the stunning Courtyard Hotel in Waterfall City, the energy was electric as we celebrated the spirit of youth entrepreneurship!

The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs) proudly hosted an exclusive gathering of finalists, judges, and past winners for the nominees finalist announcement.

From over 2,000 entries, just 72 outstanding youth-owned brands across all the categories, made the final cut — a true testament to the innovation, resilience, and impact of Africa’s next generation of brand builders.

These are the trailblazers redefining what it means to build bold, youth-led brands in Africa.

Swipe through for a look at the moments that lit up the day — the smiles, the stories, and the start of what’s still to come. 🏆

📷:

Africa is showing up — and showing off — at Cannes Lions 2025.From the jury table to the global stage, this year’s festi...
14/05/2025

Africa is showing up — and showing off — at Cannes Lions 2025.

From the jury table to the global stage, this year’s festival is pulsing with African creative energy.

Fifteen of South Africa’s top creatives and marketers have been appointed as official Cannes Lions jury members. From Telkom’s Gugu Mthembu to designer Thebe Magugu, these heavyweights will help set the global standard for creative excellence. “It’s a powerful recognition of the calibre of SA’s creative industry,” says Lynne Wylie, CMO at Ster-Kinekor and the official Cannes Lions rep for South Africa.

But that’s just the beginning.
🎤 For the first time ever, an African creator agency — Woof Studios — will lead a delegation at the Lions Creators Forum, hosting a headline session titled “Cracking the Code with African Creators.”

Featured voices include:
🇳🇬 .kitchen: The founder of Ify’s Kitchen, a popular Nigerian culinary platform. 
🇬🇭 : A Ghanaian visual artist and storyteller. 
🇿🇦 : South African entrepreneur, content creator, and speaker
🇿🇦 : A South African duo, Innocents Adiki and Millicent Mashile, known for their creative work. 
🇳🇬 : a trailblazing marketing strategist and creative director.

From culinary innovation to visual storytelling, these creatives are bringing authenticity, strategy, and African brilliance to the world’s most influential creative festival.

This isn’t a moment. It’s a movement.

👏 Congratulations to the full list of local jurors and African creatives and entrepreneurs that will be representing us on a global stage. The world will be watching.

Six years after South Africa’s deadliest listeriosis outbreak, Tiger Brands has taken a significant step by offering set...
13/05/2025

Six years after South Africa’s deadliest listeriosis outbreak, Tiger Brands has taken a significant step by offering settlements to victims and families affected by the 2017-2018 crisis that claimed 218 lives.

The food producer (which has since sold its meat business) is compensating three groups: direct victims, families who lost breadwinners, and guardians of affected children - though stresses this isn’t an admission of liability.

The Department of Health calls this a ‘critical milestone’ in a case that traced the ST6 listeria strain to Tiger’s Polokwane facility. While the court still must determine final liability, plaintiff attorneys note this shows progress toward justice.

It is important to note that:
• Claims must be proven with medical records
• Final amounts depend on damage assessments
• The High Court must approve any settlement

If you or someone you know was affected, contact Richard Spoor Inc or LHL Attorneys. This case remains a sobering reminder of food safety’s life-or-death importance.

A win for Purpose, Progress and Possibility at the 2025 Future of Leadership AwardsKatleho Mahloane, Marketing Executive...
10/05/2025

A win for Purpose, Progress and Possibility at the 2025 Future of Leadership Awards

Katleho Mahloane, Marketing Executive Head at Commercial & Business, has been honoured as the 2025 Marketing Leader of the Year at the prestigious Future of Leadership Awards. He says ‘This achievement signifies a win for Purpose, a boost for Progress, and a leap for Possibility. Mahloane champions the power of marketing to build hope through positive narratives, drive inclusive growth, and foster deep societal impact. He extends heartfelt congratulations to fellow nominees Khensani Nobanda, Ntombi Mhangwani, and Bronwyn Pretorius, recognising their exceptional industry leadership. Above all, Mahloane expresses gratitude to God for guiding his purpose and providing grace throughout his career journey.

A little bit about Katleho

is an entrepreneurial marketing leader with 20+ years of experience driving growth and innovation across multiple industries, including banking, telecommunications, and consumer goods, in both B2B and B2C environments, working for SABMiller, The Coca-Cola Company, Vodacom and Nestle. Currently serving as Marketing Executive at First National Bank South Africa, Katleho leads strategies that position the bank as a trusted growth partner for SMEs and large enterprises. Recognised as a growth engineer, Katleho has transformed underperforming divisions into high-performance engines, significantly contributing to FNB being named Best SME Bank in South Africa (2022–2024) and Strongest Banking Brand in the World by Brand Finance (2023). Katleho combines strategic rigour with creativity, turning insights into scalable action that drives adoption, innovation, and impact. Described by colleagues as visionary yet grounded, Katleho blends sharp ex*****on with a deep commitment to purpose, thriving in agile environments and leading with inclusion to create value for customers and communities alike. Katleho’s journey embodies growth that matters, profit with purpose, innovation with heart, and leadership that unlocks possibility.

 is rewriting the playbook on cultural preservation – and their secret weapon is Gen Z. This   (8 May 2025), the brand’s...
08/05/2025

is rewriting the playbook on cultural preservation – and their secret weapon is Gen Z.

This (8 May 2025), the brand’s partnerships with Contralesa and heritage institutions are yielding tangible results, including Tshwane’s groundbreaking policy allowing spiritual leave for ukuthwasa.

What began in 2021 as a day of remembrance has evolved into a youth-powered movement. The brand’s ‘Don’t Let Their Stories Disappear’ initiative now meets young South Africans where they are – from TikTok storytelling challenges to redesigned rituals that fit urban lifestyles.

‘Since 2023, we’ve focused on making heritage inclusive,’ says Marketing Director Thomas Lawrence. The approach seems to be working as 63% of participants in last year’s Ancestors Day initiatives were under 35 (Brandwatch, 2024).

With now trending annually, the big question remains:

What’s the next step to make this an officially recognised holiday? Share your thoughts below.

 has announced Stanley Anderson as its new CEO, effective 1 July 2025. Anderson—a 24-year Hyundai veteran—steps up from ...
07/05/2025

has announced Stanley Anderson as its new CEO, effective 1 July 2025. Anderson—a 24-year Hyundai veteran—steps up from his role as Sales and Operations Director, succeeding Gideon Jansen Van Rensburg, who transitions to lead Motus SA Retail.

With a career spanning 36 years (including 11 at Mercedes-Benz SA), Anderson brings deep industry expertise, having spearheaded Hyundai’s local vehicle launches and market expansion. His appointment comes at a critical juncture for SA’s auto sector, amid shifting consumer demands and EV transitions.

“I embrace the challenges ahead,” says Anderson, who will oversee Hyundai’s next chapter in SA.

Drop a 🚗 in the comments if you’re excited to see Hyundai’s future under Anderson’s leadership!

Would you expect a seafood restaurant to serve a burger?  is flipping the script — literally — with its first-ever seafo...
07/05/2025

Would you expect a seafood restaurant to serve a burger? is flipping the script — literally — with its first-ever seafood burgers, and the response has been phenomenal.

Head of Food Alet Kilchenmann shares how this unexpected twist came to life through months of research, taste testing, and a bold move to blend classic seafood with burger culture. The result? Golden, crispy seafood (with options like hake, prawn, or calamari), crunchy veggie ribbons, secret sauces, and a buttery toasted brioche bun — all crafted with Gen Z cravings in mind.

This innovation is part of Ocean Basket’s broader strategy to bring the younger generation into its restaurants while staying staying true to its Mediterranean soul. From sustainability to menu refinement, Ocean Basket is keeping its seafood spirit alive — but isn’t afraid to play and experiment.

“You asked, we listened!” After massive demand, the Epic Seafood Burger Promo is now extended until 31 May 2025, giving fans more time to tag, taste, and indulge.

Have you already tried this burger special? 🍔🔥

Rwanda has scored a major branding victory by becoming the FIRST African nation to sponsor Spanish giants  🇷🇼⚽ The 3-yea...
06/05/2025

Rwanda has scored a major branding victory by becoming the FIRST African nation to sponsor Spanish giants 🇷🇼⚽

The 3-year ‘Visit Rwanda’ deal will feature on training kits, stadium signage, and even as the club’s official coffee supplier - marking Rwanda’s entry into after similar partnerships with , and .

Why it matters:
• This sponsorship projects Rwanda as global tourism/investment hub
• It includes youth football development programs
• It completes presence in all ‘Big 4’ European leagues

But the move isn’t without controversy, with critics arguing about priorities and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

At just 10M/year (vs. Arsenal′s 40M), this might be Rwanda’s smartest sports marketing play yet.

Do you think such sponsorships actually boost tourism?

Under Armour is stepping into the streetwear arena with its boldest move yet—the UA ECHO. Designed for Gen Z’s hybrid li...
05/05/2025

Under Armour is stepping into the streetwear arena with its boldest move yet—the UA ECHO. Designed for Gen Z’s hybrid lifestyle, this performance-meets-style sneaker features convertible SlipSpeed™️ tech, HOVR®️ cushioning, and a head-turning translucent design.

More than just footwear, it’s a cultural statement—bridging gym sessions and city streets while challenging Nike and Adidas on their turf. With this launch, Under Armour isn’t just entering the lifestyle game; it’s rewriting the rules. Could this be the sneaker that finally cracks streetwear’s code?

 now offers drivers a discounted app that transforms smartphones into dual-facing dashcams—with cloud storage and accide...
05/05/2025

now offers drivers a discounted app that transforms smartphones into dual-facing dashcams—with cloud storage and accident evidence support. In partnership with Driver Technologies, the e-hailing giant now offers South African drivers this critical safety tool at just R54.99/month (after a 1-month free trial), tackling cost barriers while curbing safety incidents.

The app records road + cabin footage seamlessly in the background, providing peace of mind and concrete evidence for insurance or police reports. “An affordable game-changer for driver security,” says Bolt SA’s Lerato Motsoeneng. Could this be the answer to safer e-hailing experiences? Share your thoughts below!

The Top 16 YOBAs accounces the 2025 jury which is made up of  industry experts, academics and accomplished entrepreneurs...
24/04/2025

The Top 16 YOBAs accounces the 2025 jury which is made up of industry experts, academics and accomplished entrepreneurs. With Tumelo Chaka at the helm, the jury will maintain the integrity, fairness and calibre of excellence that the YOBAs have become known for.

Visit www.patonbrands.com for more on this story.

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