KZN Top Business Awards 2025 – Shortlist Announced
- Maryke Dickinson
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
KwaZulu-Natal’s leading business recognition platform, the KZN Top Business Awards, has officially released the shortlist of nominees for 2025.
Presented by Standard Bank, in partnership with the Women of Africa Group and supported by East Coast Radio, the KZN Top Business Awards continue to recognise businesses that demonstrate excellence, resilience, and positive impact across KwaZulu-Natal. These awards shine a spotlight on organisations that are building a stronger province—economically and socially.
The judging panel was impressed by the quality of entries received across all categories, which reflect the strength and diversity of KZN’s economy. Below are the shortlisted companies across key industry sectors:
Categories and Shortlisted Nominees
The awards span a diverse range of sectors, reflecting the rich economic landscape of the province:
Manufacturing
Recognising companies that excel in transforming raw materials into finished products, contributing to both domestic and international markets:
Hulamin
Siyaka
Imperial Armour
Plastimed
Evopharm
Arena Trims
SLG
Joekels Tea
aQuellé
Transport & Logistics
Celebrating operational excellence in transportation, courier services, warehousing, and travel services:
The Courier Guy Durban
Your Pass to Travel
Avemel Logistics
Franchising
Acknowledging businesses operating under established brand systems that demonstrate consistency, scalability, and innovation:
Meondo Holdings (Pty) Ltd
Chas Everitt (Pinetown, Malvern, Chatsworth, Westville, Izinga & Pietermaritzburg)
Drakewoods Group
Family-Owned or Managed Businesses
Highlighting businesses where family involvement plays a central role in operations and decision-making:
Beekman Group
Miktek Scientific
Imperial Armour
Fordoun Hotel and Spa
Bluff Meat Supply
Siyaka
Benita Ardenbaum Attorneys
Enlightment Foods
Agriculture
Recognising the importance of primary production and agri-processing in the regional economy:
GreenHills Laboratories
BioAge
Luhnyezi Farming
Business, Financial, Legal & Education Services
Celebrating professional service providers committed to excellence and impact in their respective fields:
Benita Ardenbaum Attorneys
NJMPF
Tyson Properties
Searchworks
BConsult
Royal Tyres
Community Upliftment & Improvement
Awarding businesses and social enterprises that have made a significant contribution to community development and social change:
Innovate Durban
Black City Media
Ocean Driven Media
SLG
Mobi Ventures
aQuellé
SA Suburbs
Wallace and Green
Renewable Efficiency – Green Initiatives
Recognising innovation in sustainability, clean energy, and environmentally responsible practices:
Brahman Hills
aQuellé
Wallace and Green
Employee Wellness
Honouring businesses that invest in staff development, wellbeing, and workplace culture:
Beekman Group
Hulamin
SRF Flexipak SA
Meondo Holdings (Pty) Ltd
Partnerships
Highlighting effective collaborations and joint initiatives that lead to measurable results:
Ensure Ubuntu
Durban Direct
Nos Media
Standard Bank Client of the Year Awards
SME Category
Recognising high-performing small and medium-sized enterprises that are clients of Standard Bank:
Arena Trims
Construction for Africa
Enlightment Foods
Black City Media
Wallace and Green
Larger Enterprise Category
Acknowledging impactful and well-established organisations partnered with Standard Bank:
NJMPF
Avemel Group
Searchworks
Looking Ahead
Finalists in each category will be officially announced next week, and the overall winners will be revealed during the KZN Top Business Awards 2025 Gala Event later this month.
Voting for the KZN Top Brand 2025 category remains open, with thousands of votes already cast by members of the public. The latest standings will be released on Later next week , and everyone is encouraged to participate in celebrating the brands they love.
