According to the organisers, it is encouraging that a record 106 high-calibre entries were received, highlighting how the industry is rising to the challenges of keeping goods, services and essential supplies moving in an era of extraordinary supply chain disruptions. A collaboration between leading industry organisations that was launched five years ago, the Africa Supply Chain Excellence Awards enable essential industry collaboration, benchmarking and knowledge sharing, in addition to promoting excellence in supply chain management. “They are helping to shape the future of supply chain management in Africa,” states ASCEA director Liesl de Wet.

She explains that the event’s 11 categories cover the many disciplines that make up the supply chain profession. She notes, however, that entries are not just judged on their industry, function or chosen category, but on the supply chain excellence they demonstrate, including the scale and complexity of the challenge, the quality of the solution and clear, measurable impact.

The following organisations and projects took top honours in the different categories at ASCEA 2026:

Humanitarian and Health Supply Chain Management

Heart for Africa received the Platinum Award in this category for Project Canaan, an important initiative to improve child nutrition in rural communities with limited refrigeration and transport infrastructure.  Working with international partners, the organisation has developed a solution to extend the stable shelf life of boiled eggs and a sustainable distribution model that is getting high-quality protein to vulnerable children in remote areas.

Preservation of the Environment

Three businesses shared top honours in this category. Nebula Group (in partnership with non-profit organisation Clothes to Good), Pick n Pay and Heart for Africa all received Gold Awards.

Nebula Group and Clothes to Good have diverted more than 224 000 textile and footwear items (over 55 tonnes) from landfill. The materials are upcycled or downcycled into educational resources, assistive products like mobility aids and new manufactured goods. The programme supports children with disabilities, creates inclusive jobs and skills development opportunities for people living with disabilities and enables micro-enterprises to produce goods from recycled materials.

Pick n Pay's Eastport Distribution Centre incorporates energy-efficient technologies, responsible resource management and environmentally conscious operating practices that reduce both environmental impact and long-term operating costs.

Heart for Africa’s Project Canaan was recognised in this category, too, for creating a closed-loop agricultural supply chain that maximises natural resources while strengthening long-term food production in water-scarce Eswatini.

Technology Information Systems and Related Fields

The eFama app was one of ASCEA’s big winners this year, taking top honours in the Technology and Information Systems category and being recognised with ASCEA’s special Garry Marshall Award for Supply Chain Excellence. This app is transforming agricultural supply chains by connecting farmers directly with commercial buyers through a digital marketplace. By removing traditional barriers between producers and customers, eFama is helping farmers boost their incomes while reducing waste and creating more predictable demand.

Garry Marshall Award for Supply Chain Excellence

The Garry Marshall Award for Supply Chain Excellence is a new addition to the ASCEA line-up. It was formerly the ASCEA Judges’ Spotlight Award but has been renamed in 2026 in honour of the late Garry Marshall, ASCEA’s dedicated head judge. Garry was a supply chain and logistics pioneer, mentor and leader whose passing in August 2026 was an enormous loss to the industry. His contributions will never be forgotten and he will be sorely missed.

End-to-End Supply Chain Excellence

Digistics won this category, receiving a Platinum Award. Their entry included impactful green transport solutions and integrated voice-directed warehouse technology integrated with the company's Warehouse Management System (WMS) and electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) to create end-to-end visibility from receiving through to final delivery. Inventory accuracy, warehouse productivity and traceability have been improved while providing customers with greater transparency and more efficient order fulfilment.  Using detailed transport modelling and route optimisation, unnecessary travel and fuel consumption have been reduced, while fleet utilisation has improved – all alongside continued business growth.

Innovation and Change Management

This category was won by ABF Sugar, which received a Platinum Award for a programme that has redefined outbound logistics across Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa. Investments in warehouse infrastructure, modern materials handling equipment fleets, hardstands, canopies, warehouse management systems and transport management systems have improved safety, visibility, productivity and year-round operational capability.

International Trade

DP World received the Platinum Award for its contributions in Senegal, where the organisation’s operations at the Port of Dakar have done more than just improve cargo movement. Investments in port efficiency, digitalisation and stakeholder collaboration have strengthened Senegal's position as a regional trade gateway while reducing barriers to international commerce.  An assessment found that the trade enabled through DP World's operations supported an average annual contribution equivalent to 3.8% of Senegal's GDP, 3.1% of national employment and 3.5% of national tax revenues.

Inventory Warehousing and Distribution Management

In their Platinum Award winning entry, Inhance Supply Chain Solutions and Tiger Brands demonstrated how an integrated Supply Chain Control Tower can deliver measurable improvements across planning, logistics, warehousing and customer service.

Procurement and Supply Management

Category winner Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS) received the Gold Award for their transformation of the procurement of essential medicines through legislative reform, digital innovation, strategic sourcing and stronger collaboration with local manufacturers. 

Training and Talent Management

DHL Supply Chain and Beapo were the joint Gold Award winners of this category. Across Africa, DHL Supply Chain's "Geared for Growth" programme is demonstrating how learning and talent development can become a strategic driver of organisational performance rather than a standalone human resources function.  With South Africa facing a growing shortage of qualified Lifting Machinery Inspectors (LMIs), Beapo united several industry role players to deliver an innovative, industry-led solution that strengthens crane safety and future technical capability.

Transport – All Modes and Intermodal

RNR app and Avemel Logistics shared first place in this category, receiving Gold Awards. By combining operational data with predictive analytics, RNR is enabling transport operators to identify recurring issues, improve maintenance planning and make more informed fleet management decisions before failures occur.  Avemel Logistics has strengthened freight movement across Southern Africa by combining integrated logistics services, specialist transport expertise and technology-driven operations. 

Supply Chain Co-ordination and Collaboration

This category was won by Inhance Supply Chain Solutions and SPAR, achieving a Gold Award for helping South African consumers to skip the aisles with the SPAR2U online grocery fulfilment solution.

The organisers have expressed their heartfelt thanks to all the ASCEA 2026 sponsors - namely Headline Sponsor Newlyn Group, Forte Supply Chain Solutions, BidAir Cargo, DP World, RFA (The Road Freight Association) and SAAFF (Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders NPC).

Rajendra Balmakhun, CEO, Newlyn Group, comments: “The winners of these awards represent the very best of what Africa’s supply-chain sector can achieve. They have taken complexity and turned it into better outcomes, proving that innovation matters, but ultimately it is execution that moves economies forward. Every bottleneck removed, every connection improved and every supply chain made more efficient strengthens our ability to trade, compete and grow. Their achievements raise the standard for all of us and, as headline sponsor of the Africa Supply Chain Excellence Awards, Newlyn Group is proud to shine the light on winners that demonstrate what is possible when African talent, capital and ideas are matched by a relentless focus on delivery.”