The37th edition of the prestigious World Cheese Awards took place from 13 – 15 November in Bern, Switzerland. Organised by the Guild of Fine Food, a British organisation dedicated to celebrating artisan food and drink, the competition has been spotlighting exceptional cheese producers from around the globe since 1988.

NielsenIQ (NIQ) South Africa, a leader in consumer intelligence, has unveiled the South African winners of its 2025 Breakthrough Innovation Awards.

The37th edition of the prestigious World Cheese Awards took place from 13 - 15 November in Bern, Switzerland. Organised by the Guild of Fine Food, a British organisation dedicated to celebrating artisan food and drink, the competition has been spotlighting exceptional cheese producers from around the globe since 1988.

Boxer Superstores has been recognised for excellence in skills development, taking home 10 awards at the 2025 W&R SETA Good Practice Awards, including first place in the Accredited Skills Training Provider category.

Engen celebrates 16 consecutive wins as South Africa’s “Coolest Petrol Brand” – and keeps the energy flowing with youth-led experiences.

A vision to marry a trading store specialising in items of cultural significance with the convenience of a modern supermarket has earnt a Qonce retail outlet national acclaim.

Thirteen-year-old Lethabo Mntambo, a Grade 7 learner from Waverley, Johannesburg, has a natural eye for fashion and a talent for turning everyday waste into creative designs. In her spare time, she knits, sews clothes for dolls, and makes handbags using scrap paper and other leftover materials. 

Checkers has achieved top honours across multiple categories in the prestigious Food & Home Awards 2025 that celebrate some of South Africa’s tastiest, most innovative, and most-loved offerings.

A panel of five expert judges evaluated hundreds of entries - from frozen meals and vegan treats to spices and sauces - to identify the very best. Checkers’ private label ranges - including Forage and Feast, Simple Truth, Café Culture, Gourmade, Platinum and The Bakery - picked up 20 Gold Awards across a wide range of categories:

Cheese

• Semi-hard cheese: Forage & Feast Gouda with Tomatoes, Olive & Garlic 
• Soft cheese: Forage & Feast Burrata Cheese 

Dairy

• Flavoured yoghurt: Forage & Feast Cherry & Dragon Fruit Double Cream Yoghurt 
• Ice cream: Forage & Feast Belgian Chocolate Dairy Ice Cream

Jams & preserves

• Preserves: Forage & Feast Makataan Watermelon Preserve
• Toppers: Forage & Feast Tomato & Chilli Cheese Topper

Oils

• Seed oil: Forage & Feast Cold-Pressed Grapeseed Oil 250ml

Sauces & condiments

• Pickles & atchars: Forage & Feast Caponata

Starch

• Mains: Forage & Feast Italian Cheese Tortellini Pasta 
• Sides: Simple Truth Corn Cous Cous
• Wraps: The Bakery Chia Seed Tortilla Wrap

Sugar alternatives

• Maple syrup: Forage & Feast Pure Maple Syrup

Vinegars

• Balsamic vinegars: Forage & Feast Balsamic Turkish Fig Balsamic Vinegar

Vegan & veg

• Dairy-free desserts: Simple Truth Cashew Milk Coffee Ice Cream
• Ready meals: Platinum Curried Pumpkin Soup

Gluten-free

• Bread & pizza bases: Simple Truth Gluten-Free Pizza Base 
• Rusks & biscuits: Simple Truth Mini Choc Chip Biscuits 

Savoury snacks

• Crackers: Simple Truth Gluten-Free Spicy Barbecue Seed Crackers

Frozen and ready-made meals

• Pies and quiches: Café Culture Pepper Steak Pie
• Dessert: Gourmade Malva Bake Pudding
• Ready meals: Platinum Curried Pumpkin Soup

Forage and Feast is South Africa’s only private label range endorsed by a Michelin-star chef, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen.

Offering 287 products across 49 categories, Simple Truth is South Africa’s most accessible wellness range. It caters to a variety of dietary needs and is endorsed by world-renowned chef, restaurateur and healthy food advocate, Jamie Oliver.

In its 30th year, Clicks ClubCard – South Africa’s most-used loyalty programme – has won multiple awards at the 2025 South African Loyalty Awards.