Clover, a branded consumer-goods and beverages group operating in South Africa and other selected African countries, has claimed the top spot in the Reputation Institute's study of the most reputable companies in South Africa in 2016.

 “We are proud to have achieved this prestigious accolade, especially considering that we are a newcomer to the study following the addition of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry category this year. We are pleased that the general public recognises our efforts and we hope to continue in this light for years to come,” says Johann Vorster, chief executive of Clover.

The study, which is conducted by Reputation House, measures reputation according to four key themes namely, esteem, admire, trust and feeling, as well as seven reputation dimensions: product/services, innovation, workplace, governance, citizenship, leadership and performance.

To be included in the study, companies had to score at least a 50% familiarity level with the general public. Fifty well-recognised companies in South Africa, across various industries from retail to financial and telecommunications, were measured. Clover, a newcomer to the study, also ranked first in the new FMCG industry category, scoring 78 out of a possible 100. Other companies that featured in the top five are Coca-Cola, Woolworths, SPAR and Massmart.

In terms of the seven reputation dimensions, Clover was placed first in governance and citizenship, second in products and services, workplace, leadership and performance and third in innovation.

On the basis of public support, Clover was commended for its trusted products and was positioned as an ideal company to work for.