The Kempinski Hotel in Accra served as the grounds for the holding of the third edition of the Ghana Beverage Awards which saw Storm Energy Drink emerge as the Product of the Year.
The 2018 Ghana Beverage Awards had over 30 entries from beverage companies indicative of the warm reception the awards scheme enjoys from the key players (the beverage makers).
The 16 categories had keen competition but when it concluded, the following emerged victors:
Product of the Year- Storm Energy Drink
New Beverage of the Year – Kpoo Keke
Fruit Juice of the Year – Blue skies
CSD Water of the Year – Coca Cola
International Spirit of the Year- Jameson
Beer of the Year – Guinness
Bitters of the Year- Alomo Bitters
Liqueur of the Year- Kpoo Keke
Spirit of the Year – Castle Bridge
Ciders/RTD of the Year – Orijin Beer
Energy Drink of the Year- Storm Energy
Cocoa /Chocolate/ Dairy Product of the Year- Vitamilk
Water of the Year- BelAqua
CSR Company of the Year – Twellium Industries
International Beer of the Year – Heineken
Manufacturing Company of the Year – Kasapreko Company Limited
Key note speaker and Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry; Robert Ahomka-Lindsay revealed before entering into government, he had served with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company so took the beverage awards very seriously.
He observed there exist opportunities in the beverage space that locals must take advantage of given the import volumes of fruit juices to the market adding juicing tiger nut for sale holds so much promise.
“When we talk about one district, one factory, we recognize that the beverage industry is a significant part of this industrialization process,” Hon. Ahomka-Lindsay declared.
The minister touched on government’s intervention to stimulate growth in the sector noting “local beverage manufacturers have been given a five year corporate tax holiday as well as allow for import of raw materials for production duty-free.”
The elated minister charged the beverage manufacturers to explore the possibilities and be creative as he’s just returned from an event where he was served 26 different teas, an experience which he is sure to keep for long.
This year’s Ghana Beverage Awards encouraged the participation of the general public by creating the avenue for them to nominate their favourite beverages as well as going to a step further to determine the winner of the most coveted “Product of the Year category’’ by voting via various platforms.
The award categories included Beer of the Year, Spirit of the Year, Bitters of the Year, Water of the Year, Fruit Juice of the Year, Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) of the Year, Energy Drink of the Year, CSR of Beverage Company of the year, Manufacturer of the Year and Product of the Year.
New categories added were International Wine of the Year, International Spirit of the Year, International Beer of the Year and New Beverage of the Year.
Ghana Beverages Award 2018 was organized by Global Media Alliance in conjunction with Consumer Protection Agency, Food and Beverages Association of Ghana, Ghana Tourism Authority, National Drinking-Bar Operators Association and the Food and Research Institute under CSIR. Daily Guide, Daily Graphic, Today Newspaper, Citi FM, Happy FM, YFM, Oman FM, LIVE FM, Starr FM, Kwese TV, Net 2 TV, GHOne TV, eTV Ghana provided strong partnership on the media front.
By Michael Eli Dokosi/goldstreetbusiness.com
