Struandale-based Eveready was also named as winner of the innovations category in the Proudly SA Homegrown Awards category.

"Scooping company of the year, in the corporate category, was Eveready, while Bandido‘s Chilli Company won the SMME category," an announcement from the award organisers said yesterday.

"Both companies are contributing significantly to socio- economic development, to employment creation, and to enhancing the reputation of local products and services.

"Eveready stood out for its cutting-edge technology to harvest wind as a source of renewable energy, while Bandido‘s Chilli Company (in Johannesburg) started out as a family business in 1994 and is now exporting a home-grown product to chilli lovers in other parts of the world."

Proudly SA chief executive Manana Moroka said the homegrown awards had been set up to recognise innovation and excellence among member companies.

The objective was to cultivate their competitive edge over their international counterparts by thinking globally, but offering local goods and services that provide a better import substitute.

"Our encouragement to the nation to buy local means that our members grow, more jobs are created and this adds to the general growth of our economy," Moroka said. "We give equal credit and recognition to the contribution made by corporates and SMMEs.

"Regardless of size, adherence to the Proudly SA campaign criteria is what matters," she said.

All winners were chosen from Proudly SA members that had entered the awards in one or more of nine categories.

Eveready marketing manager Jacqui Brown, who received the award at a banquet in Johannesburg, said the innovation award was made following a submission on the merits and development of the company‘s Kestrel wind turbine project, which has proved a success both domestically and in the export market. "Eveready‘s commitment to innovation is embodied in its renewable energy arm, Eveready Diversified Products (referred to as Eveready-Kestrel)," the company submission said.

"Eveready, in addition to being the only battery manufacturer, is also the only manufacturer of micro and small wind turbines in South Africa, equally important but two very different areas of business.

"Kestrel is the unique wind turbine technology that Eveready owns. It began development in the early 1990s," the submission said.

Of the ceremony, Brown said that receiving the top corporate award had come as an exciting addition as it had been decided on without specific motivation from among all the finalists, which represented many leading companies in South Africa.

"What makes both awards extra special for the company and all its staff is that they have been made as we celebrate Eveready being established in South Africa in 1938," Brown said.