Celebrating Innovation and Excellence: The 2025 Business Excellence Awards

23 May 2025

 

The Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries proudly hosted the 2025 edition of its prestigious Business Excellence Awards on the evening of Thursday, 22 May, at the elegant @Sandton Hotel. This highly anticipated event drew together dignitaries, leading business figures, and industry pioneers from both the Italian and South African spheres to honour excellence, innovation, and enduring cross-cultural partnerships.

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Set against the refined theme of Vintage, the evening artfully blended timeless elegance with contemporary achievements. Soulful saxophone performances by Rike Coetzer set the tone for the night, and renowned broadcaster Neil Andrews led the proceedings as master of ceremonies.

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The evening commenced with distinguished keynote addresses. The Ambassador of Italy to South Africa, HE Alberto Vecchi, offered words of vision and encouragement, followed by an address from Mr. Virgilio Da Molo, President of the Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries. Mr. Da Molo reflected on the legacy of the Business Excellence Awards — a cherished tradition since 1999 — and the Chamber’s enduring strength amidst global and domestic challenges. He extended warm thanks to representatives from the Embassy of Italy, Consulate General of Italy, Com.It.Es., DTIC, SEIFSA, ICJ, and the dedicated Chamber team.

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A Celebration of Enterprise and Vision

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This year marked the introduction of an exciting new award: the SMILE Start-Up of the Year, created to recognise exceptional innovation and growth among emerging enterprises. The inaugural honour was awarded to Umbretta Mills, a rising textile company rooted in the legacy of Italian craftsmanship. In a post-pandemic economic landscape, Umbretta Mills has not only persevered but flourished — producing sustainable, high-performance textiles for residential, commercial, and industrial use, and rapidly gaining traction in the competitive textile industry.

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The SMILE SME of the Year Award was presented to Baglios, an artisanal gelato business that has evolved from humble beginnings into a brand name in Gauteng. Honouring its heritage, Baglios continues to produce gelato with authentic Italian ingredients and state-of-the-art equipment. In 2024 alone, the brand expanded with five new locations across Gauteng, serving both boutique outlets and elite hospitality establishments. With six additional stores planned nationwide in 2025, Baglios is poised to sweeten South Africa’s culinary landscape while paying tribute to founder Enzo Barbaglia’s legacy of family, flavour, and flair.

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WAM South Africa,  a key subsidiary of the globally respected WAMGROUP - founded in Modena, Italy, was honoured with the prestigious Enterprise of the Year Award. Recognised for its excellence in the industrial sector, WAM South Africa stands today as the country’s largest supplier of bulk solids handling and processing components for the concrete industry. They have also played a key role in strengthening industrial trade ties between Italy and South Africa, proving that great things happen when collaboration crosses borders. With sustained double-digit growth and market expansion across Southern and Eastern Africa, the company’s unwavering commitment to quality, customer service, and technical innovation exemplifies the best of Italian industrial leadership abroad. The award was received by Gianluca Della Riccia who is the Managing Director of WAM South Africa.

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Honouring Leadership and Legacy

 

In an emotionally resonant moment, the Business Person of the Year Award was presented jointly to brothers Tony and Kevin Payne of Technogym South Africa – PentaSystems. Through their visionary leadership, the company not only weathered the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic but emerged stronger, achieving remarkable growth and cementing its status as a wellness and fitness market leader. As the local representative of a global brand that has powered eight consecutive Olympic Games, Technogym - PentaSystems South Africa has brought world-class fitness solutions to the local market. Tony and Kevin’s strategic vision, ethical business practices, and relentless pursuit of excellence made them fitting recipients of this prestigious honour.

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The evening’s most poignant moment arrived with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Vincenzo Scarcella, a corporate pioneer whose influence has shaped some of South Africa’s most iconic brands — from SAB and Vodacom to Telkom and now as Chief Consumer Officer at MTN Group. Introduced as per tradition, by the ever-respected Cavaliere Maurizio Mariano, Scarcella was honoured not only for his corporate legacy but for his profound commitment to community upliftment through initiatives such as Raston Soccer and the Africa Leadership Initiative. In an emotional acceptance speech, Scarcella paid tribute to his wife, Yolande, and to his late father Giovanni, who emigrated from Basilicata, Italy:
“Papa, you taught me to work hard, to be generous, and to lead with integrity. I am who I am because of you.” Quoting Nelson Mandela, he reminded guests: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”

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A Spirit of Generosity

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As the evening drew to a close, attention turned to the heart of the Chamber’s values — giving back. Proceeds from a charity auction and raffle were donated to the Little Eden Society, which offers critical care to individuals living with profound intellectual disabilities. Through the generosity of guests and MSC Cruises, Smeg, Vodacom, Café 28, Mastrantonio, Pomodoro, The Italian Job, Alfie’s Restaurant, Tortellino d’Oro, and Nedbank, the Chamber proudly raised R130,000 in support of this noble cause.

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Gratitude is also extended to the evening’s generous sponsors — Italtile, Turkish Airlines, MSC Cruises, Technogym South Africa – PentaSystems — and to our product sponsors: Idiom Wines, Vinotria, Doppio Zero, Aperol, Ferrero, Clearworld, Pernod Ricard , and Shattered Glass. Their steadfast support ensured the event’s success.

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The 2025 Business Excellence Awards served as a resounding testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and community. As the Italian-South African business partnership enters a new chapter, this event once again reaffirmed the values that bind us — heritage, excellence, and a shared vision for a prosperous future.