JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- 20 top international and local companies were honoured at Frost & Sullivan's first annual African Excellence Awards Banquet held tonight at the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton. The awards were made to companies showcasing leading ideas and innovation across a variety of sectors.

The awards were made to companies demonstrating leadership in markets from Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa to the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. The sectors covered were energy, healthcare, industrial automation and ICT.

"The companies that received awards have shown innovation, competitiveness and leadership in meeting the particular demands of doing business in Africa," said Frost & Sullivan Partner and Director of African Operations Phil Howarth. "The products and services that we recognised should be applauded as examples of how to manage business in the current economic climate."

The keynote address for the evening was delivered by Johan Dekker, Divisional Director of Barloworld Logistics. Dekker emphasised that companies that embrace Supply Chain Management as a competitive weapon perform better than others.

"I suspect this is true in good times and in bad," he said. "Supply chains can respond effectively in times like these. For instance, supply chain management offers the unique advantage that 'going green' often equates to saving money and addressing the end-consumer's growing need to be environmentally sensitive.".

The event culminated in awards being presented to the following organisations demonstrating best practices in their respective disciplines:

• Netcare: 2007 South African Private Hospital Growth Strategy Leadership Award.
• MOBILITRIX: 2008 South African Mobile Content Product Innovation Award.
• Medika SA: 2008 South African Advanced Wound Care Product Line Strategy Award.
• Global Biofuels Limited: 2008 Sub-Saharan Africa Biofuel Emerging Company Award.
• TECMED Africa: 2008 South African Ultrasound Market Leadership Award.
• Copperbelt Energy Corporation: 2008 Zambian Electricity Industry Business Development Strategy Leadership Award.
• SSEM Mthembu: 2007 South African Market Penetration Leadership Award.
• Energem Biofuels: 2008 South African Biofuel Feedstock Competitive Strategy Leadership Award.
• Philips: 2007 Kenyan Medical Devices Market Leadership Award.
• Wyeth South Africa: 2007 South African Paediatric Vaccines Growth Strategy Leadership Award.
• Honeywell Process Solutions: 2007 African Product Life Cycle Price Competitiveness Customer Satisfaction Leadership Award.
• Alcon Laboratories: 2008 South African Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals Market Leadership Award.
• SSEM Mthembu: 2008 South African Patient Monitoring Growth Strategy Leadership Award.
• Rainbow Nation Renewable Fuels: 2008 South African Biofuel Feedstock Share Advancement Award.
• GE Healthcare: 2007 South African Patient Monitoring Industry Innovation and Advancement Award.
• Draeger Medical South Africa: 2007 South African Hospital Customer Service Leadership Award.
• The CK Scientific Group: 2008 Zambian Hospital Medical Equipment Customer Service Leadership Award.
• Intel Corporation: 2008 Nigerian Telemedicine Entrepreneurial Company Award.
• Accenture: 2008 Sub-Saharan Africa Software Outsourcing Market Leadership Award.
• Elekta Southern Africa: 2008 Nigerian Oncology Market Penetration Leadership Award.

"Our long-established awards programme honours companies that have demonstrated a unique approach to doing business in their markets," said Howarth. "Frost & Sullivan celebrates these ideas and strategies that drive corporate growth." Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievements and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

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