Following the resounding success of the inaugural Beverage Entrepreneurship Conference in 2024, Brewsters Academy is back with the second edition. Last year’s conference attracted over 100 entrepreneurs along with a network of strategic partners and stakeholders who greatly enriched the event.
This year founder Apiwe Nxusana is aiming even bigger by targeting at least 300 beverage industry game changers in alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink production who are hungry for opportunities to learn, connect, and showcase their craft.
Brewsters Academy’s mission is simple: To develop Africa’s Beverage Industry and empower young entrants to build innovative, compliant, sustainable, and value-driven enterprises.
Leading lady Nxusana said, “When I embarked on my journey as a beverage entrepreneur a decade ago, one of the significant barriers I encountered was the lack of accessible information. Many aspiring entrepreneurs are still unsure where to begin, where to find the necessary information, and who the key players in the industry are. Through this conference, my primary goal is to disseminate crucial information to the participants, ensuring that their businesses are built on a solid foundation that adheres to industry regulations and compliance standards. We are simply leveling the playing field”
This year’s key speakers include Director for Client Relations Management for the Gauteng Liquor Board Cleo Bodibe-Lushaba who will lead the conversation around industry regulations and Mthobeli Phele from Sunset Cocktails who will unpack industry trends in mobile bar services.
Ritha Zwane from the popular Kasi eatery Busy Corner Shisanyama and Johan Auriacombe of Capital Craft Beer Academy will collaborate in unpacking how brands can navigate the retail landscape for beverage entrepreneurs.
The complexities of contract manufacturing, compliance and marketing strategies will also be on the agenda at the conference that is supported by VEGA Instruments SA, Heineken Beverages and other key industry players. Brewsters Academy’s strategic partnership with SME South Africa will amplify networking opportunities by giving delegates through interactive engagement at the conference and beyond.
Emerging beverage entrepreneurs, industry leaders, regulators, and other key stakeholders whose values align with this trailblazing vision are invited to this year’s conference where they can network with veterans while cultivating opportunities to collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs and catapult South Africa’s brewing industry to new heights.
At this year’s conference experienced entrepreneurs will engage young entrepreneurs through dialogue and enable them to learn first-hand from their predecessors by sharing their journeys, challenges, and successes. The distributors, suppliers, and mentors in attendance will spearhead meaningful interactions with the potential to ignite growth and identify new opportunities.
Regulatory adherence and industry regulation will take centre stage in Brewsters Academy’s vision toward fostering an industry that is not just profit focused but striving toward long term sustainability.
Event Details April 11-12, 2025
Venue: Wakanda Village, Nelson Mandela Square (137 West Street), Sandton
For more information on Brewsters Academy and the conference, please visit: https://beverageconference.co.za/ and follow https://www.facebook.com/thebrewsterza
@brewstersacademy on social media.
