Johannesburg, 21 July 2024: The search is on for South Africa's leaders in transformation and Mr Richard Manzini, CEO of Daybreak Foods, has been announced as a finalist in the BBQ Businessman of the Year Awards. 

The BBQ Awards is South Africa's most prestigious and longest running black business awards ceremony. For almost 2 decades, the Awards have honoured and recognised the champions of transformation across South Africa.

The Awards, which encourage and promote sustainable black business and transformation through the recognition of good corporate governance, leadership and achievement, will be celebrated on the 26th of July 2024 at Emperors Palace, Gauteng 

The event consists of 10 categories open to individuals, black-owned and empowered companies and organisations in South Africa, and finalists and winners are selected by a panel of independent adjudicators. The awards will be streamed live so that as many people as possible can follow the events as they unfold. 

 Richard Manzini, CEO of Daybreak Foods, has quickly cemented his name as a mainstay in the world of big business building his career as a private equity investor for the largest asset manager on the continent. Over the last 12 months, Manzini has led Daybreak Foods into an incredible turnaround success story, despite facing numerous challenges.

These challenges included Avian Influenza, feed cost escalations, load shedding, and taking over a loss-making business that had governance issues marred with reputation issues. However, Manzini has spearheaded what most deemed an impossible task. Entrenching governance and controls, with a clear strategy to overhaul the culture.

Undeterred by the challenges and bad press, Manzini set about bringing change and forward momentum to the company. He stabilised the business operationally, attracted some of the best-in-class talent, rebuilt relationships with stakeholders, won back blue-chip customers, and sought to strengthen the employee value proposition.

The business is now tracking towards a recovery path, which has investors willing to support it. Manzini has managed to preserve over 3 300 jobs in this current economic climate. He is an alumnus of four South African institutions, holding a B.Bus.Sci (UCT), LLB (Unisa), MBA (Wits), MMFI (Wits), and MSc (UP). Additionally, he is a certified director (IoDSA) and holds various board seats.

“Every day, when I look into the faces of those who work with me and for me, I am reminded of their fortitude and commitment to turning the face of Daybreak Foods around,” says Manzini, “my nomination for this award is a testament to what we as a team have achieved; if I am selected as a winner, it will be because I can stand steadfast on their shoulders.

“I am truly humbled by this nomination – thank you - and of course honoured to stand head and shoulders with the country’s best black businesspeople. We are the future, and we are building a great South Africa together.”