Parent company to the renowned tyre brand Dunlop, Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA), was announced winner of the prestigious KZN Exporter of the Year Award 2016 in the large category. This award category measures companies that have a turnover in excess of R100 million.

SRSA was previously awarded this accolade in 2013, and were finalists in the category in 2014 and 2015. According to SRSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Riaz Haffejee, being able to win this award, given the calibre of the other finalists, is testimony to the magnitude and scale on which the company operates.
“Winning this title once again is a huge accolade, and in a sense, is affirmation that the various investments made by our company are being acknowledged and lauded on a broader level. Over the period 2014-2018, we will have invested in excess of R2bn into our manufacturing plant and operations in Ladysmith, in order to service both the local and export markets. The byproduct of these investments
has been a positive domino effect on transformation in terms of employment, infrastructure and the local economy as a whole,” said Haffejee. The company has a dedicated focus on exporting passenger, truck and bus tyres beyond the borders of South Africa and has enjoyed strong doubledigit growth in the sale and export of these goods, particularly over the past three years.

This award follows close on the back of the company’s win earlier this year, as the 2016/17 Winner in the Tyre Brands Category in the Target Group Index (TGI) Icon Brand Awards, which measures actual product
usage among South Africans, an accolade that the brand has successfully achieved for four of the past five years.

The company hopes to continue its winning streak and plans to acquire increased market share through a selective growth strategy in specific markets.