By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Pictures: Supplied – SAB, Henley Business School
Seen Here: Representatives from South African Breweries and Henley Business School Africa during a collaborative engagement aimed at strengthening leadership development, enterprise growth, and skills advancement through strategic partnership. 🍻🎓🤝 Photo Credit: SAB, Henley Business School.
Johannesburg — South African Breweries (SAB), in partnership with Henley Business School Africa, has launched an ambitious new initiative aimed at strengthening South Africa’s retail sector and empowering small business owners. The SAB Retailer University, unveiled on 4 March 2026, is a flagship enterprise development programme designed to equip local retailers with the knowledge, skills and strategic insight needed to build sustainable and competitive businesses.
The initiative forms part of SAB’s broader commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, driving job creation and building long-term economic resilience across South Africa’s communities.
A Year-Long Business Development Programme
The SAB Retailer University will run over 12 months, combining structured in-person learning with practical assignments, mentorship and personalised guidance. The curriculum has been designed to strengthen essential capabilities required for modern retail success, including financial management, operational efficiency, marketing strategy and leadership development.
Participants will attend sessions at Henley Business School Africa’s campus, where academic expertise and real-world business experience will be integrated to ensure practical outcomes.
Henley Business School Africa — part of the University of Reading in the United Kingdom — brings globally accredited academic expertise to the programme. Retailers who complete the course successfully will receive a recognised certificate aligned to higher-education standards, giving the initiative both practical and professional credibility.
Investing in the Backbone of Local Economies
The inaugural cohort includes 30 established retailers from across South Africa, each with more than a decade of operational experience and strong potential for growth within their communities.
By covering the full cost of participation, SAB has ensured that selected entrepreneurs can access the programme without financial barriers, reinforcing the company’s commitment to inclusive economic development.
According to Zoleka Lisa, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at SAB, retailers play a crucial role in sustaining local economies and supporting employment.
“Retailers are the backbone of South Africa’s beer economy and vital anchors in the communities they serve,” Lisa said. “Through Retailer University, SAB is investing directly in the people who power our industry — equipping them with the strategic capability and confidence to grow responsibly and build lasting value.”
Strengthening Leadership and Business Resilience
Beyond traditional training, the programme also emphasises mentorship, peer learning networks and structured accountability, ensuring that participants apply new skills directly within their businesses.
Linda Buckley, Pro-Dean for Teaching and Learning and Student Experience at Henley Business School Africa, highlighted the broader economic value of the initiative.
“By equipping retailers with practical tools, strategic thinking and leadership confidence, we are supporting sustainable businesses that drive economic participation and long-term community impact,” Buckley said.
The first group of participants began their training in February 2026, marking the start of what organisers hope will become a long-term programme supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs nationwide.
A Broader Vision for Economic Growth
For SAB, the Retailer University reflects a wider vision of strengthening the beer value chain “from seed to sip”, an ecosystem that currently supports more than 250,000 jobs across South Africa. The company operates seven breweries and 42 depots nationwide and remains one of the country’s largest employers within the manufacturing sector.
By investing directly in the development of independent retailers, SAB aims to strengthen the resilience of small businesses while ensuring sustainable growth across its supply and distribution networks.
Ultimately, the Retailer University represents more than a training programme — it is an investment in people, entrepreneurship and the long-term vitality of South Africa’s local economies.
