SA’s largest safety footwear manufacturer treated loyal customers to a glamourous end-of-year function, November 10, 2016
BBF Safety Group gathered at Summer Place, Sandton, to reward customers for their loyal support throughout the year. Previously known as the Bova end-of year function, this is the first year the event was held under the BBF Safety Group name, following two years since the merger that created the largest safety footwear manufacturer in the country.
Themed “all aboard”, BBF’s new conglomerate of customers were invited to dine, laugh, and be recognised for their contribution towards the industry.
BBF Group’s Executive Chairman, Wolfgang Beier welcomed guests, followed by Alan Fleetwood, BBF Safety Group’s Managing Director who began by sharing the company’s mantra of ‘buy local, produce local, sell global’. He continued with a summary of the last two years of business:
“Combining four competing companies together has been like climbing into a concrete mixer and pushing the on switch,” said Fleetwood. “There have been things that did not go so well, but fortunately the positives outweigh the negatives. We’ve created over 100 new jobs, saved many more, and diverted millions of Rands to local enterprise.
Alan Fleetwood, Managing Director shares the company’s vision
Bon Voyage to 2017!
Fleetwood gave guests a glimpse of their future with a clear long-term company vision. He announced: The starting of the Sector Specialist program which will, for the first time, offer local end-users free expert advice on every aspect of safety footwear – pairing the right shoe with the right job, at the right cost; that the BBF suite of products has now been amalgamated into one offering, making the group’s considerable product range immediately accessible to any buyer; and the extension of the BOVA Loyalty Scheme to include the Lemaitre, Wayne, and Frams brands.
BBF Safety Group CEO, Silvio Ceriani presented the annual Top Dog awards, with Cattell’s winning the Top Dog prize.
Top Dog Award winners Cattell receive their prize. (l-r) Silvio Ceriani,
BBF Safety Group CEO, Rob and Raymond Cattell from Cattell’s Industrial Footwear, Ndlela Mazibuko, BBF Group Sales Manager
“Thank you to everyone that’s supported us,” said Silvio. “As South Africans competing in an international import/export market, we are on the right path to achieving our goals!”
Guests were treated to an evening hosted by comedian and TV personality Tats Nkonzo; a saxophonist performance in a bubble by Cathy Del Mei; as well as entertainment by the famed Silent Conductor, Steve Barnett. The soiree was finally capped with cigars and whiskey, the perfect setting for customers and employees to plan their voyage into 2017.
Comedian, TV presenter and musican Tats Nkonzo entertains guests as the host for the evening
Cathy Del Mei, The Saxophonist in a Bubble captivated guests with her jazzy tunes
The silent conductor, Steve Barnett, gets the room buzzing with his crowd sourced ensemble
Hans Beier, Chairman of the Beier Group and Pantelis Eleftheriou, owner of FTS Safety Group, get in to the silent conductor spirit
Ndlela Mazibuko, Group Sales Manager, BBF Safety Group, is captivated by Steve Barnett’s antics
Wolfgang Beier, BBF Safety Group’s Executive Chairman welcomes guests