SA brand delivers ‘impressive overall performance’ at Kantar awards

Savanna Premium Cider, a South African brand that claims to be the world’s top cider by volume, has enjoyed a strong showing at the 2026 Kantar Advertising Effectiveness Awards, which claim to celebrate the world’s most effective, results-driving advertising. 

The cider brand was honoured for its ‘Steve Jobe & The Department of Unnecessary Innovation’ campaign. The campaign features ‘Steve Jobe’, the world’s first Chief Dry Officer. The character, dressed in a yellow turtleneck, defends the cider’s ‘perfect’ formula against unnecessary changes, highlighting it as crisp and dry. 

According to Kantar, Savanna delivered one of the most impressive overall performances of the awards, ranking third worldwide in Print & Outdoor, fourth among the Top 10 Most Effective TV ads globally, and earning a shortlisting in Digital & Social.  

“Together, these results mark the most significant showing by a South African brand this year and place Savanna among the world’s most effective advertising,” Kantar states. 

Savanna Cider is owned by Heineken Beverages (formerly Distell Group Limited), a major South African-based drinks company.  

Built on sharp cultural insight and distinctive creativity 

Commenting on this the brand’s performance at the Kantar Advertising Effectiveness Awards, Andrea Quaye, Marketing Director at Heineken, says: “Savanna has always been built on sharp cultural insight and distinctive creativity. Seeing it recognised by Kantar as one of the world’s most effective campaigns – and for memorability at scale – is a powerful validation of how long-term brand building and creative effectiveness can work together to drive growth.” 

This builds on the brand’s momentum from last year, when Savanna was shortlisted in the TV category, and reinforces the strength of South African advertising when creativity and effectiveness work together.  

The brand was also recognised for the Most Memorable Advertising in the 2024 Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable South African Brands report, making its debut into the ranking in 8th place and signalling strong brand equity alongside its creative success.  

Kantar’s global experts cited Savanna as a strong example of connected campaign thinking, where a single culturally resonant idea is executed with clarity across formats.