Why empowering women brewers matters for the cold chain and vice versa.
The cold chain industry is a quiet but critical partner in South Africa’s brewing economy. From temperature-controlled fermentation and storage to refrigerated transport and retail display, beer quality relies on well-managed cold environments at every step of the value chain. As new brewers enter the industry, especially small and emerging enterprises, access to proper cold-chain infrastructure and the skills to manage it become essential for product consistency, food safety and commercial viability.
This is especially significant in regions like the Eastern Cape, where transformation in the brewing sector is gaining momentum. Empowering new entrants – particularly women and black entrepreneurs – creates not only economic opportunity, but also greater demand for reliable, efficient and sustainable refrigeration solutions across craft brewing and distribution. It is within this broader ecosystem that the Beer Association of South Africa’s latest initiative takes on added relevance for the cold-chain community.
BASA and Eastern Cape Liquor Board partner to empower women brewers
The Beer Association of South Africa (BASA), in partnership with the Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB), has launched a successful skills development and training initiative aimed at empowering black entrepreneurs, particularly women, in the province’s growing brewing sector.
The programme arose after the Eastern Cape Liquor Board approached BASA to assist in addressing a major diversity imbalance in the local brewing industry. Out of the 22 registered brewers in the province, only one was black. The initiative was therefore structured to equip and support black-owned brewing businesses while promoting meaningful inclusion of women throughout the beer value chain.
To deliver the initiative, BASA partnered with Brewsters Academy, an accredited brewing and training institution, to run intensive skills-development sessions. The Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) and the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) also participated, presenting the financial and non-financial support programmes available to SMEs – critical for brewers who need capital to secure equipment such as refrigeration systems, fermentation tanks and cold-storage facilities.
Participants further benefitted from insights shared by Chris Heacon, experienced brewer and owner of Emeraldvale Brewery, who spoke candidly about operational sustainability and the practical realities of running a successful brewing enterprise.
In his address, Mr Tyali of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board stressed the importance of compliance and legal operation, urging entrepreneurs to register their businesses, engage regularly with the Board and consider forming co-operatives to strengthen their access to opportunities and resources.
Representing DEDEAT, Mr Ngatiane highlighted the department’s commitment to fostering economic participation across the beer value chain, noting:
“We are pleased to collaborate efforts with BASA for the economic empowerment of our people… The purpose of the LRED grant fund is to provide funding to enterprises which are not able to access funding from commercial banks as a result of liquidity challenges, lack of credit history, collateral, as well as high gearing.”
Adding inspiration to the event, Brewsters Academy founder Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela said:
“It was an honour to witness the energy and ambition of young people and women in the Eastern Cape… This is how transformation begins, with opportunity, support and belief.”
BASA CEO Charlene Louw delivered the keynote address, emphasising the wide range of career and business opportunities within the beer value chain – from farming and agro-processing to logistics, brewing, and distribution – many of which are deeply interconnected with cold-chain and refrigeration requirements.
“The pie is big enough for everyone,” said Louw. “We want to see more women and black entrepreneurs participating meaningfully in this sector. Initiatives like these are essential in opening doors, building capability, and ensuring sustainable transformation in the beer industry.”
The initiative drew a strong turnout of women entrepreneurs, many of whom expressed enthusiasm about formalising and expanding their brewing enterprises with improved technical, regulatory, and business knowledge.
BASA’s Skills Development and Training Initiative forms part of its ongoing commitment to inclusive growth, empowerment, and responsible development across South Africa’s beer industry – a commitment that ultimately supports the broader cold-chain ecosystem essential for brewing excellence and consumer safety.
Source: Beer Association of South Africa (BASA).