aQuellé awarded for community upliftment and improvement.

Late last week, the multi-awarded bottled water brand aQuellé received an award at the KZN Top Business gala event.  aQuellé won the Community Upliftment and Improvement category, which awards businesses and social enterprises that have made a significant contribution to community development and social change. The Business Award is KwaZulu-Natal's leading business recognition platform, initiated by Standard Bank and the Women of Africa group, in association with East Coast Radio. The award, among other benefits, unlocks new opportunities for businesses, and most importantly, it amplifies business growth through meaningful partnerships. It is also a good indication of business growth in the KZN area.

aQuellé was voted among the Top 5 brands in KZN, which was determined by public votes. The brand was also a finalist in the category for renewable energy efficiency initiatives, recognising innovation in sustainability, clean energy, and environmentally responsible practices.  aQuellé’s solar project brought them another prestigious award a few weeks ago, the Energy Storage Project of the Year 2025, by Enlit Africa. This was for its impressive solar installation at its bottling facility, which helps reduce CO2 emissions by 131 tons each month.  This is equivalent to planting approximately 3,803 trees. By doing so, the solar system makes a positive contribution to the environment while delivering high-quality water.

Some of the other awards the aQuellé brand won over the years for innovation and excellence include the Zenith 17th Global Drinks Award in the ‘Best new brand’ for the aQuellé ViV Sports Drink range (2021); The Institute for Packaging SA (IPSA) Gold Pack Awards (2022); South Africa’s most-loved bottled water (2024); and the recent Energy Storage Project of the Year Award by Enlit Africa (2025).

Community upliftment and improvement serve as foundational pillars for any prosperous society. At their core, these concepts focus on enhancing the quality of life, increasing opportunities, and fostering a supportive environment for community members. By prioritising the upliftment and improvement of communities, aQuellé lays the groundwork for social stability, economic growth, and lasting well-being.

aQuellé’s commitment to uplifting communities is truly inspiring! In times of crisis—whether from natural disasters or social unrest—they step in with vital assistance, bringing hope through their water and food distribution projects. These humanitarian efforts serve as safety nets, offering immediate relief and helping to alleviate hardship. Their programs not only tackle food insecurity but also promote health and social equity, making a real difference in people’s lives. A shining example of their impact was during the 2022 KZN floods, one of the gravest disasters in recent history. Despite significant challenges, aQuellé demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness, ensuring that aid reached the most vulnerable communities

aQuellé is also inspiring change through community clean-ups, partnering with local authorities to bring teams together across the nation. Their efforts are truly remarkable, revitalising neglected areas and enhancing public spaces. aQuelle sponsors a wide range of sporting events nationwide. Through this participation, they promote a fun and wholesome lifestyle. To mark its 25^th anniversary, aQuellé installed a total of 25 water tanks in 25 needy communities in 2024. Each of the 25 donated water tanks holds 5,000 litres of water and is equipped with a tap, ensuring easy access to drinking water for community members.

Awareness serves as the crucial first step toward meaningful change.  aQuellé joined the diabetes campaign last year. Many members of the aQuellé family have seen firsthand the struggles and challenges that diabetes brings to their loved ones. Witnessing these hardships sparked a passion within the team to act. They recognised the importance of not only raising awareness but also contributing tangible support and value to those affected by diabetes. With heartfelt determination, the team dedicated itself to fostering understanding and inspiring a community committed to making a positive difference in the lives of individuals grappling with this condition.

Probably the most significant contribution to community upliftment and improvement is aQuellé’s contribution to youth empowerment through its extensive youth development program. One of the projects is the week-long bi-annual youth conference, which is held at the KwaSizabantu Mission in Kranskop. Thousands of young people across South Africa attend this conference. RAN has recently published articles about this conference, which are still available to read on their website and Facebook page. In our next article, we will put the spotlight on the restoration program, which is supported by aQuellé and which has already helped over 20,000 youngsters with addiction issues.

Read about some of the humanitarian and community outreach projects aQuellé initiated over the years in our sister publication, Devoted, on the website: https://www.devotedmag.co.za/