South African Breweries (SAB), in partnership with Henley Business School Africa, has launched the SAB Retailer University, a flagship business development programme designed to equip local retailers with the skills, tools and strategic insight required to build sustainable, competitive and responsible businesses.
The initiative reinforces SAB’s position as South Africa’s leading retailer partner and reflects its continued commitment to strengthening the country’s small business ecosystem through enterprise development, job creation and long-term capability building.
Delivered over 12 months, the programme combines structured, in-person learning with practical assignments and personalised guidance. The curriculum focuses on strengthening essential business capabilities, including financial management, operational excellence, marketing strategy and leadership development.
Henley Business School Africa, part of the University of Reading (UK), brings globally accredited expertise and a strong track record in executive education to the design and delivery of the programme. Participants will receive learning aligned to higher education standards, culminating in a recognised certificate upon successful completion.
SAB’s investment ensures that selected retailers can access this premium development opportunity without financial barriers. The inaugural cohort includes 30 established retailers from across South Africa who have operated for more than a decade and demonstrate strong growth potential and meaningful community impact.
Retailer University is designed to deliver measurable economic and social value. By strengthening financial discipline, improving operational performance and enhancing leadership capability, the programme enables business owners to scale sustainably, create jobs and build more resilient enterprises within their communities.
“Retailers are the backbone of South Africa’s beer economy and vital anchors in the communities they serve,” said Zoleka Lisa, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at SAB. “They create employment, enable local economic participation and contribute to social cohesion. 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.”
The programme builds on SAB’s broader retailer development efforts, beyond technical training, participants gain access to mentorship, peer networks and structured accountability to ensure practical application and measurable results.
“We are proud to partner with SAB on an initiative that strengthens the backbone of local economies,” said Linda Buckley, Pro-Dean: Teaching and Learning and Student Experience at Henley Business School Africa. “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.”
The first cohort commenced in February 2026, with sessions delivered in person at Henley Business School Africa’s campus.
Retailer University reflects SAB’s continued leadership in building a stronger, more inclusive and responsible retail sector – one that contributes meaningfully to economic resilience and shared growth across South Africa.
About SAB
The South African Breweries (SAB) has reimagined what a beer company can be and has anchored this in a powerful brand purpose – We Dream Big to Create a Future With More Cheers. At SAB it’s always about more than the beer. We are driven by our passion to demonstrate the unique power of beer to propel South Africa forward. Since our inception over 130 years ago, SAB has grown to become South Africa’s largest brewer, a powerful economic contributor, a leader in sustainability, and a champion of responsible consumption. SAB is one of South Africa’s admired companies and corporate brands. The company operates 7 breweries and 42 depots in South Africa, a total workforce of approximately 5,000, and supports a beer economy ‘from seed to sip’ of over 250,000 jobs. Its portfolio of beer brands meets the needs of a wide range of consumers and includes leading brands in beer and beyond such as Castle Lager, Castle Free, Carling Black Label, Corona, Brutal Fruit, and Flying Fish.
About Henley Business School Africa
Henley Business School is a leading global business school and the first in Africa to be quadruple accredited by the leading UK, European, US and African accrediting bodies: AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB and AABS. Part of the University of Reading, UK, Henley has been active in Africa for three decades and is an emerging powerhouse of African business knowledge, defined by its top-ranked Executive MBA and executive education programmes – ranked 33rd and in the top 25 respectively in the latest Financial Times rankings – its strong ties to African business, its commitment to transformation and development, and its innovative, flexible approach to management education. Henley holds a level 1 BBBEE status and has been rated by corporates for eight years running as the #1 MBA business school in South Africa (PMR.africa 2018-2025). PMR.africa has also ranked Henley Africa as the #1 business school in South Africa for Executive Education (2025). Offering qualifications from post-matric to doctoral level, Henley’s vision is: we build the people, who build the businesses, that build Africa.
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