First and foremost thanks to our good friends at Ogilvy PR Cape Town for the invite to the The Sunday Times Generation Next Survey Awards. The awards are hosted in partnership with HDI Youth Marketeers and sponsored by Waltons, and this year was the 11thyear of celebrating the most influential brands amongst the youth. The annual event was held at the Sandton Convention Centre this year to accommodate the enormously growing platform that the Awards have become for marketers, brands and celebrities alike. The survey, conducted by HDI, recognises South Africa’s most loved brands, products and celebrities in 72 categories voted for by over 5400 youth aged between 8 and 23. Popular South African comedian, Dr Riaad Moosa, hosted the event with a live performance from virtuoso rapper, Cassper Nyovest, who put it down, although he only performed 4 songs. Nyovest was voted both Coolest Local Music Star and Coolest Local Celebrity of2015.

Trevor Ormerod, GM: Group Sales at Times Media said, “The Awards have received a massive response each year and highlights the relevance that these insights hold for both marketers and brands. We’ve seen some impressive shifts in position amongst some brands, especially those that have come out on top this yearchallenging their competitors to stay on top of their game.”The big winner of the night was Nike who
has always been a front-runner in the Awards and went home with the coveted Coolest Brand Overall, Coolest Clothing Brand, Coolest Footwear Brand and Coolest Brand Slogan awards.

New winners this year include Mercedes Benz who won the Coolest Motor Vehicleaward, Cape Townwas voted Coolest Holiday Destinationand KFCclaimed Coolest Fast Food Place. Samsung took this year’s Coolest Cell phone category from the Apple iPhone and DStv was voted Coolest Company to work for beating last year’s winner,Google. Xbox moved into first place for Coolest Hi-Tech Gadget taking over from the Samsung Galaxy Tablet. Skeem Saam on SABC 1 was voted the Coolest Current TV Programme and Coolest TV Soap, out-doing Generations’ in both categories. The Protea’s Cricket Captain, AB de Villiers, was voted Coolest Local Sportsperson. TV personality, Minnie Dlamini scooped the Coolest Local Female TV Starfor the third consecutive year whileDJ Black Coffee once again dominated the Coolest Local DJ category. South African comedian and new Daily Show presenter, Trevor Noah, won theCoolest Male TV Star and Coolest Local Celebrity titles. Nestle Milo won the Coolest Breakfast Cereal category and Pin Pop moved into number one in the Coolest Sweetscategory. Soul City won the Coolest Community Programme category while Soul Buddyz shifted into second place and Save the Rhino into third.Whatsapp remained the leading Coolest Social Media PlatformandCoolest Cellphone Application amongst the youth.

Jason Levin, MD at HDI Youth Marketeers said, “This year’s crop of winners shows us, again, that youth are and aren’t fickle. Coke, Dorito’s, Vodacom, Spur, Trevor Noah and Minnie Dlamini are all still on the podium. But BMW surprisingly was toppled, and there are some other fresh new faces on the winners’ list too. But more importantly,every year
Hasbeen amazing to see the awards platform and the event itself really springboard to the next level.”Brand winnerswho retained their number one position in the survey include: MetroFM(Coolest Radio Station); SAA(Coolest Domestic Airlines), FNB(Coolest Bank), Protea Hotels(Coolest Hotel Group),Vodacom(Coolest TelecommsProvider), Engen(Coolest Petrol Station), Spur(Coolest Eat-Out Place) amongst others. Congratulations to all the winners.