Back-to-Back Excellence: Col’Cacchio Crowned Best Restaurant Chain in South Africa Once Again!

We did it again! For the second consecutive year, Col’Cacchio has officially been named the Best Restaurant Chain in South Africa at the prestigious Annual South African Restaurant Awards (SARA).

The awards ceremony took place last night, May 25, 2026, at the elegant Hotel Sky in Sandton. Bringing together the absolute cream of the country’s culinary and hospitality industries, the event celebrated the resilience, passion, and flavour that define South African dining.

A Historic Back-to-Back Victory

Winning this coveted title in 2025 was an incredible milestone for us, but defending it in 2026 is a true testament to the consistency, hard work, and dedication embedded in the DNA of every single Col’Cacchio branch.

The competition this year was fiercer than ever. We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the most iconic food and hospitality giants in the country. To take home the gold against an elite lineup of nominees — including Nando’s, KFC, Wimpy, Chicken Licken, Pizza Perfect, Rocomammas, Ocean Basket, Turn 'n Tender, Mugg & Bean, and Roman’s Pizza - is an honour we do not take lightly.

Excellence is a Habit: Words from Our Group CEO

Our Group CEO, Etienne Pieterse, took to the stage to accept the beautiful SARA trophy, delivering a deeply moving speech. He reflected on the brand’s rich history and what it truly takes to maintain a premium standard of excellence over decades:

"It was only last year that we stood on this stage and received this award for the very first time. And this is a testament to 34 years of living our values. One of those values is being committed to excellence, which it all starts and ends with. One quote that we all live by is one by Aristotle that says: ‘You are what you repeatedly do. Therefore, excellence is not an act, but a habit.’ And this is the habit of every one of our patrons and our customers that choose us every day." — Etienne Pieterse, Group CEO of Col’Cacchio

Etienne went on to passionately thank our incredible network of partners and extended family across the continent. He paid tribute to our over 700 dedicated staff members across South Africa, Mauritius, and Namibia, who show up every single day to provide premium service and artisanal quality under any conditions.

He also rightly distinguished our operators not merely as "franchisees," but as true corporate partners who throw their entire lives and hearts into making each restaurant a welcoming, premium space for our community.

Here’s to Many More Col’Cacchio Moments!

Whether you have been dining with us since our very first store opened 34 years ago, or you just discovered your favourite wood-fired pizza last week, this award belongs to you. Your loyalty, feedback, and shared moments over pizza, pasta, and fresh salads are what drive us to keep pushing culinary boundaries.

As Etienne perfectly concluded in his closing remarks on stage: "Here’s to another 34 years, and to Col’Cacchio moments! Thank you!"

Next time you visit us, pull up a chair, toast a glass, and celebrate with us. We promise to keep serving the award-winning excellence you expect and love.

Celebrating this win with us? Share your favourite memories on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #ColCacchioMoments