Africa’s biggest supermarket retailer plugs into its own talent pool

Talent is often discovered in places where one least expects to find it and each year the TOPstars singing competition discovers amazing talent among ordinary retail workers. TOPstars is a singing performance contest run by the Shoprite Group of Companies for their over 148 000 employees across Africa and islands in the Indian Ocean.

As the largest private sector employer on the continent, the Group needs innovative ways to expand and grow. TOPstars empowers our employees to be the best they can be in the workplace and unites people to support the company’s growth plans.

Since its inception 12 years ago, TOPstars continues to progress in its application of purpose and value both in people and their role in the workplace.

- Callie Burger, Shoprite Group’s Human Resources General Manager

The TOPstars judges will be travelling across Africa to countries where the Shoprite Group has a footprint, during an annual road show kicking off on 11 June this year, in the friendly city of Port Elizabeth. It’s clear that the contest keeps growing bigger each year with entries received from as far as Ghana, Uganda and Madagascar.  

This year’s judging panel is again led by well-known music artist and TOPstars producer Mynie Grové and the very charming SABC 3 morning Expresso Show presenter, Katlego Maboe, who will be the roadshow MC and is also part of the judging panel.  Three of South Africa’s best vocal and performance coaches, Amanda Luyt, Shawn George and Heinrich Frans joins the team this year and will be guiding semi-finalists for a chance to reach the Finals in October.

Each semi-finalist receives on-the-spot coaching to ensure they perform at their very best for their moment in the spotlight.

- Mynie Grové

The winner from each semi-final competes at the Grand Finale on 20 October when the TOPstars 2018 winner will be selected.

- Mynie Grové

The TOPstars semi-final roadshow dates for 2018 are:

Keep following the TOPstars journey on Facebook and visit www.topstars.co.za for more information. Use #TOPstars2018 and #Plugintothemagic and join the conversation.