Supply Chain Industry Body SAPICS Celebrates 60th Anniversary at Not To Be Missed Milestone Conference

This year’s 48th annual SAPICS Conference, which takes place from 19 to 22 July 2026 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, marks a significant milestone: 60 years since the founding of leading supply chain industry body SAPICS.

This year’s not to be missed event is more than just a conference and everyone involved in the supply chain profession in any way is urged to attend, SAPICS says. The conference theme this year is “Legacy to Leadership: 60 Years of Connection, Collaboration and Transformation”. The rich history of SAPICS and the African supply chain community will be celebrated while the 2026 conference’s packed, powerful, future-looking agenda will define the next era of supply chain management excellence across the continent.

“For six decades, SAPICS has connected and developed generations of supply chain professionals,” comments SAPICS president Thato Moloi. “In 2026, we’re not just remembering the past, we are shaping the future.”

Founded in 1966, SAPICS has played a pivotal role in advancing supply chain management across South Africa and the continent. From its origins as the South African Production and Inventory Control Society, it has evolved into a leading industry body dedicated to education, skills development, collaboration and professional excellence.

The first SAPICS Conference was held in Johannesburg and 35 delegates attended. Since then, the event has gone from strength to strength, with the venue moving from Sun City to Cape Town. The conference’s attendance record is 1 250 delegates, but this gathering is not about numbers. It is about quality, community and connection. It is commended every year for innovative, inspiring, highly relevant presentations, for dynamic, engaging, expert speakers and unmatched insights, and for the high calibre of every aspect of the event. The interactive sessions offer energy and fun. The exhibition is a key highlight, showcasing the latest supply chain tools and technologies.  

The annual SAPICS Conference has earned its recognition as Africa’s premier learning, knowledge sharing and networking event for all supply chain professionals. This year, it will be better and more impactful than ever, and the timing of could not be more relevant. Moloi expands: “Supply chains are under intense pressure as organisations transition from pandemic-era crisis management to building long-term resilience. Geopolitical instability, trade wars, cost volatility, unreliable logistics networks and increasing environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements are creating a complex operating landscape. Against this backdrop, the need for up-to-date knowledge, practical tools and strong professional networks has never been greater.”

The 2026 SAPICS Conference programme reflects today’s supply chain realities. It is packed with strategic insights and practical applications on everything from artificial intelligence (AI), automation and circularity to digital transformation, ethical supply chains, leadership, resilience and sustainability.

A central theme underpinning both SAPICS’s 60-year legacy and the 2026 conference is the critical importance of continuous learning and skills development in the dynamic, ever-evolving supply chain profession. In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and constant disruption, the demand for proficient supply chain professionals has never been greater.

“Since 1966, SAPICS’s unwavering mission has been to elevate, educate and empower supply chain professionals in South Africa and across the continent. Strong, reliable, resilient supply chains are powered by skilled, knowledgeable, suitably qualified people,” Moloi stresses.

Through its partnerships with global organisations such as the United States based Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), the Demand Driven Institute (DDI), the Institute of Business Forecasting (IBF) and the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA), SAPICS ensures that African supply chain professionals have access to world-class knowledge and best practice methodologies. SAPICS offers a range of internationally recognised certifications as well as high quality, impactful short courses, delivered through a network of carefully selected Authorised Education Partners.

SAPICS’s education offerings include the APICS CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management), CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional), CLTD (Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) and CTSC (Certified in Transformation for Supply Chain), among many others.

SAPICS’s commitment to education is not just about individual advancement - it is about strengthening entire organisations and economies. “Supply chains don’t just get goods from A to B – they have the power to save lives, protect the environment and grow economies,” Moloi states. “Virtually everything that we use or touch every day has reached us through supply chains. They connect everything and make our societies and economies function. Without them, goods and services - including essential medicines and healthcare - would not reach the people and communities who need them.

“As the supply chain landscape evolves, so too must the professionals who operate within it. It’s an exciting journey that every delegate at this year’s landmark SAPICS Conference will be part of,” Moloi concludes.

With discounted Early Bird registration available until the end of May 2026, supply chain professionals are invited to secure their place now at what promises to be the most important industry event of the year. To find out more or to register to attend, visit https://conference.sapics.org/ or contact the SAPICS 2026 Secretariat by calling + 27 31 303 9852 or emailing kimera@confco.co.za.

For more information:

Email: info@sapics.org.za

ABOUT SAPICS: http://www.sapics.org

Since 1966, SAPICS has worked to elevate, educate and empower the community of supply chain professionals in South Africa and across the continent. This is done via membership, events, the annual conference and education courses and workshops through Authorised Education Providers and others.

SAPICS is registered in South Africa as a not-for-profit company. Its mandate is to ensure that any profits made are used towards the continual development and overall benefit of individuals and organisations in the supply chain management profession.

The annual SAPICS Conference is the leading event in Africa for supply chain professionals and is now in its 48th year. The 2026 SAPICS Conference takes place in Cape Town from 19 to 22 July 2026.