The Vietnamese telecommunications and technology group takes 30 Stevie Awards, including 19 Gold - the most of any entrant in a field drawn from 78 nations and territories.
HANOI, Vietnam, Aug. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Viettel Group has been named the top winner of the 23rd Annual International Business Awards® (IBA), taking 30 Stevie® Awards: 19 Gold, eight Silver and three Bronze. It is the highest total of any organization in this year's program, and Viettel's 19 Gold Stevies are nearly double the next-highest tally.
The result lifts Viettel from second place worldwide in 2025, when it won 25 awards. Its Gold count has more than doubled year on year, from eight to 19. The group has now won more than 150 IBA awards since it first entered in 2016 - the strongest record of any Vietnamese company in the program's history.
Part of the Stevie Awards family, the IBA is the world's only international, all-encompassing business awards program. This year's edition drew more than 3,800 nominations from organizations in 78 nations and territories, among them IBM and Cisco, evaluated by more than 210 business professionals serving as judges on 11 specialized committees.
International markets deliver two-thirds of the haul
Most of the 30 awards came from Viettel's overseas operations, a sign that its operating and innovation standards travel across markets. Bitel (Viettel Peru) and Metfone (Viettel Cambodia) led the group with six awards each.
Bitel was recognized in categories including Telecommunications - Large, Most Innovative Company of the Year and Best Mobile App for Social Good. Metfone won Gold for Viral Marketing Campaign of the Year and Most Innovative TikTok Channel - telecom marketing turned popular culture.
Lumitel (Viettel Burundi) took Gold as a medium-size telecommunications company, while Halotel (Viettel Tanzania) and Telemor (Viettel Timor-Leste) also featured among the winners. Viettel's corporate social responsibility programs in Africa earned three Silver Stevies.
AI-based products carry the domestic showing
In Vietnam, the awards went largely to AI-driven platforms and products: Viettel Post's smart logistics robot complex and AI-powered driver-monitoring camera; Viettel Solutions' eDoc electronic document management platform and the Viettel ITS intelligent transport system; and ISAAP, an information security assessment and audit platform built by the group's information technology center. Viettel Post also won Management Team of the Year and Transportation - Large.
The results reflect Viettel's strategy of shifting from telecom operator to technology company, with its AI, automation and cybersecurity products well regarded in international markets.
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Viettel Named Top Winner Worldwide at the 2026 International Business Awards
LUXEMBOURG and BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ferrero Group today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Purely Elizabeth, the high-growth modern wellness brand and a leading better-for-you food company based in the U.S. The acquisition further enhances Ferrero's relevance at the American breakfast table with Purely Elizabeth joining its portfolio. Following closing, Ferrero intends to support Purely Elizabeth's next phase of growth through continued product innovation, operational capabilities and expanded distribution, helping the brand reach more consumers while preserving its distinct identity and commitment to quality.
Founded in 2009 and based in Boulder, Colorado, Purely Elizabeth has more than doubled its sales in the past two years, driven by its innovative portfolio of granola, oatmeal and cereals while more recently expanding into the fast-growing protein segment. The brand has built a leading position and helped shape evolving consumer expectations around breakfast and wellness by pioneering premium and taste-forward products containing ingredients such as oats, whole grains, nuts and seeds.
"Purely Elizabeth, with its terrific portfolio of quality, tasty products, is a great addition to Ferrero," said Giovanni Ferrero, President of Ferrero International S.A., holding company of the Ferrero Group. "With this transaction, Ferrero builds on its recent acquisition of WK Kellogg Co, reinforcing both its presence at breakfast time in America and its reach in the better-for-you segment."
"We are delighted to welcome Purely Elizabeth to the Ferrero Group," said Lapo Civiletti, President of Ferrero Ice Cream and WK Kellogg Co. "This acquisition reflects our long-term strategy to invest in high-growth categories and further enhance our presence in the better-for-you offerings across breakfast occasions and beyond. Purely Elizabeth has built a distinctive brand by being in tune with evolving consumer preferences through premium, innovative and delicious products, making it a highly complementary addition to our portfolio. We look forward to supporting the brand's continued growth while preserving the entrepreneurial spirit that has made it successful."
"Building Purely Elizabeth from an idea 17 years ago into the brand it is today has been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life, and I'm incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished," said Elizabeth Stein, Founder and CEO of Purely Elizabeth. "As I thought about the next chapter, finding a partner who understood what makes Purely Elizabeth special and shared our commitment to quality, innovation, and building for the long term was incredibly important to me. In Ferrero, we've found a family-owned company that believes deeply in what we've built and sees the tremendous opportunity still ahead. I couldn't be more excited to continue leading Purely Elizabeth alongside our team as we bring our mission and products to even more people."
The company will continue to operate as a standalone brand within the Ferrero Group, with Founder and CEO Elizabeth Stein, continuing in her role alongside the existing leadership team. The business will benefit from Ferrero Group's long-term commitment to support the brand's product-development pipeline and innovation, supporting the continued growth of Purely Elizabeth and its product offering.
The acquisition builds on Ferrero Group's growing portfolio in the U.S., following the 2025 acquisition of WK Kellogg Co. It also further expands the company's presence in both the breakfast and better-for-you categories, alongside brands including Eat Natural and FULFIL in Europe, Power Crunch in North America and Bold Snacks in Brazil.
The proposed transaction is expected to close in the coming months, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
About Ferrero Group
Ferrero Group is a global leader in sweet-packaged foods, renowned for iconic brands such as Nutella®, Kinder®, Ferrero Rocher®, and Tic Tac®, alongside local favorites.
Founded in 1946 in Alba, Italy, Ferrero marks 80 years as a family-owned group with more than 50,000 employees and operations in over 170 countries. The company combines a strong heritage and commitment to quality with continuous innovation across brands and categories, including ice cream, biscuits and bakery, breakfast cereals, and better-for-you offerings. Guided by a long-term vision, Ferrero focuses on sustainable and responsible growth, strengthening its presence in emerging segments while staying true to its values of excellence and care.
About Purely Elizabeth:
Founded in 2009 by wellness entrepreneur and holistic nutrition counselor Elizabeth Stein, Purely Elizabeth is a modern wellness brand that is redefining the better-for-you breakfast category and beyond. What began with Elizabeth's vision to create nourishing food without compromising on taste has grown into a beloved portfolio spanning granola, oatmeal, cereal and more. A pioneer in bringing ancient grains, thoughtfully sourced ingredients and functional nutrition into the mainstream, Purely Elizabeth continues to create products that meet consumers at the intersection of nutrition and deliciousness. Its mission is simple: to help people thrive on their wellness journey, one delicious bite at a time. For more information, visit www.purelyelizabeth.com or follow @purely_elizabeth on Instagram and TikTok.
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FERRERO GROUP TO ACQUIRE PURELY ELIZABETH, A LEADING U.S. MODERN WELLNESS BRAND
FERRERO GROUP TO ACQUIRE PURELY ELIZABETH, A LEADING U.S. MODERN WELLNESS BRAND
FERRERO GROUP TO ACQUIRE PURELY ELIZABETH, A LEADING U.S. MODERN WELLNESS BRAND
