Team Brand Café, of South Africa, captured the top position in the recently held National L’Oreal Brandstorm competition and will travel to the international finals to be held at the brand’s headquarters in Paris on June 16-17 2010.

Teamates Thabang Leshilo, Lee Matabane and Amantle Mokubung from the AAA School of Advertising in Johannesburg had to come up with a new beauty product range for men, other than a fragrance, for the Diesel male beauty brand. They won for their innovative razorless shaving and hair removing system concept, which they branded Diesel Evolution.

“To win both first and second place in such a highly competitive forum is an achievement,” says Ludi Koekemoer, principal and MD of the AAA School of Advertising. “These students are remarkably talented and driven and I have no doubt that Team Brand Café will make their presence felt at the finals with their unique product.”

The winning team at the International Finals will be awarded with a trip worth €10000 and the L’Oreal Brandstorm Cup for their university. Second and third places will win trips worth €5000 and €2500 respectively. There is also a Best Communication Campaign prize, which will be awarded by a leading figure from the international advertising industry.

The competition is designed to give marketing students from around the world the opportunity to turn theory into practice and to showcase top young talent on an international stage. It is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students who are studying marketing.