Taco Bell has a plan to ignite international growth, expanding its global footprint from 1150 locations to more than 3000 restaurants outside the US by 2030. The brand plans to enter nine new countries including France, Greece and South Africa, and accelerate growth in its existing India, Australia, Spain and UK markets. The other six
The International Seed Federation (ISF) has convened its Board Meetings in Nairobi, bringing together national, regional and global seed industry leaders to reinforce their commitment to Africa’s agricultural development, especially in the face of climate change and a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape. “Africa is on the verge of unlocking the transformative power of quality seeds,”
POP Warehouse, a respected leader in South Africa’s retail display and logistics sector, has announced its incorporation into Provantage, one of Africa’s largest integrated media and marketing companies. This integration enhances Provantage’s retail services offering and capabilities, strengthening its ability to provide clients with a seamless end-to-end integrated point-of-purchase (POP) supply chain solution. Founded by
The Rwandan Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Innovation has partnered with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to establish a Food Innovation Hub aimed at strengthening food systems across the continent. The initiative seeks to support smallholder farmers, improve access to markets and financing, and enhance agricultural systems to increase food
GMG, a global well-being and retail conglomerate, announced a 10-year strategic retail partnership with Frasers Group, to bring leading sports retailer, Sports Direct, to the region. This partnership is a bold stride in GMG’s strategic vision to be the number one sports player across all markets it operates in, and bring inspiration and innovation through
Two emerging black-owned enterprises have been assisted in growing their presence in the local township economy through Tiger Brands’ business support and market access initiative. Local start-up creative agencies, Bloodline and Barcode, are the recipients of a Tiger Brands Enterprise Supplier Development business support and mentorship package designed to help grow informal businesses into sustainable
Africa’s biggest bank and Africa’s biggest retailer have teamed up to offer customers Africa’s biggest grocery rewards. This comes as the Shoprite Group doubles down on transparent partnerships that offer shoppers real value. From April 2025, qualifying Standard Bank UCount Rewards members will receive the following benefits on every product, every day: The Standard Bank
FNB and Pick n Pay are proud to announce the expansion of their partnership to add more value for all their FNB and RMB Private Bank’s customers. The bank’s retail and commercial customers will all earn up to 30% of their spend back in eBucks when using Pick n Pay’s asap! on-demand delivery service, and up
Last month, retail group Massmart announced that it would be hosting its inaugural Growth Summit in partnership with parent company, Walmart. The summit provides opportunity for Africa-based suppliers who manufacture, grow or assemble on the continent to connect directly with the appropriate Massmart buyers. Altogether, over 300 suppliers based in countries across the continent completed
Chief Executive Officer Lance Foxcroft, says, “At the year‑end, we committed to our ‘fighting‑fit’ mantra, which stood us in good stead for the review period. Our operators once again displayed their perseverance and resilience. Our stores are profitable and the franchise network is healthy. Our vertically integrated manufacturing and import businesses underpinned the retail operations’
South Africa’s status as a net exporter of food and a leading player in high-value horticultural export markets belies the fact that it has always been a water-scarce country, subject to periodic droughts and erratic rainfall patterns. A cornerstone of its success has been South African farmers’ eagerness and willingness to adopt the latest agriculture
Vivo Energy Zambia, the company that distributes and markets Engen fuels and Shell lubricants in Zambia, is proud to announce its collaboration with the Office of the Vice President of Zambia in launching the Tree Restoration Project in Kanakantapa Resettlement Scheme, Chongwe District. This initiative marks a significant step towards environmental sustainability and the restoration
One third of all food produced in South Africa goes to waste, but food insecurity remains rife. Now, farmers and agribusinesses are teaming up to address this problem. Food insecurity remains a formidable challenge in South Africa, with one in four children suffering growth stunting because low-income families often cannot afford the fresh fruit and
The Clicks Group and United Pharmaceutical Distributors (UPD) have partnered with Everlectric and Investec Sustainable Solutions to introduce South Africa’s first fleet of zero-emission, pharma-compliant electric vehicles (EVs) with solar-powered refrigeration. Rolling out in Gauteng and the Western Cape, the fleet of 42 Maxus eDeliver 3 panel vans, manufactured by SAIC Maxus and supplied by
AW Rostamani Trading Company, the strategic arm of AW Rostamani Group’s mobility services division, and Groupauto Middle East, Africa & India, a regional subsidiary of Groupauto International, one of the world’s largest international automotive trading groups, have entered a strategic partnership to drive innovation and growth in the automotive aftermarket sector. The agreement was formalised
In a bold new partnership, Mr Price Foundation and Zapper have joined forces to address South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. Mr Price Foundation is leveraging Zapper’s streamlined digital payment solutions to raise awareness and drive donations for its Hope4Youth campaign. Founded by Mr Price Group 20 years ago as a registered non-profit, Mr Price Foundation
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Africa’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) to deepen collaboration in financing strategic infrastructure and trade projects across Africa. The agreement builds upon an existing relationship between the two institutions, dating back to 2018, and reinforces a shared commitment
Attacq Limited (“Attacq”), the JSE-listed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and strategic development partner of Waterfall City, proudly announces that its flagship retail asset, Mall of Africa, has achieved the prestigious Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) Advanced Certification. This milestone, achieved through ongoing collaboration with Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (Nedbank CIB), makes
Sahel Capital, through its Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA), has provided a $500,000 working capital loan to Agriarche, a company focused on improving market access for smallholder farmers in Nigeria. The investment aims to enhance connections between farmers and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural supply chains. Agriarche plays a
CA&S Group (CAS:BSE | CAA:JSE), a dual-listed company on the JSE and Botswana Stock Exchange, is pleased to announce a significant partnership and strategic investment in Tradco Group a leading route-to-market solutions business based in Kenya with further operations and partnerships across multiple East African countries. This acquisition forms part of CA&S’s strategic expansion into
KAL Group, one of South Africa’s leading agri, fuel & convenience speciality retailers listed on the JSE, has delivered a solid start to the first three months of the 2025 financial year (Q1 or this period), and, encouraged by green shoots emerging in the operating environment, is cautiously optimistic about the 2025 outlook. “Our streamlined
Dairyland, a renowned Kenyan dairy and chocolate brand, has unveiled a fresh new look for its ice cream tubs, offering a blend of innovation and flair. The transformation, which the company describes as a “glow-up,” promises not only a visual upgrade but an enhanced experience in both looks and flavor. Dairyland’s new packaging features updated
Invictus Investment Company Plc (ADX: INVICTUS), a leading agro-food enterprise in the Middle East and Africa, today announced it has completed the acquisition of Merec Industries, Mozambique’s largest flour milling company. The deal was made through the purchase of Merec Industries’ holding entity, Stratton Africa Holdings Limited, Mauritius, from current shareholders Amethis Fund II and
The SPAR brand is present across more than 48 countries with over 14,000 stores operating worldwide. On the African continent, new store openings in various formats across Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and South Africa reflect how local retailers continue to meet the needs of their customers. SPAR South AfricaIn mid-December, the SUPERSPAR Supermarket Mondlo celebrated its grand
Kazang Insights provides analytical and predictive solutions that empower FMCG firms, wholesalers and other companies to thrive in South Africa’s informal market. Leading data analytics, insights and merchant services company, Touchsides, is rebranding as Kazang Insights and integrating into Kazang—the prepaid value-added services (VAS) and card acquiring business within JSE-listed fintech Lesaka Technologies. Integration of
UK coffee and food-to-go chain Pret A Manger will make its South Africa debut on 14 February 2025 with an outlet in Johannesburg’s up-market Melrose Arch neighbourhood. Pret, which signed a licensing agreement with private equity firm Millat Group in February 2024, said the upcoming launch marks a significant milestone in its international expansion and
By Pia Knežević, Squad Lead for Mid-Market at Infobip Rapidly evolving customer expectations are putting the logistics and transport sector under pressure to enhance customer engagement by focusing on providing real-time updates and rapid responses across multiple channels. What we have noticed is that consumers have more choices than ever before in selecting the transport
Engen Petroleum has set a new benchmark in road transport safety, becoming the first and only oil company in South Africa to achieve Road Transport Management System (RTMS) certification for its entire national fleet of heavy vehicles. Awarded by JC Auditors (JCA), this prestigious certification underscores Engen’s unwavering commitment to good governance, safety, and compliance
Logidoo announced the launch of Doomaket, an innovative marketplace platform poised to transform African e-commerce by addressing critical challenges in global trade. This solution is a powerful tool to empower African merchants, enabling them to expand their businesses worldwide and overcome traditional barriers to international commerce. Doomaket stands out from similar platforms through a comprehensive
Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL) has announced an investment of Rs 412.80 crore in its South African subsidiary, The Beverage Company Proprietary Limited (Bevco). The development aligns with VBL’s strategy to strengthen its presence in international markets while bolstering its operations in India and retail globally. Bevco is engaged in manufacturing and distributing PepsiCo’s licensed products
The African Union (AU), has adopted a new agricultural development strategy that will see the continent increase its agrifood output by 45 per cent by 2035 and transform its agri-food systems as part of its new plan to become food secure in a decade. This is after the African Union Extraordinary Summit on the Post-Malabo
Sevi, a fintech company regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya, is revolutionizing stock financing for wholesalers and retailers through its “stock now, pay later” platform. Sevi addresses the challenge of insufficient working capital by providing users with access to credit while ensuring suppliers are paid upfront. With Sevi, suppliers like Coca-Cola, Anytime and Philmed
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) (www.CCBAGroup.com) has been certified as a Top Employer in Africa for 2025, based on the results of the Top Employers Institute’s HR Best Practices Survey. CCBA was certified as a Top Employer in Africa, and its operations in Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda achieved this accolade at country level. “We
Neosun Energy, a global leader in solar energy solutions, has officially entered the Kenyan market. This expansion aims to provide cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions for commercial and industrial (C&I) projects, with system capacities ranging from 200kW to 10MW, tailored to help local businesses with affordable solar solutions. The company brings its expertise in constructing
Engen is excited to announce a partnership with pudo, South Africa’s innovative smart locker and courier solution provider; a collaboration that aligns with Engen’s commitment to delivering smarter solutions, differentiated products, and unparalleled convenience for its valued customers. Pudo, short for pick up drop off, is transforming the courier industry with its growing network of smart
Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading wellness groups and manufacturers of hygienic paper products, has announced the appointment of Hesham Abouzeina as its new General Manager for Egypt. With over 30 years of experience in the FMCG, electronics, and beverages sectors, Abouzeina brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to the role.
Enabling retailers to energize their operations and in-store engagement, Oracle today unveiled the latest version of Xstore Point of Service. The cloud application has been redesigned on a new architecture and features an intuitive user interface and workflows that fuel efficiency and support connected retail journeys for retailers of all sizes. With it, associates can
Vodacom and Orange have joined hands to form, a first of its kind, rural towerco partnership in Africa. Through this partnership, the companies will collaborate to build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The initiative will extend network coverage and enable access to telecommunications
Massmart and Walmart have announced the first Africa-focused supplier Growth Summit which will be held in Johannesburg on 2 April 2025. The summit is modelled on similar highly successful events that Walmart has hosted, most recently in their Chile market. The objective of the event is to expand and strengthen Massmart’s Africa-based supplier network to
Apaya, a commerce automation platform, entered into a strategic partnership with MENA’s online payment gateway Telr to accelerate digital commerce growth in the region. The collaboration will allow merchants to instantly access Telr’s payment services through Apaya’s no-code platform, according to a press release. They will also leverage Telr’s anti-fraud engine alongside Apaya’s intelligent routing
African countries were urged by President William Ruto to implement common strategies for building resilient agricultural food systems. The President urged African governments to increase their investments in regional agricultural infrastructure, foster research and innovation and accelerate the dissemination of technological solutions. He also called on international partners to align their support with Africa’s transformation
Festive season is in full swing, and economic experts predict that consumer spending will rebound to pre-pandemic levels, signaling a strong recovery in retail and consumer confidence. This optimism is already taking shape, with inflation falling to a four-year low of 2.8% in October 2024, fueling increased spending. In fact, during Black Friday Week, inDrive
Lesaka Technologies highlights that merchants in South Africa’s cash-driven township and rural economy remain underserved by mainstream financial services. This gap creates a significant opportunity for fintech companies to develop solutions addressing these merchants’ specific pain points, enabling them to serve their customers more efficiently and effectively. Lincoln Mali, CEO of Lesaka Technologies, emphasised this
ZURU is reshaping the South African toy retail landscape with its innovative in-store branding across major outlets such as Checkers, Toys R Us, and Toy Kingdom. This strategic move highlights ZURU’s commitment to creating visually impactful spaces within retail environments, driving shopper engagement, and enhancing the customer experience. “We are thrilled to be the first
NIQ reports that South African consumers have spent R214 billion on Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Technology & Durable products in the third quarter of 2024, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 4.1%. This insight comes from the NIQ Retail Spend Barometer, sourced from GfK – an NIQ company – which tracks the turnover in sales
DSV’s recently commissioned world-class, flexible, and scalable logistics facility in Durban brings all our people in KwaZulu-Natal together to deliver integrated logistics and robust end-to-end supply chain solutions. DSV Park | Durban is ideally situated in Riverhorse Valley, Durban, and is adjacent to major road networks with easy access to the Durban Port and King
Jumia, the leading Africa e-commerce platform, has chosen the state-of-the-art Agility Logistics Park (ALP) in Tema, Ghana, to be its new nationwide fulfilment operations centre for Ghana. Jumia will occupy 6,000 SQM of warehousing at the park, using the facility for storage, fulfilment and office space under a 10-year lease agreement with ALP. The facility
Pick n Pay, South Africa opens a new tab. On Monday, it reported a wider half-year loss, reflecting trading losses in its core supermarket business alongside higher borrowing costs. Still, it said its full-year performance would be stronger. The country’s third-biggest grocery retailer reported a loss before tax and capital items of 1.1 billion rand
Tendo Technologies Limited, a pioneering online retail platform empowering African entrepreneurs, officially announces its strategic acquisition of Shopa, a leading provider of comprehensive commerce solutions for informal retailers across Ghana. This landmark deal, structured as a combination of cash and stock, is set to redefine the supply chain landscape in Africa. Shopa’s large network of
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has invested $50 million in a new bottling line in Namibia, which can produce 27,000 bottles per hour. This upgrade will increase the plant’s output capacity by 30% and stimulate growth throughout the company’s value chain. The investment also includes the installation of a water treatment plant with state-of-the-art water recovery
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