The license to operate the SPAR brand exclusively in Rwanda was granted to a local retail business – Sawa Citi. The first SPAR branded store has now opened in the suburb of Nyarutarama, located in the Rwandan capital city of Kigali. Entry into the Rwandan marketThe introduction of the internationally recognised SPAR brand to Rwanda
This article was originally published here. Cross Switch, a leading provider of innovative payment solutions, has reached a significant milestone by securing its own Third-Party Payment Processor (TPPP) licence. The TPPP, issued by the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) and sponsored by Absa, is a regulatory status that strengthens Cross Switch’s position in the
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa Proprietary Limited (CCBA) (www.CCBAGroup.com), through its subsidiary Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi Limited (CCBM), has invested USD14.9 million in a new state-of-the art production line in Lilongwe. This investment marks a significant advancement in CCBM’s production capacity, allowing it to produce bottled water and beverages bearing Coca-Cola’s trademarks as well as the iconic local
This article was originally published here. In a bold but controversial pivot, Kenyan agritech company Twiga Foods has acquired majority stakes in three local distributors — Jumra, Sojpar, and Raisons — as it accelerates its transition from a farm-fresh produce supplier into a full-service fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) platform. While the move signals Twiga’s ambition to cement its place
This article was originally published here. Innovative payment solution TANGO is set to revolutionise the modern payment environment in the South African retail space, reports MoData. Darren Turnbull, CEO of MoData, says: “At major industry events we attend, such as the 2025 Absa Commercial Payments Summit and BankservAfrica Payments Conference 2025, we see a growing
Clicks Group today reported a 13.2% increase in diluted headline earnings per share for the six months to February 2025, driven by market share gains in core health and beauty categories, stronger private label performance and improved margins. Group turnover increased by 6.2% to R23.2 billion, with retail turnover up 6.4% and distribution turnover growing
Massmart’s Makro is set to open its 23rd store on the 23rd of April, this time in Gonubie, East London. This is the first time Makro is opening a new store since 2019, and this expansion brings the retailer’s signature value, selection, and convenience to a thriving local business hub known for its family-friendly atmosphere
The Bhunjun Group is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Vivo Energy toacquire Engen’s operations in Mauritius. This milestone transaction marks a new era for the business, providing a strong foundation for growth, innovation, and continued excellence in serving Mauritian customers. On completion of the transaction, Bhunjun Group – through its
JYSK opens the first two stores in Casablanca, Morocco. The opening not only establishes JYSK’s presence in Africa but also marks a significant milestone as the company expands into its 50th country. JYSK has officially entered Africa, marking a new chapter in the Danish home furnishing company’s international expansion as the first two stores open
The Cape Town-based coffee chain will roll out fully staffed concession stores across selected sites within the convenience chain in South Africa. Vida e Caffè has unveiled a new partnership to open cafès within SPAR convenience stores in South Africa. Founded in Cape Town in 2001, Vida e Caffè is South Africa’s largest branded coffee
How do we get more safe milk into Kenyan homes while helping informal dairy vendors grow stronger businesses? This is the question driving More Milk for Lives and Livelihoods 2 (MoreMilk 2), a new county-led initiative by the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Between 25 March and 2 April 2025, the
SYSPRO has released new research to support executives in mid-sized organisations considering the value of implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in their business. Manufacturing and distribution organisations require practical tools to drive growth and cultivate a data-driven culture that empowers decision-makers throughout the supply and value chains. “In today’s digital age, effective data
Alibaba.com, a world leading B2B e-commerce platform and Kwik, a leading digital platform for logistics services in Nigeria, announced a partnership to support Nigerian exporters. Kwik is now an official Authorized Channel Partner of Alibaba.com in Nigeria, the first such partnership signed by Alibaba.com in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kwik will market the Alibaba.com platform to Nigerian
Fuel retail is experiencing a massive evolution: Here’s how to maximise new opportunities By Karen Keylock For a variety of reasons, the fuel retail sector has been in decline for several years, which is expected to continue. The long-term expectation is a 9.2% decline in global value to $79 billion in 2030, driven by efficiency improvements,
A report commissioned by the Shoprite Group reveals the critical need for targeted support for female entrepreneurs and improved access to markets and resources in underrepresented regions of South Africa’s Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprise (SMME) sector. World Wide Worx conducted the research via a survey, which gathered insights from 800 SMME owners nationwide. It
Pick n Pay opened a new supermarket at Westown Square, a mixed-use development in Shongweni, KwaZulu-Natal. A Pick n Pay Clothing and Liquor store will also open in the centre. The new store introduces key features that Pick n Pay is incorporating into its refreshed store format, aimed at enhancing the customer experience. These include
Retailability Limited, a private owned retail group that specialises in affordable apparel and lifestyle products has entered into a transaction agreement with Pepkor who are seeking to expand their market share in adult wear. The transaction includes 462 stores that operate across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini. “This is a great deal for
Small-scale farmers from more than 60 community food gardens across Southern Africa will have a unique opportunity to sell their fresh, organically grown produce directly to customers at selected Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets at the retailer’s Market Day on 3 April 2025. By providing a direct route to market, Market Day helps emerging farmers generate an income, develop critical
Lewis Group has been named Company of the Year in the prestigious News24 Business Awards 2025 which recognise excellence in corporate South Africa. The award recognises the JSE-listed company that has created strong shareholder value over the medium-term, while also excelling in performance, transforming the business landscape in South Africa through strategic leadership and innovation
The Fuel Company (TFC), a division of KAL Group, has rebranded to PEG Retail Operations (PEG), consolidating its fuel and convenience businesses under a single brand identity. The transition strengthens PEG’s market position, aligns its operations, and creates a more integrated supplier and partner collaboration platform. PEG Managing Director, Xolisa Bangazi, said the rebrand enhances
Bayer has announced the opening of a new maize seed facility in Kabwe, Zambia. Through the 32-million-euro facility alongside further investments in organization and the grower network, Bayer triples its existing capacity for high-quality maize seed production in the country in 2025. This capacity ultimately converts into annual maize consumption of approximately 30 million people
Modern retail is dependent on technology to deliver the type of frictionless experience consumers demand and employees need. Over and above this, seamless integrations are the lifeblood of operational efficacy and efficiency in the race to win and retain market share. Peter Ludi, Managing Executive at redPanda Solutions, a leading retail software solutions partner, says
iKhokha, the fintech company dedicated to fostering growth for South African small businesses amid challenging macroeconomic conditions, hosted its first iKhokha Elevate event in Durban on Wednesday, 12 March. The event, which saw hundreds of merchants attending in person and thousands more joining online, centered around discussing the challenges and successes of small businesses. It
The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), in collaboration with TradeMark Africa (TMA), has today launched the Single Digital Platform (SDP), a digital solution that automates MCCCI’s trade facilitation and membership management processes to enhance service delivery for businesses. The launch was officiated by Malawi’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Eng.
Vector Express – a new offering from Vector Logistics – is enabling the channel to market for servicing forecourts and non-major retail customers nationally across South Africa. The solutions are enabled via the implementation of a dedicated fleet of vehicles optimised for the forecourt solution. “With a network of nearly 3000 sites across the country,
AliExpress, an international online retail marketplace, announced today a significant expansion in its payment options for shoppers across Africa to elevate online shopping in the continent. This initiative follows AliExpress’ introduction of various local mobile payment methods last year, which was welcomed by consumers seeking better access to global products. Starting this March, AliExpress has
In 2025, the collective brand value of the Top 100 South African brands reached R688.6 billion, with banking, retail, and telecoms contributing over 62% of the ranking’s total brand value, as is often the case in emerging markets. This underscores the important role that the South Africa’s services sector plays in the economy and daily
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
