Spur Corporation is to acquire a 60% stake in the Doppio Group, owners of speciality restaurant brands Doppio Zero, Piza e Vino and Modern Tailors with a portfolio of 37 franchised and company-owned restaurants as well as a bakery and central supply business. The business is being acquired from founders Paul Christie and Miki Milovanovic
Last week, Massmart, together with Retail Capital, a division of Tyme Bank, hosted a Business Funding Information session for its Marketplace seller base. The webinar provided these small business owners with key insights about the funding options available to them. The partnership initially began in 2021 and has, since inception, provided significant funding to enable
With the largest population in Africa, including a sizeable if pressurised middle class, Nigeria is an attractive market for consumer electronic and durables brands. Yet only a handful of companies from the rest of the world have succeeded when they’ve entered this complex but dynamic market. One of the major challenges organisations face as they
The informal sector has a crucial role to play in the global economy and connecting it properly to government and corporates to bring about opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow was at the heart of the recent SAITEX, which concluded in Johannesburg recently. The Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX), the leading multi-sector trade event
The informal sector has a crucial role to play in the global economy and connecting it properly to government and corporates to bring about opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow was at the heart of the recent SAITEX, which concluded in Johannesburg recently. The Southern African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX), the leading multi-sector trade event
By Joel Bronkowski, South Africa Country Lead at Paystack Amidst general struggles for South African retailers (figures for March show that retail trade sales were down 1.6% year on year), the country is experiencing an ecommerce boom. While the sector’s growth at the height of the pandemic was to be expected, it’s notable that growth
Kyosk Digital Services, a digital-first and data-led distribution platform, is pleased to announce its expansion into the African fresh produce market with the launch of its Farm & Fresh line of business. This follows on the back of Kyosk’s recent acquisition of KwikBasket, a prominent player in the agricultural industry known for its expertise in
(L-R): Daniel Huba, Vice President of Sub-Saharan Africa Market Development for Community Pass at Mastercard; Charles Mudiwa, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of dfcu Bank; and David Gerbrands, Global Head of Agri and Banking Advisory Services and Inclusive Business Ventures at Rabo Partnerships, signing the partnership agreement in Uganda. Through the Farm Pass platform,
Understanding the changing consumer journey is paramount in today’s ever-evolving retail landscape. Retailers must embrace agile and responsive strategies to meet rising customer expectations and seamlessly navigate a vast array of shopping experiences. This is particularly crucial in South Africa, where intermittent power supply often requires shoppers to adjust their habits to ‘follow the power.’
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) is making significant investments in capabilities to create an agile workplace that is engaging and productive, developing the skills of employees to compete in a digital age of artificial intelligence and big data. “CCBA’s digital transformation journey is an integral component to take us into the future, remain relevant and future-proof
DRUID, an AI-driven conversational leader, has announced its strategic partnership with MoData (Pty) Ltd, an emerging forerunner in AI-powered customer engagement, fintech and data-driven financial applications. This collaboration is poised to blend DRUID’s advanced conversational AI capabilities with MoData’s transformative financial business operational insights, equipping businesses with powerful tools to maximise digital adoption strategies while
RMB has played an integral role in securing Pick n Pay’s inaugural sustainability-linked loan, acting as sole mandated lead arranger (MLA), bookrunner and sustainability coordinator on a syndicated debt facility to the value of R4.5 billion. As one of South Africa’s leading retailers, Pick n Pay is committed to a sustainable future. The sustainability-linked features
SPAR South Africa’s North Rand region proudly sponsors Tshwane Women in Sport Awards. This year, esteemed guests included renowned sportswomen Caster Semenya and Cllr. Peggy de Bruin, MMC of Recreation and Social Development. The 2023 ceremony celebrating the Tshwane Women In Sport Awards dedicated to honouring women in sport was held on the morning of
In line with the growing importance of ESG across all business parameters Dis-Chem Pharmacies has appointed Lesiba Kgoogo as ESG Executive. He will focus on the development and delivery of a centralised group ESG strategy linked to business imperatives to ensure compliance, standardised reporting, and audit process for non-financial assurance across Dis-Chem. Kgoogo is a
Following Massmart’s 100% acquisition by Walmart, the company now has gained improved access to technical capabilities focused on enhancing the customer shopping experience across its Makro, Builders, and Game websites. The latest move in Massmart’s eCommerce strategy has involved shifting the Makro website onto a new micro-services based platform which has delivered new features, improved
The Shoprite Group invites technology students and seasoned Information Technology (IT) professionals to join Africa’s largest retailer by applying for its bursary programme or various available job opportunities. The retailer’s comprehensive bursary programme covers tuition fees and on-campus accommodation, provides a grocery allowance, and guarantees employment upon graduation. Youth studying scarce and sought after skills
Ballito parents can now shop the best local and international baby brands at KwaZulu-Natal’s second standalone Checkers Little Me store which opened at the Ballito Junction this week. It is the retailer’s ninth standalone Little Me store, and the very first one with a ‘shop in shop’ concept from Norwegian baby furniture maker Stokke and
The heady days of triple-digit e-commerce growth are over, but the rewards are there for the taking for the savvy e-marketer. Local e-commerce growth is slowing, which was inevitable considering the huge leaps made during and post-COVID, but the sector is still growing and is driving total retail growth both here and abroad. Locally, fast-moving
Nestlé South Africa announced its investment in localising the production of NESCAFÉ coffee mixes (namely the NESCAFÉ Gold range, which includes Cappuccino Original, Cappuccino Original Reduced Sugar, Cappuccino Salted Caramel Latte, Cappuccino Vanilla Latte, Cappuccino Hazelnut Latte, and Cappuccino White Chocolate) and NESCAFÉ RICOFFY 3in1, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to meeting
The Netball World Cup is on a South African tour in preparation for the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 tournament. SPAR South Africa has sponsored national and international competitions for over 20 years and regards netball as its flagship sponsorship. The tournament trophy recently arrived, to much excitement, on South African soil. This highly-anticipated world
By: Warren Brett Cluster Executive, SEA Region, Smollan Tanzania African beverage trends are driven by innovation and culture. From the cherished rituals of traditional tea and coffee to the emerging popularity of carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices. Africa’s beverage market is evolving rapidly, reflecting changing consumer preferences and the impact of various socio-economic factors.
Builders has partnered with Standard Bank UCount nationwide, to offer members more when shopping for Do-It-Yourself (DIY), home improvements or building materials – in-store or online. Standard Bank customers can now earn and redeem UCount Rewards when shopping at Builders. The new partnership makes Builders the only DIY category retailer on the UCount program offering
Bolt, the leading on-demand mobility platform in Africa, and its partner SAPIN, property academy, joined forces last year to provide over 50 young people with trips for their youth internship programme. Bolt has since provided SAPIN with over 700 trips to those who had difficulty accessing transportation for their daily commute. For SAPIN, the partnership
The size of a small, informal, or rural business shouldn’t be an obstacle to them attaining the same growth rate as larger, more formal enterprises. In fact, their smaller scale should be an advantage with fewer bureaucratic hurdles and greater flexibility. But in reality, rural businesses and informal traders are often limited by access to
By Quintin van der Linde, Senior New Business Developer at Ecentric Payment Systems Africa is projected to have more than half a billion e-commerce users by 2025. In part, this can be attributed to the growing adoption of alternative payment methods in the wake of the pandemic. With 45% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa
Mike Smollan, Chief Growth Officer Exactly how did we get to July in what feels like a blink of an eye? Pondering on that often-used analogy, I had to check in with Google. To learn that there are 1000 milliseconds in each second, so a blink of an eye takes around 1/3 of a second.
The world of retail has changed. With more and more customers now shopping online, retailers have had to come up with creative ways to bring the physical and virtual worlds together to create seamless, memorable experiences. But with this comes a great deal of complexity. Having a robust tech foundation is no longer a nice
Agrikool, a small agricultural business, is showing exponential growth after securing a deal with the Shoprite Group, delivering fresh produce worth over R3 million to the retailer in just over a year. The Pietermaritzburg-based business solves challenges in the farming value chain, develops small to medium-scale local farmers, and sustains regional food security, by connecting
With foreign exchange shortages plaguing sub-Saharan African economies, Bank One’s Head of Trade, Gerald Ndosi, explains what measures can be taken to overcome US dollar liquidity challenges, promote trade finance, and foster sustainable economic growth in the region International Trade is conducted in the currencies of major economic powers, largely the US dollar, European Union
The V&A Waterfront, Africa’s most visited tourist destination, has joined forces with admyt, the market leading digital parking management platform in South Africa, to leverage its innovative smart parking system for the benefit of visitors, tenants and guests to the precinct. The admyt system uses license plate recognition (LPR) software and smartphone technology to provide
Celebrating 20 years of Africa’s Big 7and festive foodie features The local food and beverage market was abuzz at the twentieth edition of Africa’s Big 7, which wrapped up in Johannesburg at the Gallagher Convention Centre last week, co-located with SAITEX. “Recognising a two decade-long commitment to delivering top quality and reasonably priced, trendy food
The clues to whether businesses are making the right investments now to ensure that they can provide the right experiences across the channels that consumers will come to expect is held in the data from the Wunderman Thompson Future Shopper Report 2023. The future of retail is steadfastly being shaped by digital, as shoppers envision
More than a quarter of global self-checkout shipments went to non-grocery stores as the technology penetrates new segments Wider range of retailers adopting self-checkout 2022 was the second highest year for self-checkout shipments globally, according to Global EPOS and Self-Checkout 2023, the latest report from strategic research and consulting firm RBR. More than 193,000 units
As a preferred enterprise payments partner for Shopify, Adyen will provide large-scale customers the agility to succeed in the fast-moving ecommerce industry Adyen, the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, announces a new global partnership with Shopify, a provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, to strengthen ecommerce capabilities, simplify the customer
One of Tiger Brands’ iconic heritage brands, KOO, has refreshed its positioning and looks to showcase the value it brings to consumers, including convenience, healthy nourishment, superior quality taste, and homegrown ingredients. These features combine to make it one of South Africa’s most valuable brands and the market leader in the South African Canned Fruit
South Africa’s loyalty sector triumphed at the International Loyalty Awards in London last night, with Truth CEO, Amanda Cromhout, winning the only individual award, and eBucks and DSTV receiving global acclaim in four categories. The International Loyalty Awards are considered the pinnacle of recognition for consumer loyalty programmes and pay tribute to the brands building
A new report from Trade Intelligence reveals an FMCG retail trade that is under enormous pressure – but that continues to innovate, to serve shoppers, and even to turn a profit. South Africa’s economic landscape is challenging for any business, but particularly so for players in the consumer goods industry. The complexity in this sector
Research reveals frontline workforce underserved by IT tools, and which cites communication and access to information as key areas for digital transformation Most South African retail workers are feeling overworked but the vast majority believe technology is the answer to their situation, a Microsoft-sponsored IDC study has revealed. “We often refer to them as ‘the
There are very few instances nowadays where employees will spend their entire careers at the same company. The job landscape has changed so dramatically – particularly since the pandemic and the ability to work from home – that if a business fails to meet worker expectations staff simply look elsewhere and quit. Scroll through any
By Peter Ludi, MD Solutions at redPanda Software Technology has been integrated into virtually every aspect of people’s lives. For some retailers, it has become the focus instead of just being seen as an enabler to creating a more integrated customer experience. The growth of e-commerce has seen people have ever higher expectations of their
Jumia, Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, released a new report, “Expanding E-Commerce in Rural Areas in Ivory Coast,” highlighting its successful penetration into underserved regions and success in bringing e-commerce opportunities to rural populations. The report draws on Jumia’s 2022 non-financial data and provides insights into its expansion strategies to rural communities in Ivory Coast. Physically
Consumers in South Africa are experiencing escalating levels of financial stress and are actively seeking alternative forms of payment due to the country’s rising cost of living. The use of developing digital payments are gaining pace in South Africa and statistics show that there is a rising desire for credit among consumers with digital payment
Up and coming retail group, Retailability, says the online launch of one of South Africa’s most revered and much-missed brands, Boardmans is not only timely but will fill a gap for value conscious consumers looking for that special touch in home décor. South Africa’s familiar kitchen and home brand, Boardmans, is set for re-launch as
OMCs can now track and reconcile transactions easily, increasing their operational efficiency by 50% Tingg by Cellulant In-Store solution is transforming the digital payments space in Ghana by providing Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) with a single payment collection point across multiple payment options and channels, ensuring real-time settlement. This advancement allows OMCs in the country
KES 400 discount for goods worth KES 3,000 and above when customers shop on the MAF Carrefour Mobile app and pay with locally issued Visa cards The campaign will run every Tuesday for three months starting June 2023 Carrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Kenya, has announced its partnership with Visa, the
RFG Foods recently clinched the prestigious Dairy Product of the Year Award at the highly acclaimed South African Dairy Championships 2023 for its 600g Ayrshire Mozzarella, produced exclusively for Woolworths. This product emerged as the leader among an impressive array of 929 dairy products from 71 renowned producers. Con Costaras, Managing Director of Fresh Foods
A new report from Trade Intelligence reveals an FMCG retail trade that is under enormous pressure – but that continues to innovate, to serve shoppers, and even to turn a profit. South Africa’s economic landscape is challenging for any business, but particularly so for players in the consumer goods industry. The complexity in this sector
Woolworths has once again demonstrated its exceptional prowess this year at the annual SA Dairy Championships, solidifying its position as an industry leader. The outstanding achievement of notching up a total of 79 awards, including 23 first place trophies, five prestigious Qualité Awards, and the highly sought-after Product of the Year award for their Ayrshire
On Thursday 25 May 2023 Fair Cape Dairies were once again recognised with the most Gold Medals at the SA Dairy Championships winning 14 Golds as well as 5 prestigious Qualite Awards for products which excelled with the highest standards of quality and taste. The recognition included milk, yoghurt, drinking yoghurt and dessert category products,
With the ongoing rise in interest rates in South Africa, businesses are increasingly faced with the daunting task of obtaining affordable financing. And with higher interest rates comes the burden of higher borrowing costs. CredX, launched by the Shoprite Group in 2022, enables its suppliers to obtain critical working capital funding at the lowest industry
