Sabi Opens an Office in Johannesburg to Enable the Digital Transformation of South Africa’s ZAR 157 Billion Informal Economy

Posted on by Initiator | 30593 Views | 11 min read

South Africa’s micro, small and medium-sized traders can now improve their cash flow with more reliable supply chains and better customer marketing using Sabi, Africa’s leading B2B platform for goods and services distribution. SABI is partnering with Vumele to enable and empower South Africa’s informal economy. Sabi recently opened an office in Johannesburg and already

SA Retailers Need to Adapt to the Declining Middle-class

Posted on by Initiator | 15356 Views | 17 min read

From one crisis to the next, consumer habits are changing Just as the world was returning to some kind of ‘normality’ it didn’t take long for war in Europe, surging inflation, soaring fuel and energy prices, along with severe bouts of load-shedding to cast a particularly dark shadow over the first half of 2022. Now,

Green Shoots for eThekwini’s Manufacturing Sector

Posted on by Initiator | 5340 Views | 16 min read

eThekwini’s manufacturing Clusters unlock growth and deliver jobs Since the onset of the pandemic, eThekwini Municipality has been driving the development of the manufacturing sector and now, many of the initiatives are ready to scale and are delivering positive results. According to Takalani Rathiyaya, Head of the Economic Development Programmes Department at the eThekwini Municipality,

Smollan Benefits From Long-Term Partnership with FleetDomain

Posted on by Initiator | 8308 Views | 8 min read

Since 2020, Smollan, a global sales and marketing services company, has been using FleetDomain, an Argility Technology Group company, to manage its fleet of around 2 000 vehicles in South Africa. By integrating its software with Smollan’s accounting systems and banking partners, FleetDomain has enabled Smollan to contain costs and manage its fleet much more effectively,

Meet South Africa’s Lowest Cost Bank Account

Posted on by Initiator | 16150 Views | 8 min read

Shoprite’s Money Market Account is now a full-fledged bank account. It already provides almost two million banked and unbanked customers the best deal on the market. It’s official: Shoprite’s Money Market Account is now a full-fledged, transactional bank account, the first ever offered by a South African retailer – and the lowest cost entry-level bank

Zapper and Stitch Team Up to Offer South Africans Fast, Secure One-Click Payments

Posted on by Initiator | 29688 Views | 16 min read

Zapper users can now link their bank accounts in the Zapper app to pay their favourite merchants securely at POS, in just one click South African independent mobile payments, insights, loyalty, and rewards platform Zapper has teamed up with payments and data API Stitch via its LinkPay product, to bring the latest in payments innovation

NCR Wins 2022 Partnership of the Year at Retail Systems Awards

Posted on by Initiator | 16111 Views | 6 min read

NCR’s Retail team was recognized at the 2022 Retail Systems Awards for Partnership of the Year for its relationship with Iceland. Iceland Foods is one of the fastest growing and most innovative retailers in the UK. These awards are sponsored by Retail Systems, a website for senior-level technology and business decision-makers in retail and e-commerce.

Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index falls from 52.2 points in June to 47.6 in July

Posted on by Initiator | 5197 Views | 9 min read

The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) further declined in July, suggesting that the manufacturing sector experienced a tough start to the third quarter following a weak second quarter. The headline index fell from 52.2 points in June to 47.6 in July. This is the first reading below the neutral 50-point threshold since July

Nestlé Appoints Arvind Bhandari as Cluster Head for East and Horn of Africa Region

Posted on by Initiator | 47482 Views | 8 min read

Bhandari has 18 years’ experience of driving growth of the Nestlé business Nestlé has appointed Arvind Bhandari as the new Cluster Head for East and Horn of Africa, which forms part of Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR). In this role Bhandari will manage operations in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan,

Shoprite Takes Out Biggest Sustainability Loan and First Green Loan in the Retail Sector

Posted on by Initiator | 5499 Views | 8 min read

The Shoprite Group has finalised sustainability-linked loans totalling R3.5 billion for investments to expand its key environmental programmes as part of its wider sustainability strategy. These include a R2 billion loan from Standard Bank (the bank’s biggest in the retail sector to date), and a R800 million sustainability-linked loan and a R700 million green loan

Retail Trends – 2022 & Beyond

Posted on by Initiator | 7048 Views | 17 min read

Mike Smollan, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer at Smollan looks at retail trends for the third and fourth quarters of this year and beyond, and what these means for growth Gears switched at the beginning of 2022 as we entered a new phase in a retail eco-system that was still massaging aches and pains and

Global Retail Brand LC (Les Copains) Waikiki Joins the Tingg by Cellulant Digital Payment Ecosystem in Zambia

Posted on by Initiator | 51747 Views | 15 min read

LC Waikiki customers will now be able to make payments seamlessly via mobile money in all their branches in Zambia  Cellulant (www.Cellulant.io) Zambia has signed a partnership agreement with leading fashion retailer LC Waikiki, which will enable customers to make payments from all LC Waikiki stores across Zambia through the Tingg digital payment platform. As

Shoprite First in SA to Acquire 100 New Fuel-efficient Scania Euro V trucks

Posted on by Initiator | 5861 Views | 7 min read

In a first for retail in South Africa, the Shoprite Group has acquired over 100 of the most fuel-efficient trucks in Southern Africa. The Scania Euro V trucks have a proven fuel saving of around 10% along with lower CO2 and NOx emissions. The Group’s world-class supply chain – which includes 29 distribution centres covering

SA Agritech Disruptor Driving Down Food Costs for Consumers and Increasing Profits for Farmers

Posted on by Initiator | 5284 Views | 15 min read

Food costs are soaring with the war in Ukraine, interest rate hikes, fuel increases, and changed weather patterns. A KZN-based startup is focusing on driving down the cost of food by cutting out middlemen and reducing transport costs while increasing profits for farmers. AgriKool, an e-trading platform, connects agricultural producers to buyers to facilitate the

Spur Corporation Lifts Earnings 31% in Strong Post Lockdown Trading Recovery

Posted on by Initiator | 17323 Views | 17 min read

Spur Corporation increased headline earnings by 31% to R121 million in the year to June 2022 as the group reported a strong post COVID-19 lockdown trading recovery and capitalised on increasing restaurant foot traffic. Group revenue grew by 32.5% to R2.4 billion, with improved franchised restaurant turnover, higher sales in the company-owned restaurants and increased

Growthpoint Invests R50 Million in Solar-Charged Battery System to Power Paarl Mall

Posted on by Initiator | 8141 Views | 20 min read

Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT) is piloting a 4.5MW battery system at Paarl Mall in the Western Cape to store electricity for its continuous, cost-efficient power supply. This is the largest commercial battery installation in South Africa to date, and it will be partly charged by Paarl Mall’s new rooftop solar PV plant, extending the positive

Tiger Brands to Rollout Solar Power at Manufacturing Sites

Posted on by Initiator | 5533 Views | 9 min read

Additional energy efficiency initiatives aim to maximise efforts to reduce the company’s reliance on the national grid and minimise impact on the environment Tiger Brands will soon begin rolling out solar power at its manufacturing sites. This kicks off a multi-million-rand investment with the goal to have 65% of the business’ electricity requirements at a

NielsenIQ State of the Retail Nation Report Reveals Pockets of Positivity

Posted on by Initiator | 6392 Views | 24 min read

Annual CPG sales top R527-Billion Liquor sector continues to rebound Food inflation remains a thorn in the side of consumers increasing by 8.1% versus a year ago The South African manufacturing and retail sectors remain stoic in the face of a continued onslaught of input prices, and consumers feeling the full effects of their severely

Bolt Announces Ongoing Post-pandemic Growth to Mark Ninth Anniversary

Posted on by Initiator | 17661 Views | 14 min read

The company has quadrupled its business globally since the start of the pandemic and launched two products in the same period As of today, Bolt is present in 45 countries and over 500 cities, an increase of more than 200% before the pandemic  In South Africa, Bolt is available in 9 provinces and a total

Unilever and Global Alliance Africa Announce Winner of Innovation Exchange Challenge Focused on Reducing Plastic Usage in Consumer Goods

Posted on by Initiator | 7716 Views | 13 min read

Global Alliance Africa, a project delivered by Innovate UK KTN and Unilever have today announced Sharon Rapetswa as the winner of their Innovation Exchange Challenge, designed to help the multinational consumer goods company find inventive solutions and innovative approaches towards the development of new circular business models for plastic reuse and refill. With her idea

RBR | Retailers Ramp up Mobile Self-Scanning

Posted on by Initiator | 26655 Views | 10 min read

46,000 stores across the world allow customers to scan items as they shop, a figure forecast to grow by over three times during the next five years 10,000 additional stores offered mobile self-scanning during 2021 Customers can use mobile self-scanning at more than 46,000 stores across the world, according to Mobile Self-Scanning and Checkout-Free 2022,

SPAR South Africa Supports Early Childhood Development Centres

Posted on by Initiator | 5430 Views | 9 min read

SPAR South Africa partnered with local producer Rama to raise funds for Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across the country. Over half a million South African Rands worth of nutritious meals will be distributed, thanks to the support of customers. Earlier this year, Rama committed to donating one meal to a child in need for

Women Instrumental to Success of Africa’s Largest Retailer

Posted on by Initiator | 5512 Views | 12 min read

The Shoprite Group was the first retailer to celebrate the enormous contribution of South African women to society when Government announced National Women’s Day in 1996 when it introduced a significant campaign that ran for 17 years to celebrate women, the nationally acclaimed Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Awards. More than 25 years later

Women in Retail: The Real Superheroes

Posted on by Initiator | 5248 Views | 22 min read

Many women juggle the role of both worker and matriarch, playing an integral role in society by not only taking on the responsibilities of raising the next generation and being the cornerstone of the family; but also by playing an active part in South Africa’s economy. This is according to Marine van Brakel, Chief Operating

Infor | Disruption as the New Normal in Food & Beverage

Posted on by Initiator | 7105 Views | 23 min read

Phil Lewis, Infor’s VP of Solution Consulting EMEA looks at how food manufacturers can use technology to boost supply chain resilience in the face of ongoing disruption. Undoubtedly, COVID-19 pushed the food supply chain to its very limits, with some even going so far as to say it was responsible for breaking it completely. What

NielsenIQ | SA Consumers Reach Tipping Point of Affordability

Posted on by Initiator | 6608 Views | 18 min read

Twelve of top 20 product categories experience double-digit inflation Price increases starting to impact unit sales Annual FMCG retail sales total R523-Billio The stranglehold of the current 13-year inflation high on consumer purchase patterns is clearly shown in the newly released NielsenIQ South Africa State of the Retail Nation report which shows that twelve out

Have You Seen what OneDayOnly are Doing??

Posted on by Initiator | 14414 Views | 9 min read

OneDayOnly, South Africa’s biggest daily deals site, has just launched a brand new advertising campaign. “12 years ago, we started OneDayOnly with the mantra that every day was an opportunity to make someone feel like a big deal – bringing great deals on great brands to South Africans, every day”, Laurian Venter, Managing Director of

Nestlé for Healthier Kids Celebrates Ten-Year Anniversary in Kenya

Posted on by Initiator | 18500 Views | 13 min read

In partnership with The Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Agriculture, to support parents and caregivers on a healthier lifestyle for their kids. Nestlé Kenya together with its partners, The Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Agriculture, have launched the Nestlé for Healthier Kids Programme in Kajiado County which will benefit 128 schools

Rosebank Mall gets Technical with New Store

Posted on by Initiator | 6257 Views | 16 min read

Rosebank Mall is home to an innovative new store which is so much more than it first appears to be! Re-purposing is fast becoming a way of life and the tech space should be no exception. With this in mind, David Hirsch – CEO of TechMarkit – has introduced his very own brand of pre-loved

General Dealer Retail Sales Soar 14.6% (in real terms) as SA Consumers Bite the Bullet and Scale Down When Shopping

Posted on by Initiator | 7222 Views | 14 min read

General dealers have emerged as the most resilient sector in South African retail, growing sales 14.6% in real terms from January to May 2022 and winning a greater share of the cash-strapped consumer’s wallet. Their strong performance in a struggling retail sector can be largely attributed to consumers’ spending more of their incomes on necessities

SPAR Responsible Retailing: Sustainable Sourcing Practices

Posted on by Initiator | 4935 Views | 2 min read

SPAR has committed to sourcing an assortment produced under conditions that have reduced environmental impact, promote animal welfare, and provide equal opportunities for farmers and fishers.  The SPAR Responsible Retailing Strategy comprises six pillars encompassing global strategies on health, sourcing, community, climate, environment, and people. These pillars have been designed to align with the United

RFG Foods Prioritises Food Security this Mandela Day

Posted on by Initiator | 5049 Views | 8 min read

RFG partnered with Ladles of Love this Mandela Day to make a difference to thousands of people who have been affected by food insecurity and hunger. “Food insecurity is an increasing concern in South Africa, with many of our communities either suffering from hunger or malnutrition, which has been worsened by the pandemic and by

Makro Launches New Native App as Massmart e-Commerce Strategy Accelerates

Posted on by Initiator | 23115 Views | 8 min read

Makro has undergone an accelerated e-commerce transformation programme in recent months, as part of Massmart’s overarching strategy to become a leading omnichannel (online and store) retailer in South Africa. The new native Makro app is the retailer’s first fully fledged and stand-alone shopping app, enabling customers to make purchases of general merchandise, liquor and pantry

Woolworths Launches ‘Food for Thought’ Podcast Demystifying the Food Landscape

Posted on by Initiator | 5599 Views | 10 min read

A new podcast series hosted by broadcast journalist Redi Tlhabi will give listeners key insights and a greater understanding of the major issues around the state of our food nation. As the world faces complex issues around food, sustainability, waste, and how retailers and consumer choices alike impact our planet, gaining an understanding of the

TAKEALOT Group Announces the Return of “The Ultimate Checkout”- Bigger and More Epic Than Ever

Posted on by Initiator | 10910 Views | 10 min read

Takealot.com, Superbalist.com and Mr D are once again joining forces by curating deals on favourite products across their respective platforms. The Ultimate Checkout brings together three of South Africa’s online greats to offer epic deals based on customer preferences. This customer-centric three-day sale (25 – 27 July 2022), which takes place annually, promises incredible deals

The 5 Biggest Trends in Digital Innovation that are Enabling Better Customer Journeys

Posted on by Initiator | 12316 Views | 21 min read

By Leon Jacobs, Chief Information Officer at RCS Driven by the engine of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), digitisation was already gaining significant traction before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it accelerated faster in two years than it had in almost a decade. The transition to a more digitised reality affected industries across

E-Commerce and Q-Commerce Boom Benefits Consumers and Couriers

Posted on by Initiator | 10783 Views | 17 min read

Imagine a future in which your new cell phone is delivered to your home by a courier who also sets up your new device for you. What about a courier who can deliver a spare part for your washing machine and install it while he is there? These were some of the scenarios explored by

NIELSENIQ: 58% of South African Consumers say They’re Buying a Greater Variety of Brands Than Before covid

Posted on by Initiator | 6512 Views | 9 min read

Consumers are also largely in search of their perfect brand match, with 76% of South African respondents feeling that if they look hard enough, they can find a brand that fits their exact needs NielsenIQ updates consumer brand preferences –with a focus on small and medium brands – in its latest report According to the

Makro Springfield Welcomes Shoppers’ Home

Posted on by Initiator | 5602 Views | 7 min read

The 9th of July marks one year since a wave of civil unrest destroyed thousands of shops and properties in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Durban’s iconic Makro store based in Springfield was severely damaged, succumbing to a huge fire, destroying much of its infrastructure. But after just five months, it was able to reopen

Nestlé Appoints Luke Gomes as Cluster Head for Greater Zambezi Region

Posted on by Initiator | 27450 Views | 8 min read

As the new cluster head for the Greater Zambezi region, Gomes brings 35 years of professional and managerial experience at Nestl Nestlé has appointed Luke Gomes as the new Cluster Head for the Greater Zambezi region, one of three clusters within Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR). The cluster covers five countries, Zimbabwe, Zambia,

Opinion Piece: Lessons Learned on Bringing Digital Transformation to the South African Main Market

Posted on by Initiator | 4862 Views | 21 min read

By Andrew Dawson, MD of MACMobile South Africa’s main market makes up a significant proportion of the local retail space and is one of the few segments in retail that is growing. As such, it presents a massive opportunity for parties further up the value chain to optimise processes, and digital transformation is one of

KongaPay at House of Lords, London, signs historic partnership with Bibimoney

Posted on by Initiator | 32224 Views | 3 min read

KongaPay, a frontline mobile money platform and a member of the Konga Group, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant, has signed a landmark deal with Bibimoney, a UK-based industry leader to expand access to financial inclusion for many in Nigeria, while also raising standards in the Fintech ecosystem in Nigeria and beyond. The iconic partnership was

Game Reaches Milestone in Turnaround Strategy

Posted on by Initiator | 5178 Views | 17 min read

After announcing that it would be embarking on a turnaround strategy to retain relevance in the African retail landscape, retailer Game today announced that all 115 stores across the country have been refreshed to provide consumers with a more appealing and intuitive store experience. This is an important move for the retailer, as physical stores

Cold Storage Infrastructure and Refrigeration Tech are Key for Growth in SA Food Production

Posted on by Initiator | 7996 Views | 16 min read

South Africa’s food production and export industries are experiencing encouraging growth injections from the increase in demand for high value and diversified produce such as blueberries, macadamia nuts and citrus. The export demand in the blueberry industry alone is expected to grow by at least 44,000 tonnes by 2024. A critical enabling factor to support

The FOOD STALL at SPAR is Launched

Posted on by Initiator | 5624 Views | 11 min read

Conveniently located inside your local SPAR is a range of authentic, ready-made, and artisanal food choices The SPAR Group (Pty) Ltd South Africa has launched The FOOD STALL at SPAR which is rolling out across the deli service counters across many SPAR stores nationwide. The first FOOD STALL served customers in Ladysmith KwaZulu-Natal in April

Opportunity Capital – the Key to Unlocking Competitive Advantage in Retail

Posted on by Initiator | 4928 Views | 14 min read

Savvy retail entrepreneurs look at working capital as a means to shift their business to the next level. It is this perspective that puts the “opportunity” in opportunity capital and that empowers retail merchants to remain competitive and relevant. “We live in volatile times, with higher food and commodity prices, rising interest rates and changing consumer preferences, all

Philip Morris Accelerates Smoke-free Transformation with Key Leadership Appointments

Posted on by Initiator | 4918 Views | 21 min read

Philip Morris South Africa (PMSA) is accelerating its transformation to a smoke-free company with key leadership appointments. PMSA Managing Director Branislav Bibic says that “A smoke-free future is attainable, and the benefits it can bring to the adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke, and hence to global public health, are enormous.” “PMI’s vision

How Zambeef’s Investment Will Boost a Growing Zambia

Posted on by Initiator | 16260 Views | 23 min read

Countries with relatively small economic bases can generally point to their anchor institutions—including the manufacturing and extractive industries, or large private sector employers—as major contributors to their growth. In Zambia, mining operations anchor the economy, but another significant home-grown entity has grown to become a renowned brand that is creating its own economic impact across

Spur Corporation Launches Another Step in Expansion of Trading Channels

Posted on by Initiator | 5051 Views | 7 min read

First RocoMamas Drive Thru launched  Spur Corporation just launched its first RocoMamas Drive Thru in Little Falls, Johannesburg. This follows the successful launch of its first Spur Drive Thru in 2021. This is another step in the group’s strategy of expanding convenient and lucrative channels to meet customer requirements for their favourite meals through easy

Engen Computer School Celebrates Another 67 New Graduates

Posted on by Initiator | 5111 Views | 12 min read

The Engen Community Computer School held an awards ceremony recently to celebrate its latest graduates, all unemployed South Durban residents whose prospects of finding employment have been positively enhanced after receiving valuable basic computer skills training.  The Engen sponsored school has been transforming lives in South Durban for 13 years and has to date capped