Zyda Rylands, CEO of Woolworths South Africa, together with the Department of Trade and Industry (‘the dti’) and the Gauteng Provincial Government officially opened the doors of In2food’s new 22 700m² food production facility in the OR Tambo Special Economic Zone in Johannesburg. As the largest and most diverse ultra-fresh food facility of its kind
New research from inRiver reveals 55% of shoppers research products online while in store, and this number is higher for 16-24 (nearly 70%) and 25-34 (67%) age groups. Leading product information management company, inRiver, has unveiled a research report that focuses on the generational differences in consumer shopping habits and outlines the steps brands must
EatOut, a Kenyan based eatery discovery service has partnered DineOut, Indian firm in the launch of a regional restaurant platform dubbed as InResto as they seek to tap a wider market in the regional expansion drive. According to a report by Business Daily, the partnership will see EatOut launch the Dineout’s restaurant technology platform for
Zambeef’s Kitwe Processing Plant to decentralise operations and further increase company’s efficiencies on the Copperbelt and neighbouring markets Zambeef Products’ new Kitwe Processing Plant is set to decentralise some of the food retailer’s operations and logistics from its base at Huntley Farm in Chisamba in a move to streamline operations, and improve efficiencies and economies
In a first for the retailer, Shoprite Nigeria was among the winners at this year’s Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme (EPIS) Efficiency Awards. The retailer won in the category Merchants (Point of Sale) for recording the highest volume of cashless transactions in 2018. The EPIS Efficiency Awards celebrate, among others, financial institutions and merchants driving electronic
With ubiquitous popularity on cashless payment services, AlipayHK has partnered with a plethora of merchants to engage users to harness the convenience of mobile payment. Today AlipayHK has collaborated with McDonald’s Hong Kong to steer profound digital transformation in catering industry – of which AlipayHK users can use the e-wallets to order gourmet food and
RCL FOODS has reported that headline earnings for the six months ended December 2018 decreased by 26.3% to R475,1 million (December 2017: R644,7 million). The decline was largely a result of significant challenges within the Sugar and Chicken categories due to dumped imports which resulted in oversupply and lower realised prices. Sugar was particularly distressed by
Jumia, the leading pan-African e-commerce platform, today announced that Mastercard has agreed, subject to certain conditions, to become an investor and form a strategic partnership to grow e-commerce operations and support the digital transformation of the continent. Currently, e-commerce is nascent in Africa and accounts for less than 1% of total retail volumes. However, there
Despite a subdued outlook for the South African retail sector in 2019, global fashion retailer H&M has firmly underlined its ongoing commitment to the local retail market with the announcement of three new store openings, this along with several local partnerships placing strong emphasis on the brand’s ongoing sustainability work. The Swedish clothing retailer recently
The purchasing power of South Africa’s 18-millionfemale consumers is undeniable given that 71% of them are responsible for grocery shopping, while 60% are the primary purchaser within South African households making them a force to be reckoned with, in the local retail sector. It’s clear that this influence will only grow, with 21-million female consumers
On 27 February 2019, Barloworld Group announced a strategic decision to merge its automotive and logistics divisions, a move that will leverage the assets and capabilities of the two divisions. The new change brings about the opportunity to strengthen the group’s core capabilities while optimising its existing portfolio to ensure sustained value creation. The new,
In a bid to bolster its e-commerce presence further, Alibaba BABA has teamed up with Safaricom, a Kenya-based provider of voice, data, financial services and enterprise solutions. Per the deal, Safaricom’s customers will be able to make payments via the company’s mobile-money wallet, M-Pesa, while shopping on AliExpress.com, an online shopping portal of Alibaba. Further,
Africa’s largest retailer, the Shoprite Group, opened its second supermarket in Kenya on Thursday, 21 March 2019 at the Garden City Mall in Nairobi. With more than 2 700 stores in 15 African countries, the Shoprite Group’s business is built on the promise of lower prices. It is now looking to establish a firm presence
Source: www.rbrlondon.com Online card expenditure growing at double digit rates and will continue to increase significantly faster than card spending at physical outlets to account for nearly a quarter of all card expenditure by 2023 Cardholders moving away from physical outlets in search of lower prices and convenience Research from RBR analyses the role that payment
Massmart is pleased to announce that Nestlé was today awarded top honours at the Massmart Supplier Environmental Awards. Now in their fifth year, the awards recognise top performing suppliers who have demonstrated an industry leading commitment to sustainable supply chain management. Massmart Sustainability Executive Alexander Haw says “Nestlé’s Zero Water manufacturing facility in Mossel Bay,
RFG increased turnover by 8.0% for the first five months of the 2019 financial year. Turnover in the regional segment, which includes South Africa and the rest of Africa, rose by 8.2% despite the continued challenging trading environment. International turnover increased by 6.7% as export volumes grew by 4.5%. CEO Bruce Henderson said the regional
Tesco has removed an extensive selection of plastic wrapped fruit and veg products from two of its stores. The retailer’s latest move toward sustainable packaging will trial removing packaged fruit and veg wherever a loose alternative exists. A total of forty five packaged foods will be taken out of stores in Watford and Swindon. Customers
The Shoprite Group is set to change the face of retail in Zambia with the opening of the new world-class store in the Woodlands/Kabulonga area. The new-look Shoprite Kabulonga promises an unrivalled retail experience. In addition to the new look, customers are being offered the best quality products at the most affordable prices, including: An
Group revenue increased by 4.1% to R4,4 billion (up 7.3% excluding the impact of IFRS 15) Sales volumes grew 5,6% and selling prices increased 3.1% Sugar taxes and sharp increase in fuel impacted profitability Significant investment in marketing and selling campaigns, research and development and expanding the sales force Headline earnings up 5% to R236
As more consumers embrace multichannel shopping, retailers are diversifying their investments online and offline to meet customers’ needs, according to the annual State of Retailing Online study released today by the National Retail Federation and Forrester. “Retailers are evolving with customers’ shopping behaviors by creating a seamless shopping experience online and in store,” NRF Vice
Vivo Energy plc is pleased to announce the completion of the transaction with Engen Holdings (Pty) Limited, previously announced on 18 September 2018. The transaction adds operations in eight new countries and 230 Engen-branded service stations to Vivo Energy’s network, taking its total presence to over 2,000 service stations, across 23 African markets. The new
Nielsen has launched its 2019 Changing Consumer Prosperity Report which highlights how global consumers think and feel about their financial situation and reveals that when it comes to feeling prosperous, mindset matters more than income. Executive Director, Thought Leadership Nielsen Global Markets Ailsa Wingfield comments; “What we found is that financial factors like income and
2018 was a transformational year for the Group, whose interim results were affected by a number of factors. While the first half performance is below expectations it is not a reflection of the fundamental strength of the business. The decline in headline earnings per share for the six months ending December 2018 must be viewed
Plastic manufacturing and recycling company, Verigreen, has been awarded a multi-million rand contract to supply 25 different products under the Shoprite Group’s Ritebrand and Housebrand labels. Owned by husband and wife team Mike and Thina Maziya and established in 2001, Verigreen has been manufacturing a range of drawstring refuse bags since 2012 and has expanded
Woolworths has joined hands with its supplier, Spier wine farm; the Sustainability Institute and its AgroEcology Academy to launch the Living Soils Community Learning Farm, in the Lynedoch valley of the Stellenbosch Winelands. The partners have agreed to a three-year pilot project that aims to establish a learning farm that demonstrates ecologically-restorative methods to grow
Zambeef Products has been recognised by the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) for its excellence in corporate governance. The company walked away with four awards at the recent LuSE Corporate Governance Awards, scooping first prize for the Corporate Governance Award and the Best Annual Report Award, and being named as first runners up for the Sustainability
Following various announcements made by Edcon over recent months in relation to the recapitalisation of the business, the Group has advanced the process sufficiently to provide a further update to all stakeholders. The Board of Edcon is pleased to announce that binding agreements have been concluded amongst, Edcon Limited’s existing secured lenders, the Public Investment
Massmart has reported annual results for the 52 weeks ended 30 December 2018 against the back-drop of a difficult economic environment, characterised by low GDP and wage growth, and constrained consumer confidence. Notwithstandingthe difficult environment Massmart maintained strong market share across durable goods categories including; small and large domestic appliances, hi-tech and most DIY and
Spur Corporation reported a competitive performance for the six months to December 2018 as increasing demands on disposable income and declining confidence impacted the group’s middle-income customer base. Total franchised restaurant sales across the local and international operations increased by 4.8% to R3.9 billion. Comparable profit before tax, excluding exceptional and one-off items, increased by
The Shoprite cross-border money remittance product reached the R1 billion mark in January, after just three years of it being implemented between SA and Lesotho. The cost of a transfer of R900 is 2%, which is one of the cheapest cross-border products in the world. A remittance is when a person sends money, usually small
South Africa’s latest Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for the fourth quarter of 2018 shows a two point decrease to 88, presenting a relatively stable, though still slightly negative, quarter on quarter picture for consumer sentiment in South Africa. This is supported by a decrease in the number of South Africans who view their job prospects
Network International, a leading payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), aims to boost e-commerce acceptance in the region with the launch of a new, multi-million dollar online payment gateway. The gateway is part of Network International’s N-Genius payment platform and has commenced rollout to UAE-based ecommerce merchants from February 2019. Network
OK Power Express is a new-age retail furniture brand that focuses on price sensitive consumers. In small-format stores, it specializes in selling a selected range of appliances, home entertainment and cellphones as well as base sets, bedding and carpeting. The brand offers financing options to its customers. OK Power Express opened its first outlet in
Zakhele Sibiya, the Shoprite Group’s new head of human resources, has a clear understanding of what the future holds for South Africa’s largest private employer. Change is inevitable. The Group’s current leadership has a fresh approach to the business and as such we’re in a process of transformation. It gives me great satisfaction to play
Zambeef Products has continued to build up on the momentum of its macro rollout with shoppers in Chaisa hailing the company’s return to the area and those in Ndola excited about the new Ndola City Centre Macro. “Zambeef macros are built and centred around the community – as are all our other outlets – because
Makro Strubens Valley in Gauteng became the sixth Massmart store to make use of renewable energy. The store has a 480 kilowatt (kWh) peak plant that consists of 1476 car park-mounted polycrystalline PV panels. The plant provides nearly half of the stores daily energy requirements and is estimated to provide 24% of the stores total
Spur Corporation is a place where our people can grow and will continue to do so. We are indebted to the thousands of staff and franchisees who have committed years of service to our brands. Andile Mekeni is but one of these examples. Now at the tender age of 26, he is the proud owner
Pernod Ricard, the world’s second largest wine and spirits’ company present in 13 African countries, and Jumia, the leading e-commerce player on the continent, today announced the strengthening of their partnership. In this context, Pernod Ricard will invest into Jumia, thus becoming a strategic shareholder. Pernod Ricard will share its deep knowledge about consumer and
Accenture, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated and Kellogg Company have collaborated to develop and pilot a solution that embeds eye tracking technology in a mobile virtual reality (VR) headset to reinvent how brands and retailers gather critical consumer data and perform market research. The Accenture Extended Reality (XR) practice developed the VR
Diebold Nixdorf, a global leader in driving connected commerce, is enabling fashion retailer Triumph to enhance consumer-centric, relevant experiences with a comprehensive solution of software, services and point-of-sale (POS) technology that provides consumers a consistent shopping experience across sales channels while reducing IT complexity. Triumph, a leading, global lingerie and body wear brand, will standardize
UAE based leading retail company LuLu Group is planning to invest USD 500 mn in Egypt over the next two years to expand its local operations, according to a statement issued in Cairo. The company intends to build four new Hypermarkets in 6 October City, New Cairo, and Obour, Group Chairman and Managing Director Yusuff
Over 7 800 of Clicks Group employees will share in a R1.5 billion payment that has been created through the Group’s employee share ownership scheme (ESOP). This is in addition to the R1.3 billion already paid out under the scheme to beneficiaries in 2018. Vikesh Ramsunder, CEO of Clicks Group, says that this is the
Africa’s economy has seen modest growth in the wake of falling commodity prices, slowing revenues and volatile currencies. The moderation in growth impacts a range of industries and sectors, including retail and consumer products that must contend with rising costs, and a fall in prices. Despite the decline in growth, the long-term outlook remains positive.
One of Kenya’s oldest retailers, Ebrahim Supermarket, has closed down its Moi Avenue branch in a move that ends its 75-year run in Nairobi. The retailer sold all of its stock on discounted prices throughout last week in a massive clear-out that ended on Saturday, marking its last day of operations. The building that housed
Banking group, Stanbic Bank Zambia, has signed a multi-million dollar loan facility with Vertigo Properties for the completion of a shopping complex — Pinnacle Mall in Lusaka. The 10 000-square metre shopping mall is expected to be opened by end of March this year, which will make it the second completed project by Novare African
eCommerce in Africa is booming but that doesn’t leave out any struggles which include uncertainty around receiving orders satisfactorily. There are currently 65.4 million eCommerce users in Africa and the Middle East, with an additional 20 million users expected to be shopping online by 2021. When it comes to eCommerce sales in Africa, three of
From data breaches to fake news to state capture to corporate failures, issues of trust and transparency ruled the headlines in South Africa and the rest of the world throughout 2018. As we move into 2019, the central challenge brands will wrestle with is that of embracing new roles and business models that build trust
Kenya’s second largest telco Airtel, Equity bank and pay TV service provider DSTV have emerged to be among major brands offering their customers remarkable services and satisfaction. In a recent integrated customer experience company mSurvey has revealed the results for the year 2018 in their quarterly Customer Loyalty Benchmark Report. The report which highlighted the
Internet users in emerging markets outnumber those in developed markets by a ratio of 2:1. Yet many emerging markets have struggled to access the benefits of digital commerce. The global market in digital commerce is estimated to reach more than $3 trillion this year, yet Africa claims less than $20 billion in ecommerce revenue. Rwanda
In recognition of its contribution to promoting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria and for remaining the most trusted and recognised online retailer, the Board of Editors of Leadership Group Ltd., is set to recognise Jumia, Nigeria’s no 1 shopping destination, with the eCommerce Company of the Year Award (2018). The Group Managing
