African Countries Must Collaborate to Build Resilient Food Systems

Posted on by africanretailteam | 9 Views | 13 min read
African

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

ZURU Revolutionises Toy Retail With Bold In-Store Branding Across Leading South African Retailers

Posted on by africanretailteam | 1547 Views | 13 min read

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

Pick n Pay South Africa Posts Wider Loss but Sees Recovery Ahead

Posted on by africanretailteam | 4366 Views | 8 min read
Pick n Pay

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 Acquires Shopa to Transform Africa’s Supply Chain

Posted on by africanretailteam | 5007 Views | 10 min read
Tendo Technologies

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

Jumia and Hepsiburada Join Forces to Unlock Broader Product Selection for North African Consumers

Posted on by africanretailteam | 5262 Views | 6 min read
Jumia

Jumia and D-MARKET Electronic Services & Trading (“Hepsiburada”) have announced a commercial partnership. Under the partnership, Hepsiburada will list its private label products, a portion of its retail assortment, and a selection of other curated Turkish brands on Jumia. Headquartered in Istanbul, Hepsiburada is a leading e-commerce technology platform in Türkiye. Through this partnership, the

Jumia, the African Online Retailer, Is Set to Exit South Africa and Tunisia.

Posted on by africanretailteam | 10895 Views | 7 min read
Jumia

Jumia, the Africa-focused e-commerce retailer, will close its South African online fashion platform Zando and its Tunisian operations by year-end to concentrate on other markets, the CEO told Reuters. Jumia is aggressively cutting costs to try to turn profitable, including by reducing head count, exiting everyday grocery items and food delivery and cutting delivery services

IFC and Absa Provide Trade Facility to Valency to Support Thousands of Farmers in Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 8947 Views | 11 min read
IFC

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Absa Group Limited, a South Africa based bank, acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division (Absa), will provide a commodity trade finance facility to Singapore-based Valency International Pte Ltd, a key player in Africa’s agricultural commodities market, to support the company’s pre-export of agricultural commodities

South African Agribusiness at a Crossroads

Posted on by africanretailteam | 6601 Views | 23 min read
South African

South African farmers need to adopt new approaches and technologies to combat the country’s food security pressures Up to 20 million South Africans experience severe food insecurity, with the volume of food and beverages sold per capita across the country declining by more than 3% in 2023. South African agribusiness is at a crossroads. After

Pick n Pay Delivers Early Momentum on Its Turnaround Plan

Posted on by africanretailteam | 5341 Views | 20 min read
Pick n Pay

Pick n Pay’s turnaround strategy is gaining momentum, showing strong progress across key initiatives, including solid performance from Boxer and improved results in Pick n Pay supermarkets. The Group’s interim results, published today, highlight significant sales growth in Pick n Pay Clothing and Pick n Pay Online. As anticipated, the first six months of FY25

Float: Credit Card Holders in South Africa Reveal Shopping Trends

Posted on by africanretailteam | 10666 Views | 12 min read
Float

Float, Africa’s first card-linked instalment platform has unveiled the latest shopping trends among credit card holders using its payment method. With an impressive average order value of close to R10,000, order values through the platform significantly exceeds those of the regular buy now pay later model, which typically ranges between R1,000 and R1,400. The latest

Trade Intelligence: Mid-Year Insights on SA’s Grocery Retailers

Posted on by africanretailteam | 4355 Views | 9 min read
Trade Intelligence

Trade Intelligence’s bi-annual Corporate Retail Comparative Report (CRCR) offers a detailed analysis of the comparative performance of South Africa’s six major grocery retail companies – Shoprite Holdings, The SPAR Group, Pick n Pay Stores, Woolworths Holdings, Clicks Group, and Dis-Chem Pharmacies. This second edition for 2024 covers the reporting period of the first half of

Pick n Pay Leads the Fight Against Hunger in South Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 6964 Views | 15 min read
Pick n Pay

World Food Day on 16 October marks the 79th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and this year’s theme – Right to foods for a better life and a better future – will be the focus of events in more than 150 countries. In South Africa, the theme is

ZURU Unveils Innovative Outdoor Toys for Summer 2024, Retailers Urged to Prepare for Festive Season Stock

Posted on by africanretailteam | 4757 Views | 15 min read
Zuru

ZURU, the world’s fastest growing toy manufacturer, globally recognized for its ground-breaking designs, is ready to heat up the summer season with its exciting range of outdoor toys. Retailers are urged to prepare for high consumer demand, especially in the lead-up to the festive season, as ZURU’s latest innovations offer fresh and exciting ways for

Trade Intelligence Retail Conference 2024 – Bringing the Industry Together in Challenging Times

Posted on by africanretailteam | 8556 Views | 22 min read
Trade Intelligence

Trade Intelligence (Ti) marked its 20th anniversary by hosting the annual Ti Retail Conference on the 12th of September. With an impressive lineup of speakers and panellists, the conference once again demonstrated Ti’s role in bringing the industry together, offering practical insights and creating a space for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Four key themes emerged

Rwanda Welcomes Africa Foods System Forum, for a Packed Four Days

Posted on by africanretailteam | 7336 Views | 14 min read

It was much heralded, and now that is has arrived, it is fair to say that it more than lives up to the advertising. The Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) will host this year’s Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS), for four days, ending on the 6th. A look around the stalls at the Convention centre, leaves

Prime Opportunity for Private Equity Funds to Rescue African Retail Companies

Posted on by africanretailteam | 11909 Views | 25 min read

By Tobie Jordaan and Jutami Augustyn, Partners, and Paras Shah, Kenya Managing Partner, BowmansThe retail sector in South Africa has experienced significant distress in the last year, with several high-profile retail businesses entering business rescue proceedings. Retail giants like AutoZone, West Pack and Cross Trainer, for example, have all recently entered business rescue, highlighting the

PepsiCo South Africa Partners With Standard Bank Partners on Key Initiatives With a Sustainability-Linked Working Capital Facility

Posted on by africanretailteam | 10551 Views | 11 min read

Standard Bank is proud to announce that it has provided PepsiCo South Africa with a sustainability-linked working capital facility to support the company’s renewable energy commitments and support their broader localisation aspirations in relation to their procurement spend in South Africa. PepsiCo is one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, with a global

Africa Is Leapfrogging Into the Future of Retail – Africa Business

Posted on by africanretailteam | 14645 Views | 21 min read

The bi-annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), which is a study of the global retailing landscape has revealed Africa is poised to move away from traditional retail models and become the fastest-growing, richest, and most sophisticated market in the world. Prashaen Reddy, a partner at management consulting firm Kearney says that this is thanks to

South African Travel Fintech TurnStay Secures Funding for Regional Expansion From DCG, DFS Lab

Posted on by africanretailteam | 9438 Views | 6 min read

The South African fintech startup Turnstay recently secured $300,000 (over ZAR 5.4 million) in investment from two US-based venture capital firms: DFS Lab and Digital Currency Group (DCG). The company plans to use this funding to expand its operations across Africa and strengthen its position in the local market. According to a report, Turnstay, co-founded

SHEIN Showroom: The First Offline Pop-up Debuts in South Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 10687 Views | 8 min read

SHEIN, the global online fashion and lifestyle powerhouse, is thrilled to announce the launch of its first-ever pop-up store in South Africa. Set to take place from 2 – 11 August 2024, at the prestigious Johannesburg Mall of Africa, this ten-day event promises an interactive experience for fashion enthusiasts and casual shoppers alike. Drawing inspiration

Gift of the Givers and Engen Join Hands for Madiba Day

Posted on by africanretailteam | 6256 Views | 9 min read

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.” – Nelson Mandela Engen employees have once again made a difference in the communities to mark Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July. In partnership with Gift of the Givers, Engenites visited Nomzamo

Vivo Energy Ghana Welcomes Jean-Michel Arlandis as Its New Managing Director

Posted on by africanretailteam | 10650 Views | 8 min read

Vivo Energy Ghana, the marketer and distributor of Shell branded fuels and lubricants is excited to announce the appointment of Jean-Michel Arlandis as its new Managing Director following the end-of term for Kader Maiga. According to the Executive Vice President, West Region, Franck Konan-Yahaut, this change underscores Vivo Energy’s commitment to strengthen its international operations

Africa’s Retail Sector Set to Score Big as AI Adoption Accelerates – SAP Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 9939 Views | 15 min read

by Blessed Hwaire, Industry Advisor: Consumer Products, Life Sciences & Retail at SAP Africa A wave of AI-powered innovation is set to sweep across Africa’s retail sector. With a unique landscape marked by diverse consumer needs, a burgeoning youth population, growing levels of technology adoption, and a rapidly changing economic environment, Africa’s retail sector is

Jumia Transforms Customer Experience With Sprinklr’s AI-Powered Platform

Posted on by africanretailteam | 11519 Views | 5 min read

Jumia, Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, announces a successful partnership with Sprinklr to elevate customer experience (CX) across its diverse user base. Jumia implemented Sprinklr’s unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform to streamline support for millions of customers, sellers, and employees across 11 African countries. “Sprinklr’s solution is a perfect fit for our diverse customer base

Informal Sector Has a Crucial Role in the Global Economy, Accounting for One Third of Local Jobs – SAITEX 2024

Posted on by africanretailteam | 11678 Views | 33 min read

The informal sector has a crucial role in the global economy, and it needs to be connected to government and businesses properly so that opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow are created. This was the key message discussed during the e-Kasi talks theme on the first day of SAITEX 2024. Driven by micro enterprises across

AI-Driven Product Testing Powers up Innovation in SA – IPSOS

Posted on by africanretailteam | 14846 Views | 14 min read

Artificial Intelligence hasn’t just transformed our world but is also profoundly affecting market research by revolutionising how companies understand and predict consumer behaviour. This was the view of Ipsos Global Head of Product Testing Dr Nikolai Reynolds during a recent visit to South African clients and agencies, where he shared groundbreaking insights on using AI

Celebrating Youth Month: Engen’s Maphuthego Etu Maditsi Says “Knowledge Is Power”

Posted on by africanretailteam | 7525 Views | 23 min read

Polokwane’s Maphuthego Etu Maditsi believes education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world, which is why she will never stop learning and challenging herself. “I believe that sharing my success story can inspire other young women to prioritise education,” says the graduate trainee based at Engen’s head office in Cape

Ukheshe Rebrands to EFT Corporation to Lead Fintech Innovation and Banking Beyond Tomorrow

Posted on by africanretailteam | 15772 Views | 20 min read

In a bold step towards redefining the future of financial technology, Ukheshe has announced its official rebranding to EFT Corporation. The move consolidates Ukheshe’s pioneering digital solutions with EFT Corporation’s extensive reach and expertise under one unified brand, positioning it as a leading catalyst for financial inclusion in Africa. The rebranding of Ukheshe to EFT

Omnisient Recognised for Impact on Growing Financial Inclusion in Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 16371 Views | 8 min read

Omnisient, the global leader in privacy-preserving data collaboration, was recognised at the Africa Bank Summit held in Nairobi this week for the impact it is having on growing financial inclusion in Africa. This accolade highlights a groundbreaking initiative that has enabled banks to assess credit risk and qualify millions of previously underserved individuals by analysing

Engen Partners With Grain SA at Nampo to Keep Driving Agriculture Forward

Posted on by africanretailteam | 22648 Views | 7 min read

Engen, a leading energy and solutions partner dedicated to enriching lives for a sustainable future, will again proudly partner with Grain SA as a sponsor of the Nampo Harvest Day 2024. Scheduled to run from 14-17 May 2024 in Bothaville in the Free State, Nampo Harvest Day showcases agricultural innovation, aligning perfectly with Engen’s mission

Parkdene Boulevard Redevelopment Bolsters Growth of Boksburg Node

Posted on by africanretailteam | 10799 Views | 9 min read

Construction has commenced on the redevelopment of Parkdene Boulevard, a retail centre in the burgeoning suburb of Parkdene in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni. It is set to open in October 2024. The 32,000sqm centre is being upgraded by Abland Property Developers and Retail Africa, which are both known for their innovative development approach, and is a collaboration

South Africa’s Last-Mile Delivery Game Needs to Be on Point – Bob Group

Posted on by africanretailteam | 30602 Views | 12 min read

Africa’s last-mile delivery market is expected to be worth $2.3 billion (R43 Billion) by 2030. If one considers that the continent will be home to some two billion people by 2050, it becomes clear that this sector will grow exponentially and offer many new business opportunities. Meanwhile, South Africa’s total ecommerce market is on track

Retail Infrastructure Transformation Across Africa: An Evolution and Revolution – Vertiv Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 23831 Views | 34 min read

By Henry Myburgh, strategic key account manager at Vertiv Africa In the dynamic and ever-changing retail landscape, ongoing transformation is a strategic necessity to cater to the primary reality that ‘the customer is king’ – retailers must be adaptive to change in order to meet new customer demands. The intricate interplay of consumer behaviours, driven

Four Business Trends to Navigate the Economic Future – Yoco

Posted on by africanretailteam | 40388 Views | 14 min read

Physical retail businesses remain crucial in the South African landscape, catering to the preferences of many customers. However, as eCommerce continues to surge, these businesses will experience challenges competing with industry giants like Amazon. The trends outlined below are essential considerations for a thriving retail business in an increasingly online world. While they’re not a

Harnessing the Potential of Mobile Payments in Africa – Halo Dot

Posted on by africanretailteam | 30953 Views | 12 min read

Dalene Deale, Strategic Consultant at Halo Dot Financial inclusion remains a critical barrier across Africa. A considerable segment of the population remains alienated from basic banking services. Yet, the arrival of mobile payment technologies, like Halo Dot, promises to bridge this gap. Halo Dot’s innovative approach turns mobile devices into secure, encrypted payment terminals, allowing

Africa’s Thriving Consumer Market to Shine at 30th Edition of SAITEX

Posted on by africanretailteam | 33192 Views | 20 min read

Africa has one of the world’s fastest growing consumer markets, projected to boast 1.7 billion consumers by 2030. The number of ‘ultra-high net worth’ individuals in Africa with assets exceeding $30 million is expected to grow by almost 50% this year, making way for ample retail opportunities. Consumer and business spending in Africa should reach

South African Consumers Feel the Big Squeeze: 99% Have Changed Their FMCG Shopping Habits to Save Money – NIQ

Posted on by africanretailteam | 21302 Views | 15 min read

According to NIQ, 44% of South African consumers feel they are in a worse financial position this year compared to a year ago. Of those respondents, 82% say that increased costs of living are to blame for their recent financial struggles, up from 76% a year ago. Nearly two-thirds (62%) state they are worse off

What Generative AI means for Retail – Accenture

Posted on by africanretailteam | 48262 Views | 38 min read

By Sheetal Patel, Retail lead and Junaid Kleinschmidt, Digital Marketing Strategy and Intelligence lead for Accenture, Africa In the span of a year, the landscape of artificial intelligence has undergone a remarkable transformation. Until late 2022, few people outside of cutting-edge artificial intelligence had heard of Large Language Models (LLMs) or Generative AI. Now, it’s

Tarsus on Demand Launches Digital on Demand Division, Aimed At Accelerating Digitalisation for SMB Businesses

Posted on by africanretailteam | 51981 Views | 14 min read

In a strategic move to bolster the digital transformation of small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across South Africa and Africa, Tarsus On Demand is proud to announce the launch of Digital On Demand, and it’s Digital Business Hub Marketplace. This comprehensive digital business hub is designed to empower SMBs on their digitalisation journey, addressing the unique challenges

Shoprite Calls for Action to Counter Food Insecurity

Posted on by africanretailteam | 46701 Views | 16 min read

By 2025 nearly half of South Africa’s population will be food insecure, with 48.96% of the population potentially not having enough to eat. Provincially, Limpopo will suffer the worst food insecurity with 54% of the population not sure about where their next meal will come from. Although in the Western Cape and Gauteng the numbers

Is It Time to Re-Imagine Black Friday in the African Context? – Absa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 43860 Views | 27 min read

Chipo Masawi-Butayi, Coverage Banker: Consumer Goods & Services at Absa CIB and Pauline Manyoki, Product Manager at Absa Bank Kenya American novelist, Herman Melville once wrote: “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” This quote felt apt as we review consumer habits and the annual “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday”

DP World and Standard Bank Conclude Us$ 365.1 Million Facility Agreement to Drive Logistics and Market Access Expansion Across Sub-Saharan Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 37758 Views | 9 min read

DP World has extended its long-standing partnership with leading pan-African bank, Standard Bank, by concluding a US$365.1 million facility agreement to support its logistics and market access expansion across the sub-Saharan (SSA) region. The facility offers DP World’s SSA logistics and market access businesses access to a multi-product, multi-jurisdiction, and multi-currency facility. This solution has

Mauritius Telecom Unveils a New Groundbreaking Partnership With Multichoice to Bring Dstv Stream to Mauritius

Posted on by africanretailteam | 56236 Views | 9 min read

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group. Mauritius Telecom, the number one telecom operator in Mauritius, and MultiChoice, Africa’s leading entertainment platform, are pleased to announce their partnership to bring DStv Stream to Mauritius. A signing ceremony between Mauritius Telecom, represented by its CEO Kapil Reesaul and MultiChoice Africa, represented by Jose Escobar,

Starlink and Jumia Collaborate to Expand Internet Service in Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 61379 Views | 6 min read

Jumia, the leading e-commerce platform in Africa, has announced an agreement with Starlink, a satellite internet service, to retail the Starlink Residential Kit in Africa. With this partnership, Jumia aims to bridge the digital divide by delivering Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency internet to previously underserved regions of Africa. The agreement will initially cover Nigeria, with plans

Ecommerce: Awakening the B2B Experience – Schneider Electric

Posted on by africanretailteam | 57231 Views | 10 min read

Most of us have engaged in eCommerce one way or another and are likely to frequent our tried and tested online providers for years to come. We can navigate B2C eCommerce comfortably and enjoy the ease of finding great products, seamless services, and fast delivery. In fact, the eCommerce user experience (UX) continues to get

Checkers Xtra Savings Plus on a Mission to Make Additional Savings Possible for Customers

Posted on by africanretailteam | 61512 Views | 6 min read

In an African retail first, Checkers has launched Xtra Savings Plus, a monthly subscription offering unlimited free Sixty60 grocery deliveries, even more personalised offers and an additional in-store discount. After a successful beta trial with customers, the subscription offer is now being made available to all its consumers, at the same price of only R99

Mastercard SME Confidence Index: 76% of SMEs in Africa Project Similar or Increased Revenue in 2023

Posted on by africanretailteam | 55684 Views | 13 min read

From surviving to thriving in the post-COVID world, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa are optimistic about 2023 revenue projections. These are the findings of the second edition of the Mastercard Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) SME Confidence Index. The 2021 inaugural SME Confidence Index delved into the impact of the pandemic

Wasoko Expands to the Democratic Republic of Congo

Posted on by Initiator | 81170 Views | 15 min read

Wasoko, the African e-commerce company using innovative technology to transform the informal retail supply chain, has today announced its expansion into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) leveraging its existing ecommerce hub in neighboring Rwanda. With the announcement marking the startup’s second country expansion this year after launching its Zambia operations in May 2023, it

AI Transforms CX and Service Delivery

Posted on by Initiator | 171371 Views | 16 min read

Helping companies deliver excellent customer service has been at the heart of 1Stream since the business was launched 15 years ago. While much has changed over the last decade and a half, the essence of what makes 1Stream Southern Africa’s leading CRM and cloud-based contact centre provider remains the same: a commitment to delivering leading-edge,

SPAR Zimbabwe Rainbow Run 2023 Raises $20,000 for Childline and ZNSPCA

Posted on by Initiator | 55262 Views | 9 min read

More than 2,500 people took part in the 2023 SPAR Zimbabwe Rainbow Run, which raised $20,000 for two of its long-time charity partners Childline and Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Zimbabweans of all ages and walks of life came together to take part in the SPAR Zimbabwe Rainbow Run. More