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 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 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
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.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 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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Supa Ginja, a powder ginger beer business started in a North West garage, experienced dramatic growth during South Africa’s national lockdown with several alcohol bans as well as a deal with Shoprite. The product is a traditional ready mixed ginger beer powder that, when combined with water and allowed to ferment, turns into a unique
Virgin Active South Africa Group (Pty) Ltd And Kauai Juice (Pty) Ltd, Kauai Smart Meals (Pty) Ltd and Nu Health Café (Pty) Ltd The Tribunal has unconditionally approved the large merger between Virgin Active South Africa Group (“VASAG”) and Kauai Juice (Pty) Ltd (“Kauai Juice”), Kauai Smart Meals (Pty) Ltd (“Kauai Smart Meals”) and Nu Health
Nomanini (https://Nomanini.com), a fast-growing fintech platform in Africa, has today announced the launch of a new supply chain finance solution called StockNow that connects FMCGs and financial service providers to serve Africa’s informal retailers at scale. StockNow, an easy-to-use app for retailers developed by Nomanini, makes it possible for informal micro and small retailers to
One of the best kept secrets for South Africans over the age of 60 is that they can claim a discount at Makro stores every day of the week, and not only on a specific day – an offering that has been in place since the onset of COVID-19. “While we decided to make this
As Central Province Minister hails retail giant’s contribution to agro-sector value addition citing positive impact on economic recovery Zambeef’s move to expand the variety of locally manufactured products in its remodelled outlets is further proof of the company’s unwavering commitment to growing Zambia’s agricultural value chain says Central Province Minister Hon. Credo Nanjuwa. The home-grown
Spur Corporation welcomes government’s announcement on repealing COVID-19 regulations from 22 June 2022. This means that after two years and almost three months, we can finally remove masks! Based on the updated Government Gazette, we have issued the following guidance to our staff and franchisees. Offices Sanitiser stations will remain at the entrance for our
The Shoprite Group has launched Shoprite Next Capital, a business division dedicated to capacitate and grow commercially-viable SMMEs to further the Group’s continued efforts to give small suppliers access to its consumer market. As drivers of growth, job creation and innovation, SMMEs are crucial to the recovery of the South African economy, and Shoprite Next
Engen’ enduring promise ‘With us you are Number One” has always placed the customer at the very heart of its business. It is what inspires South Africa’s favourite* petrol station brand to invest great effort into remaining an attractive and convenient destination for motorists and shoppers. This sees Engen continually reinventing the way it does
South Africa’s leading ticketing platform Computicket has launched an innovative new offering called ‘Box Office’ to make its service more accessible and affordable to organisers of smaller events. Ticketing services have traditionally been limited to large event organisers who can afford a comprehensive offering. To solve this challenge, Computicket created Box Office: a new self-service
After Massmart acquired an 87.5% stake in on-demand multi-retailer marketplace, OneCart, in late 2021, the platform has experienced exponential Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) growth of over 200%. The name OneCart derives from the App’s core value proposition which enables customers to access a wide range of products from multiple retailers, in “one cart”. OneCart is
The Shoprite Group has launched Shoprite Next Capital, a business division dedicated to capacitate and grow commercially-viable SMMEs to further the Group’s continued efforts to give small suppliers access to its consumer market. As drivers of growth, job creation and innovation, SMMEs are crucial to the recovery of the South African economy, and Shoprite Next
Zambeef Products Plc, listed on the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange, has announced a US$100 million expansion plan that will double its crop production while adding associated value and capacity to the company’s stockfeed, meat production and processing facilities and retailing operations. At a board
Zambeef has expressed confidence that government’s pronouncements to improve the agriculture sector in the country will attract more investors and boost the economy. Speaking during a board tour of the company’s operations in Chisamba, Lusaka and Mpongwe, Zambeef Board Chairperson Michael Mundashi said the agriculture sector was a major driver of economic growth in Zambia
On the 14th of June 2022, Massmart officially opened its new Distribution Centre, in Riversands, Johannesburg. This 75 000m2 warehouse is the second of three new facilities in Massmart’s new centralized network which uses shared distribution centres to serve stores across the entire group. The new state of the art facility has been custom designed
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on resources has driven increased inflation, impacting commodity pricing and operational costs across the globe. With this backdrop, SPAR’s collaborative approach to procurement and our Preferred Supplier agreements play an exceedingly impactful role in driving down operating costs and the total cost of ownership. The international coordination and scale
Checkers is the first South African retailer to replace its rotisserie chicken packaging with fully recyclable, responsibly sourced cardboard boxes. This will prevent 68 tons of non-recycled multi-layer laminated material from being landfilled every year. This is part of Checker’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability as the retailer continues to make changes that are better
A 21-Year-Old and Ongoing Success Story In 2001 Argility entered into one of its longest running client relationships with Furnmart The Argility Technology Group (ATG) – with a thirty-five year plus history as a leading software developer and supplier to the retail and supply chain sectors, has announced that 2022 will mark the 21st anniversary
After two years of building stronger communities with MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet, Builders bids farewell to the partnership effective from 31 May 2022. During the relationship period, Builders paid R2 to My School My Village My Planet every time customers swiped their Builders card or purchased online. “As we reflect on our partnership with MySchool MyVillage
With no end in sight to the rising cost of living for South African consumers, shopping and spending habits continue to shift as cost saving becomes increasingly imperative. According to Massmart, the rising pressure on their wallets is pushing consumers to buy more private brand products as part of their routine shopping trips. “Investing into
Food safety is of the highest importance when it comes to ensuring that consumers are protected against food-borne illnesses and common allergens. It is against this backdrop that Zambeef Products, the nation’s largest integrated cold chain food products and agribusiness, has been awarded ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System Certification for its ZamMilk, Masterpork and
Cape Town – Lewis Group today reported a strong merchandise sales and operating performance for the year to March 2022 despite weakening retail trading conditions, with headline earnings increasing by 21.2% to R561 million. Headline earnings per share increased by 37.7% to 849 cents, reflecting the positive leverage effect from the group’s aggressive share repurchase
Our leading-edge Speech Analytics solution is custom-made for the South African market and can help transform your contact centre performance, taking your customer experience to the next level. Your contact centre is one of your company’s most valuable touch points when it comes to delivering an excellent customer experience. With rapid advances in technology, the
As South African consumer budgets face increased pressure from all angles, it is no surprise that Game’s latest consumer survey found that 65% of respondents were feeling the pinch in their pockets compared to this time last year. With 83% of respondents confirming that they shop round for the best possible deals – groceries and
SPAR International announces plans to launch brand in Latin America SPAR, the world’s largest food retail voluntary chain, has seen annual retail sales break the €40 billion mark for the first time, today reporting global sales revenue of €41.2 billion for the year ending December 31st, 2021. The figures represent a 3.3% year-on-year increase in global sales revenue
Swift action by the Shoprite Group following the July 2021 unrest and the April 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal meant its supermarket operations were back up and trading in record time – and Shoprite Technology played a critical role in making this happen. After last month’s devastating floods, Shoprite Technology managed to get stores and the
Shoprite Checkers Proprietary Limited, a subsidiary of Shoprite Holdings, has established a Black Economic Empowerment transaction through the formation of the Shoprite Employee Trust, which will increase Shoprite Checkers’ effective Black Empowerment Ownership to 19.2%. Shoprite Checkers will issue 40 million Shoprite Checkers shares, with an estimated value of R8.9 billion, for the benefit of
Lionshare Empowered Partners, part of the Lionshare Group, has recorded two key transactions totalling R1.6 billion. In the first transaction, Lionshare Empowered Partners partnered with the Buffet Consortium to acquire a R502 million service station property portfolio (with a lease-back) from the shareholders of The Fuel Company (TFC), majority owned by Kaap Agri, the listed
takealot.com says Thanksalot with amazing deals, giving back, and a grand prize for one lucky shopper South Africa’s favourite online retailer takealot.com is officially turning 11 – celebrating this milestone and entry into its second decade by saying Thanksalot to loyal customers from 23 May to 5 June 2022. It’s been quite a journey for
A loyal customer base is good for business. But how do you ensure customer loyalty and how can you both retain and grow your customer base? According to numerous studies and insights, one of the most valuable investments your company can make in terms of both retaining and gaining customers is to have an effective
The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) has once again honoured retailers for their innovation in private labels across a wide variety of categories. The New York-based PLMA held the 2022 Salute to Excellence Awards on 8 May 2022, which saw Woolworths walk off with five awards in the proverbial (shopping) bag. Only new products introduced
ACI Worldwide, the global leader in mission-critical, real-time payments software, and NORBr, the leading global payment services distributor platform for digital merchants, and leading payment services marketplace for digital merchants, have announced a partnership. The collaboration allows merchants to connect to ACI’s merchant solutions, including ACI Secure eCommerce, ACI Omni-Commerce and ACI Fraud Management for
As the next step in its turnaround strategy and in support of its goal to become a leading omnichannel retailer, Game last month launched a refreshed eCommerce platform supported by an investment from Massmart and a dedicated support team in Walmart’s global tech hub in Bangalore, India. The website is equipped with new features, functionalities,
Shoprite created 20 new jobs with the opening of its supermarket in Tshepiso Shopping Centre, Vanderbijlpark, Johannesburg. This new store offers customers a convenient shopping experience and access to several in-store fresh food departments including a Meat Market, Hot & Cold Foods Deli, Bakery, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, as well as 8 pay points. Customers
South Africa wastes up to 10.3 million tons of food each year – and this is a problem the Shoprite Group is tackling from multiple angles. Food waste is not just a front to the hungry in a country where 2.5 million people experience hunger weekly. It also has significant environmental and economic implications. Food
As food security concerns, climate change and global economic uncertainty increase the strain on South Africa’s R346bn agricultural sector, Agri-Fintech start-up HelloChoice brings essential innovation and efficiency to the farming and food supply value chain. This month HelloChoice celebrates its fourth birthday as a proudly South African success story, emerging as a leading full-service Agri-Fintech
Konga Food goes live Monday, set to raise bar in online food delivery sector Konga Food, the online food delivery arm of Nigeria’s composite e-commerce giant, Konga, is set to formally go live on Monday, May 9, 2022. The much-awaited development is bound to raise the bar of service delivery in the budding online food
