Massmart is proud to announce that Glenart, a local Christmas cracker manufacturing company and partner on the Massmart Supplier Development Programme, is the first local supplier to be listed with Walmart US on a new export programme. A landmark agreement that will see the company directly supplying their innovative confetti-popping crackers to 800 Walmart US
The Edcon Group announces the sale of CNA to a consortium, majority owned by JSE listed Astoria Investments Ltd, and led by Jan van Niekerk. This transaction is aligned to Edcon’s broader strategy which is to focus on its core business through the realignment of its retail brands and operations. The sale, which is subject
First Choice Fresh Extended Shelf Life (ESL) milk, manufactured by Woodlands Dairy, one of the largest producers in South Africa, has launched its new biobased fresh milk ESL pack. Sporting a new look and feel, incorporating the biobased messaging as well as a new green biobased closure, this is yet another move from Woodlands Dairy
In line with the Shoprite Group’s commitment to ensure that 100% of its plastic packaging is reusable and/or recyclable by 2025, it is now using the 4 000 tons of plastic returned annually to its distribution centers to produce its 100% recycled and recyclable plastic shopping bags. Since the beginning of November 2019, plastic from the retail
In a survey conducted earlier this week by an influential news website Shoprite and Checkers offered the cheapest and second cheapest basket of grocery essentials, bringing some relief for South African consumers currently under intense financial pressure in a depressed economy. First placed Shoprite’s basket was 20% cheaper than that of the most expensive supermarket, while
The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) is gaining traction in all sectors. Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and automation are being applied to create ingenious innovations – advancements aimed at making life easier, improving productivity and speeding up the evolution of industries. McKinsey Digital reports that most aspects of car manufacturing will transform with AI enabling autonomous
By Ian Steyn, Product Executive at Innervation Pan African Payment Solutions Want to succeed in the retail game? Then focus less on the products you sell and more on the experiences you offer your customers. We have now officially moved into the Experience Economy, where customer experience outranks price and product in importance regarding how
Leading cloud solutions provider, Genesys has been announced as Gold sponsor of Digital Retail Forum 2020, set to take place on 29 January at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa. DRF2020 will focus on how emerging technologies such as Ai, IoT, drones, digital payment solutions, new eCommerce models and mobility are disrupting the retail sector.
On Tuesday, 14 January, the Carrefour Group opened its first hypermarket in Uganda, Kampala capital city. The Group is establishing a foothold in this new country through its Partnership with the Majid Al Futtaim Group, which has been partnering Carrefour in more than 25 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. This first store
The Tribunal has approved two large merger transactions through which RCS Cards (Pty) Ltd – an unsecured credit lending provider – will acquire a portion of Edcon Limited’s book debt owned by Edcon (first transaction) and book debt owned by ABSA Bank Limited (second transaction). Edcon CEO, Grant Pattison, submitted to the Tribunal that Edcon
Ground-breaking study reveals more than half of consumers have encountered technical issues at checkout; shoppers’ desire for simple, secure transactions and maximized loyalty benefits is driving adoption of contactless. Ingenico Group, the global leader in seamless payment, and FreedomPay, the world’s leading consumer-centric commerce platform, revealed the results of a survey on merchant and consumer
Founded in 2011 following the Tunisian uprising, LYOUM has been a forefront player on the Mediterranean apparel and design market Hazem Ben-Gacem invests half a million euros in Tunisian fashion brand; LYOUM set to accelerate its international expansion plans Tunisian fashion brand LYOUM (LYOUM.fr/en/) is eyeing new product ranges and expansion in international markets after
In September 2014, whilst conducting a research exercise, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) identified deficiencies in Shoprite Investments Limited’s (Shoprite) (NCRCP6050) affordability assessment processes and established that Shoprite was likely granting credit recklessly to some consumers, says Nomsa Motshegare, CEO of the NCR. As a result, the NCR initiated a full investigation into Shoprite’s affordability
Ingenico Group is introducing its iCON case for a more versatile, compact solution for mobile checkout next week at NRF’s Retail Big Show. Retailers, restaurants, hotels and many other merchants of all sizes stand to benefit from rethinking their checkout experience with mobility in mind. The iCON case pairs Ingenico mobile payment devices with iOS
Having taken over the role of Massmart CEO on September 1st, Walmart appointee, Mitchell Slape has shared some of the insights he has gathered during his first 100 days at the South African retailer. The timing of his appointment necessitated a “hit the ground running” approach as it coincided with final preparations for Black Friday
MediRite, the chain of pharmacies located inside Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets, is piloting its first Smart Clinic. It aims to make healthcare more accessible and affordable by leveraging technological advancements in the medical industry. The new Smart Clinic, conveniently located inside the Checkers Hyper Parow in Parow Centre in the Western Cape, is able to
The 2ndannual Digital Retail Forumis set to take place on the 29thof January 2020, at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. The forum is hosted by IT News Africa, under the theme; Digital Disruption in Retail: Apocalypse or Revolution. Following a successful 2019 event, #DigitalRetailForum will bring together over 200 local and international retail industry leaders to
Until recently, only larger retailers could sell consumers airtime, data and prepaid utility services digitally. Now small business owners across South Africa have been empowered to start selling these products without any cash outlay. Those that have adopted, are seeing a sharp increase in foot traffic and sales. Leading fintech, iKhokha, which provides mobile payments
SPAR in Botswana has undertaken a variety of initiatives during the course of this year, responding to community needs highlighted by shoppers to the retailer. Support has been given in the form of volunteer work, materials or funding to people in need, ranging from smaller projects through to larger-scale initiatives. Focus on school needs Wheelchairs
Accenture is partnering with Edcon, one of southern Africa’s largest non-food retailers, to redefine and reshape their relationship to contribute to Edcon’s renewal and growth strategy. This reflects the firm’s ambition to work with local businesses to unlock South Africa’s economic growth. Edcon embarked on the recapitalisation of its business in March this year. “We
Economy and job security biggest concerns but small improvements in spare cash and spending intentions South Africa’s latest Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for the third quarter of 2019 showed a five point decrease to 88, presenting a less positive quarter on quarter picture for consumer sentiment in South Africa. Nielsen South Africa Connect MD Kerith
The 2nd annual Digital Retail Forum is set to take place on the 29th of January 2020, at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. The forum is hosted by IT News Africa, under the theme; Digital Disruption in Retail: Apocalypse or Revolution. Following a successful 2019 event, #DigitalRetailForum will bring together over 200 local and international retail
Checkers has launched its exclusive on-demand one-hour grocery delivery service named Sixty60. It is South Africa’s first 60-minute grocery delivery service from a supermarket chain, as Checkers relentlessly innovates to respond to customers’ demands for hyper-convenience. The mobile app delivers groceries and drinks at the touch of a button and offers the same value for
H. E. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, and Alibaba Group Director and Ant Financial Services Group Chairman and CEO Eric Jing witnessed the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the Ethiopian Government and Alibaba establishing an eWTP Hub in Ethiopia. The eWTP (electronic world trade platform) Hub is
Mr Price has released its interim results for the 26 weeks ended 28 September 2019. Normalised diluted headline earnings per share (based on the previous IAS 17 basis for accounting for leases) declined 7.2% to 447.5c. After accounting for leases on the new IFRS 16 basis, which did not require a restatement of comparative results,
Checkers has opened the doors to its state-of-the-art 2 330 m² flagship supermarket at the Constantia Emporium as the retailer continues to take innovation to new heights. The new world-class store offers customers unique experiences including: Freshly-made artisanal breads and pastries and a sophisticated range of confectioneries and luxury cakes; A coffee bar with an
Jumia is on a mission to provide Africa’s most trusted and essential digital infrastructure to ensure business owners meet the needs of their local and international consumers. As the Company continues its investment and innovation in its African operations, it continues to review its path to success to ensure the Company achieves this mission. The
In the financial year ended 30th September 2019, the group reported an increase in turnover of 8.4% to ZAR109.5 billion, despite all markets in which they trade experiencing some challenges. The SPAR Group Ltd turnover includes SPAR Southern Africa, SPAR Ireland and SPAR Switzerland. SPAR South Africa grew wholesale grocery turnover to the retail stores
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning is on the rise but it’s important to know which reputation management processes should and shouldn’t be automated. AI, using Natural Language Processing (NLP) models, allows computers to understand and decipher what a human is saying. This is starting to be used by companies in South
Vivo Energy Kenya, the company that distributes and markets Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in the country, is on a growth path. The company has responded to motorists’ need for fuel convenience and has added 23 Shell service stations to its retail network. The new service stations, are located in eleven counties, namely: Laikipia, Kiambu, Nairobi,
The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) co-chair Gareth Ackerman says South Africa has reached a tipping point which now needs everyone to roll up their sleeves to work together to grow the country, its people and the economy. In a statement at the annual CGCSA Summit in Johannesburg, Ackerman cited regulatory uncertainty, policy
Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and operator of the Carrefour brand in Egypt, today signed an agreement with Jumia, Africa’s largest eCommerce platform, to extend its seamless online offering across Egypt. Through this partnership, Carrefour is taking its commitment to customer
Tiger Brands scooped five prestigious awards at last week’s Gold Pack Awards and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) South Africa’s Smarties Awards for 2019. Tinkies were the big Tiger winners as they came back with three awards at the MMA’s winning all the categories they had entered. Tinkies won a Gold medal for Cross Mobile
The Shoprite Group’s most effective, innovative and reliable suppliers were rewarded at its 2019 Supplier Awards this past weekend. Pieter Engelbrecht, CEO of Africa’s largest food retailer, said the integrity and efficiency of the Group’s supply chain is key to its business success. It works with 19 398 suppliers across 15 African countries and 13
Vivo Energy Uganda has today announced the addition of 16 new Shell service stations, expanding the Shell network countrywide and bringing the total number of service stations in Uganda to 152. The expansion is part of the company’s strategy to make Shell fuels, lubricants and services more accessible and deliver ultra-convenience to motorists and shoppers
Digital freight forwarder Saloodo! today launched its digital logistics platform for shippers and transport providers in South Africa First international digital road freight platform to be launched in the continent; Provides shippers and carriers a one-stop platform for road freight connections for domestic shipments within South Africa and international movements to several neighbouring countries; Further
A new rooftop solar PV (photovoltaic) installation at the Shoprite Group’s Gordon’s Bay Mall is expected to generate more than 720 000 kWh per annum, amounting to about a third of the centre’s total electricity use. The Gordon’s Bay Mall is the seventh solar PV plant that the Group has installed. Its installations in Kimberley,
As part of a multi-faceted project to separate Marlton’s entire ICT infrastructure from that of its former holding company, Ascendis Health, LanDynamix moved the company’s e-mail environment to Microsoft Office 365. Founded in 1945, Marltons Pet Care (Pty) Ltd., is South Africa’s No. 1 Pet Care brand* offering an extensive range of quality products from
By Andrew Dawson, Commercial Director at MACmobile The cash problem The simplest way of optimising route to market is through pre-sales, which then creates a predictable order and allows for the best delivery routes to be calculated. However, for much of the market in South Africa this is simply not the reality. To service the
Developing digitalization capabilities through skills development; Digitalization provides flexibility to boost efficiency in Food and Beverage. The Nairobi Bottler’s Embakasi Plant based in Nairobi, Kenya, which is a fully owned subsidiary by Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), received a Totally Integrated Automation training rig from Siemens Digital Industries South Africa to enable skills development in Digitalization
Innovative consumer finance business RCS – a subsidiary of BNP Paribas Personal Finance, European leader in financing for individuals, itself part of the French bank BNP Paribas – has acquired the Absa funded portion of the Edcon Store Card debtors book, subject to regulatory approvals. It has also secured the right to provide consumer finance
Clicks Group increased diluted headline earnings per share by 16.8% to 672 cents in the year to August 2019, as the retail and distribution businesses both delivered strong performances in an environment of low economic growth and challenging trading conditions. The group increased its total dividend by 17.1% to 445 cents per share, with the
Africa’s e-commerce giant Jumia is seeking closer cooperation with China in order to boost its sales, a senior executive told Xinhua on Wednesday. Jeremy Doutte, executive vice president of Jumia Group, told Xinhua in Nairobi that his company will attend the Sixth World Internet Conference that takes place from Oct. 20 to 22 in Wuzhen,
Famous Brands is a leading food services franchisor. The Group’s vertically integrated business model comprises a portfolio of 20 restaurant brands, represented by 2 879 restaurants across South Africa (“SA”), the rest of Africa and the Middle East (“AME”), and the United Kingdom (“UK”). The Brands division is underpinned by substantial Logistics and Manufacturing operations.
Where technology and Convenience Merge One app in three years by three perspectives In three years, Uber Eats has completely changed food consumption in South Africa. It’s convenience made affordable, accessible and attainable. That’s why Uber Eats has become one of the most popular food delivery apps, not just locally but globally, redefining an entire
As regional mobile subscribers increasingly come to expect near real-time, personalised products, services and customer support, telecom operators will require a transformative digital Business Support System (BSS) that enables them to control the full breadth of their operations. Using a ‘best of suite’ approach will allow them to quickly, successfully and cost-effectively meet these demands.
The Shoprite Group is whole-heartedly committed to employment in Africa, as their staff complement of 147 268 attests. The Group is proud to be the largest employer, after government, in South Africa. In only one week, almost 120 new jobs were created by the opening of three supermarkets in South Africa. Shoprite Stimela Barberton Shoprite
Trading profit up 15.8% to R641.5 million on a normalised basis Headline earnings per share up 11.6% on a normalised basis Diluted headline earnings per share up 13.1% on a normalised basis Turnover growth of 5.1% to R39.3 billion Internal inflation restricted to 3.6%, well below CPI food inflation of 6.9% R500 million investment in
Vivo Energy Uganda has today announced the introduction of a pioneering nationwide customer loyalty programme, designed by Shell, called the Shell Club. The user-friendly platform will enable customers to earn and accumulate points for all their purchases at Shell service stations, which can be converted into rewards. Speaking at the launch, Vivo Energy Uganda’s Managing
Online payment gateway, PayFast, has launched Split Payments, a South African-first that instantly splits a portion of an online payment with a third party. The service is designed to facilitate fast, safe payments for platform-based businesses, including online marketplaces. “PayFast has always seen itself as a business enabler. We realised that the growing platform economy
