Pick N Pay Reports Disappointing Result for the Six Months but Delivers Good Growth in Key Areas

Posted on by africanretailteam | 53309 Views | 15 min read

The Group experienced a particularly challenging period, delivering a disappointing result at a time of high load shedding costs and increased competitive intensity. The Group spent just under R400-million on diesel which added to expense growth, and limited its ability to respond to strong competitor promotional activity. Group turnover growth was 5.4% (like-for-like 2.3%), with

Tetra Pak Partners With Clover to Launch New Packaging to Boost Product Differentiation

Posted on by africanretailteam | 80924 Views | 8 min read

For the first time in South Africa Clover Tetra Pak’s long-standing customer will produce their premium custard “Clover Bliss Double Cream” using the new Tetra Pak® Tetra Brik® Aseptic 1000 Square Metallic packaging material which will help products stand out on the shelf. Clover is one of the largest branded consumer goods companies in South

Sean Summers to Return as Pick N Pay CEO

Posted on by africanretailteam | 74216 Views | 12 min read

Pick n Pay announced today that Pieter Boone is stepping down as Group CEO and will be replaced by Sean Summers. Sean returns to the Group following a previous, highly successful, tenure as CEO between 1999 and 2006. Pieter will assist Sean through a short handover period. Chairman Gareth Ackerman commented: “I want to thank

Pick N Pay Pilots First Zero-Waste Supermarket Store

Posted on by africanretailteam | 57388 Views | 14 min read

Pick n Pay has launched its first zero-waste supermarket pilot in Cape Town, reinforcing its commitment to reducing food waste. The pilot tests a net-zero waste model by diverting food waste to local farmers, composters or waste-to-energy facilities. All edible surplus food – food that has passed its sell-by date but not its use-by date

How Can Embedded Payments Drive Better Online Retail Customer Experiences? – Paystack

Posted on by africanretailteam | 85578 Views | 20 min read

By Joel Bronkowski, Country Lead, South Africa at Paystack With South Africa’s online retail space now worth more than R50 billion and growing continuously, the sector is only going to become more competitive. That’s true for online retailers of all sizes too. At the top of the market, online-only players that have long been dominant

Unified Payments Taps Compass Plus Technologies for its New Payment Gateway Platform to Future-proof its E-commerce Acquiring Business

Posted on by africanretailteam | 97946 Views | 10 min read

Unified Payments (UP), Nigeria’s premier financial technology service provider, has successfully launched its e-commerce gateway services built on the new state of the art payment gateway platform from Compass Plus Technologies. The strategic move further strengthens the 18-year partnership between the two technology titans and has enabled UP to become the first institution in the

Leadership Moves at the Argility Technology Group

Posted on by Initiator | 67392 Views | 13 min read

The Argility Technology Group (ATG) – this year celebrating forty-five years of operations and latterly owned by Smollan, has a new CEO. Tanya Long takes over the role from Marko Salic who now moves to the position of Chief Data Officer (CDO) for the Smollan Data & Technology cluster and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for

Amplifin Launches Heavyweight Solution for Small to Medium Business

Posted on by Initiator | 87535 Views | 18 min read

In the dynamic business landscape, growing enterprises encounter an escalating array of challenges that demand innovative solutions. Amplifin recognises that as businesses expand, their concerns multiply – from financial intricacies to operational complexities. The organisation understands that these enterprises require access to cutting-edge technologies, akin to those embraced by larger corporations, but without the financial

Harnessing the Power of 360-Degree Retail Technology – redPanda Software

Posted on by Initiator | 65852 Views | 15 min read

By Peter Ludi, MD Solutions at redPanda Software In the wake of the rapidly evolving digital landscape, retailers are continuously confronted with a myriad of software solutions. Implementing these systems often requires a considerable investment of resources, frequently resulting in a patchwork of fragmented systems and siloed operations. One can only browse through recent media

Fairview Introduces A Plant-Based Dairy Range That Is Rooted In Nature

Posted on by Initiator | 69789 Views | 14 min read

Famous for its artisan cheeses, its wine, and well, its adorable goats and their residential Goat Tower, Fairview has now launched a plant-based range of cheeses and ice cream too. Fairview has built its reputation as a business that is rooted in family and heritage, and the new plant-based range tells a story of how

Easily Pay for Groceries at all Pick n Pay Tills Using Bitcoin

Posted on by Initiator | 103288 Views | 8 min read

South Africans who have a Luno wallet will be able to pay at Pick n Pay with crypto in one easy step by simply scanning a QR code. Crypto payments have been available at over 1 500 Pick n Pay stores since February 2023. But the payment process required customers to download two apps to

Scan to Pay Vouchers: a New Way to Reward Loyalty – Ukheshe

Posted on by Initiator | 125612 Views | 12 min read

With the holiday season fast approaching, many businesses are working on gift lists and incentives to thank employees and reward loyal clients. And while the reliable (if somewhat boring) box of chocolates is still appreciated by some, what better way to thank someone than to let them choose their own perfect gift? That’s just one

AI Transforms CX and Service Delivery

Posted on by Initiator | 186991 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,

Vivo Energy Uganda Expands Shell Network with 10 New Fuel Stations

Posted on by Initiator | 63099 Views | 13 min read

Vivo Energy Uganda, the company that distributes and markets Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in Uganda, is thrilled to announce the addition of ten new Shell fuel stations to its network. The newly opened fuel stations are Shell Ndagire Road, Shell Nabweru, Shell Rushere, Shell Mayuge, Shell Zana Shell Nakiyanja, Shell Kira Mulawa, Shell Mityana Highway,

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

Posted on by Initiator | 64021 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

Spur Corporation Earnings Up 76% as Business Strategy Gains Momentum

Posted on by Initiator | 85133 Views | 21 min read

Spur Corporation overcame mounting pressure on consumer spending to deliver a resilient trading performance in the year to June 2023 as franchised restaurant turnover grew 23.0% to R9.5 billion and revenue increased by 27.4% to pass the R3.0 billion mark. Headline earnings increased by 75.9% to R213 million. The group increased sales in retail company

Vivo Energy Mauritius Announces New Managing Director

Posted on by Initiator | 53798 Views | 5 min read

The Board of Directors of Vivo Energy Mauritius Limited (“the Company”) hereby announces, pending the fulfillment of requisite formalities, the appointment of Mr. Fouad Khfifi as the Managing Director of Vivo Energy Mauritius Ltd, effective from the 1st of September 2023. Mr. Khfifi will assume this pivotal role, succeeding the incumbent Managing Director, Mr. Matthias

Women in the Lead in E-commerce – Mr D

Posted on by Initiator | 78284 Views | 13 min read

As e-commerce grows globally with online shopper numbers expected to continue to increase by 18 percent annually in Africa, a report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) projects that such growth could be higher if we invest in the women entrepreneurs on e-commerce platforms. The industry presents South Africa with a clear opportunity for women

Innovative Unpackaged Retailing Shows Promise for Mass Market Affordability – DYDX Smartfill

Posted on by Initiator | 43323 Views | 12 min read

By Nevo Hadas, Partner at DYDX Smartfill Packaging costs can contribute significantly to the overall price of products and services, with estimates suggesting that it can account for up to 40% of the total cost, although some products may see as low as 10%. However, groundbreaking experiments conducted in Tembisa by retailing services powerhouses Smollan

New CEO Appointed to Cape Union Mart Group

Posted on by Initiator | 40941 Views | 4 min read

The Board of Directors of the Cape Union Mart Group this week announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Mike Elliott. Elliot brings almost 30 years of retail experience, having held various senior leadership roles in retailers like Edgars, Sunglass Hut, Luxottica and Naartjie. “As we celebrate our 90th birthday with Mike at

Vivo Energy Rwanda Unveils New Engen Service Station – “KICUKIRO 250”

Posted on by Initiator | 48812 Views | 4 min read

Vivo Energy Rwanda has announced the grand opening of its latest service station, “KICUKIRO 250,” situated in Niboye sector. The inauguration took place on Wednesday, 2 August, 2023, at 3:00 PM, as part of Vivo Energy’s strategic growth agenda. Strategically located in a thriving area, “KICUKIRO 250” connects various high-potential zones encompassing commercial, residential, and

How ERP Can Help Retailers Better Understand Their Customers – Times 3 Technologies

Posted on by Initiator | 51703 Views | 16 min read

Have you ever heard the saying: “Good customer service costs less than bad customer service”? This is particularly true today because modern customers aren’t afraid to share a negative experience and they have plenty of options when looking for places to do so. Here’s where the right ERP solution can help. When retailers deploy an

AI Has Simplified and Smartened Contact Centres – 1Stream

Posted on by Initiator | 172245 Views | 8 min read

You’ll be hard pressed surfing news sites without reading about the age of AI and the rise of the bots. While the impact of AI on our lives is debated, the jury is in on AI in contact centres and the verdict is unanimous. AI is transforming contact centres in profoundly positive ways. Here are

CCBSA MD Velaphi Ratshefola Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Posted on by Initiator | 62878 Views | 9 min read

Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa’s Managing Director, Velaphi Ratshefola has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the country’s premier awards for leadership and innovation in sustainable transformation, the Top Empowerment Awards. For the past 22 years, the Awards have showcased the businesses leading in transformation, and those who have inspired South Africa’s business elite.

Tackling Payment Fraud Head-On in South Africa’s Mining and Construction Industries

Posted on by Initiator | 62102 Views | 19 min read

As one of the top ten mining countries in the world, South Africa’s economy relies heavily on this industry as well as those closely related to it, such as construction. Yet this also makes these industries attractive targets for cyber criminals. The mining industry is among the most at-risk industries for fraud and in some

Harnessing the Power of 360-degree Retail Technology to Create a Seamless Retail Environment – redPanda Software

Posted on by Initiator | 74127 Views | 15 min read

By Peter Ludi, MD Solutions at redPanda Software In the wake of the rapidly evolving digital landscape, retailers are continuously confronted with a myriad of software solutions. Implementing these systems often requires a considerable investment of resources, frequently resulting in a patchwork of fragmented systems and siloed operations. One can only browse through recent media

Vaal Mall Opens New Link Road Access Into the Mall From the R57 Golden Highway

Posted on by Initiator | 55601 Views | 6 min read

Vaal Mall has completed the development of a convenient new link road into the mall from the R57 Golden Highway. The new link road, with access directly off the R57 and which joins up with Helena Lochner Street, was officially opened yesterday, Tuesday, 1 August 2023, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on site. The road was

Spur Corporation Strengthens Position in Day-Time Specialty Dining and Enters Coffee specialty Market

Posted on by Initiator | 41521 Views | 9 min read

Spur Corporation is to acquire a 60% stake in the Doppio Group, owners of speciality restaurant brands Doppio Zero, Piza e Vino and Modern Tailors with a portfolio of 37 franchised and company-owned restaurants as well as a bakery and central supply business. The business is being acquired from founders Paul Christie and Miki Milovanovic

Makro Marketplace, Retail Capital Partner to Educate SMEs on Business Funding Options

Posted on by Initiator | 51305 Views | 5 min read

Last week, Massmart, together with Retail Capital, a division of Tyme Bank, hosted a Business Funding Information session for its Marketplace seller base. The webinar provided these small business owners with key insights about the funding options available to them. The partnership initially began in 2021 and has, since inception, provided significant funding to enable

Kyosk Acquires KwikBasket to Accelerate its Farm & Fresh Line of Business, Transforming the Distribution of Fresh Produce in Africa

Posted on by Initiator | 48779 Views | 20 min read

Kyosk Digital Services, a digital-first and data-led distribution platform, is pleased to announce its expansion into the African fresh produce market with the launch of its Farm & Fresh line of business. This follows on the back of Kyosk’s recent acquisition of KwikBasket, a prominent player in the agricultural industry known for its expertise in

DFCU Bank, Mastercard, and Rabo Partnerships Join Forces to Digitize Agricultural Ecosystem in Uganda

Posted on by Initiator | 73690 Views | 22 min read

(L-R): Daniel Huba, Vice President of Sub-Saharan Africa Market Development for Community Pass at Mastercard; Charles Mudiwa, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of dfcu Bank; and David Gerbrands, Global Head of Agri and Banking Advisory Services and Inclusive Business Ventures at Rabo Partnerships, signing the partnership agreement in Uganda. Through the Farm Pass platform,

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa Bets Big on Skills For the Future

Posted on by Initiator | 84219 Views | 15 min read

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) is making significant investments in capabilities to create an agile workplace that is engaging and productive, developing the skills of employees to compete in a digital age of artificial intelligence and big data. “CCBA’s digital transformation journey is an integral component to take us into the future, remain relevant and future-proof

RMB Partners with Pick n’ Pay on its Inaugural Sustainability-Linked Loan

Posted on by Initiator | 44262 Views | 8 min read

RMB has played an integral role in securing Pick n Pay’s inaugural sustainability-linked loan, acting as sole mandated lead arranger (MLA), bookrunner and sustainability coordinator on a syndicated debt facility to the value of R4.5 billion. As one of South Africa’s leading retailers, Pick n Pay is committed to a sustainable future. The sustainability-linked features

SPAR South Africa’s North Rand Region Celebrates Women in Sport

Posted on by Initiator | 36110 Views | 11 min read

SPAR South Africa’s North Rand region proudly sponsors Tshwane Women in Sport Awards. This year, esteemed guests included renowned sportswomen Caster Semenya and Cllr. Peggy de Bruin, MMC of Recreation and Social Development. The 2023 ceremony celebrating the Tshwane Women In Sport Awards dedicated to honouring women in sport was held on the morning of

Dis-Chem Appoints ESG Executive

Posted on by Initiator | 48223 Views | 6 min read

In line with the growing importance of ESG across all business parameters Dis-Chem Pharmacies has appointed Lesiba Kgoogo as ESG Executive. He will focus on the development and delivery of a centralised group ESG strategy linked to business imperatives to ensure compliance, standardised reporting, and audit process for non-financial assurance across Dis-Chem. Kgoogo is a

Massmart’s Bolstered Tech Capability Powers an Improved Experience for Online Shoppers

Posted on by Initiator | 83255 Views | 8 min read

Following Massmart’s 100% acquisition by Walmart, the company now has gained improved access to technical capabilities focused on enhancing the customer shopping experience across its Makro, Builders, and Game websites. The latest move in Massmart’s eCommerce strategy has involved shifting the Makro website onto a new micro-services based platform which has delivered new features, improved

Ballito Home to KwaZulu-Natal’s Second Standalone Checkers Little Me baby Store

Posted on by Initiator | 68646 Views | 3 min read

Ballito parents can now shop the best local and international baby brands at KwaZulu-Natal’s second standalone Checkers Little Me store which opened at the Ballito Junction this week. It is the retailer’s ninth standalone Little Me store, and the very first one with a ‘shop in shop’ concept from Norwegian baby furniture maker Stokke and

The Future of SA Grocery E-Commerce: Can It Still Deliver?

Posted on by Initiator | 102564 Views | 10 min read

The heady days of triple-digit e-commerce growth are over, but the rewards are there for the taking for the savvy e-marketer. Local e-commerce growth is slowing, which was inevitable considering the huge leaps made during and post-COVID, but the sector is still growing and is driving total retail growth  both here and abroad. Locally, fast-moving

Localisation of NESCAFÉ Coffee Mixes at Nestlé Babelegi Supports Economic Development and Job Creation

Posted on by Initiator | 47059 Views | 12 min read

Nestlé South Africa announced its investment in localising the production of NESCAFÉ coffee mixes (namely the NESCAFÉ Gold range, which includes Cappuccino Original, Cappuccino Original Reduced Sugar, Cappuccino Salted Caramel Latte, Cappuccino Vanilla Latte, Cappuccino Hazelnut Latte, and Cappuccino White Chocolate) and NESCAFÉ RICOFFY 3in1, marking a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to meeting

The Netball World Cup Goes to Cape Town

Posted on by Initiator | 52457 Views | 4 min read

The Netball World Cup is on a South African tour in preparation for the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 tournament. SPAR South Africa has sponsored national and international competitions for over 20 years and regards netball as its flagship sponsorship. The tournament trophy recently arrived, to much excitement, on South African soil. This highly-anticipated world

Drinking It All In | Beverage Trends in Africa – Smollan Tanzania

Posted on by Initiator | 135687 Views | 16 min read

By: Warren Brett Cluster Executive, SEA Region, Smollan Tanzania  African beverage trends are driven by innovation and culture. From the cherished rituals of traditional tea and coffee to the emerging popularity of carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices. Africa’s beverage market is evolving rapidly, reflecting changing consumer preferences and the impact of various socio-economic factors.

Builders Partners with Standard Bank’s UCount to Drive Savings on DIY Renovations and Building Materials

Posted on by Initiator | 137754 Views | 11 min read

Builders has partnered with Standard Bank UCount nationwide, to offer members more when shopping for Do-It-Yourself (DIY), home improvements or building materials – in-store or online. Standard Bank customers can now earn and redeem UCount Rewards when shopping at Builders. The new partnership makes Builders the only DIY category retailer on the UCount program offering

Bolt Provides Over 700 Trips for SAPIN Youth

Posted on by Initiator | 105141 Views | 11 min read

Bolt, the leading on-demand mobility platform in Africa, and its partner SAPIN, property academy, joined forces last year to provide over 50 young people with trips for their youth internship programme. Bolt has since provided SAPIN with over 700 trips to those who had difficulty accessing transportation for their daily commute. For SAPIN, the partnership

The Power of Payment Technology in Bolstering SA’s Rural and Informal Businesses – PAYM8

Posted on by Initiator | 116078 Views | 15 min read

The size of a small, informal, or rural business shouldn’t be an obstacle to them attaining the same growth rate as larger, more formal enterprises. In fact, their smaller scale should be an advantage with fewer bureaucratic hurdles and greater flexibility. But in reality, rural businesses and informal traders are often limited by access to

How ERP Empowers the Future Focused Retailer – Times 3 Technologies

Posted on by Initiator | 110533 Views | 17 min read

The world of retail has changed. With more and more customers now shopping online, retailers have had to come up with creative ways to bring the physical and virtual worlds together to create seamless, memorable experiences. But with this comes a great deal of complexity. Having a robust tech foundation is no longer a nice

Agri-Startup Profits Skyrocket After the Shoprite Group Gives Them a Boost

Posted on by Initiator | 101524 Views | 8 min read

Agrikool, a small agricultural business, is showing exponential growth after securing a deal with the Shoprite Group, delivering fresh produce worth over R3 million to the retailer in just over a year. The Pietermaritzburg-based business solves challenges in the farming value chain, develops small to medium-scale local farmers, and sustains regional food security, by connecting

V&A Waterfront Partners With admyt to Offer Visitors the Convenience of Cashless, Ticketless Parking

Posted on by Initiator | 99306 Views | 18 min read

The V&A Waterfront, Africa’s most visited tourist destination, has joined forces with admyt, the market leading digital parking management platform in South Africa, to leverage its innovative smart parking system for the benefit of visitors, tenants and guests to the precinct. The admyt system uses license plate recognition (LPR) software and smartphone technology to provide

Seamless Omnichannel Shopping Experience Essential for Consumers of the Future

Posted on by Initiator | 76155 Views | 17 min read

The clues to whether businesses are making the right investments now to ensure that they can provide the right experiences across the channels that consumers will come to expect is held in the data from the Wunderman Thompson Future Shopper Report 2023. The future of retail is steadfastly being shaped by digital, as shoppers envision

Adyen and Shopify Partner to Power New Payment Capabilities For Enterprise Merchants

Posted on by Initiator | 143331 Views | 13 min read

As a preferred enterprise payments partner for Shopify, Adyen will provide large-scale customers the agility to succeed in the fast-moving ecommerce industry Adyen, the global financial technology platform of choice for leading businesses, announces a new global partnership with Shopify, a provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, to strengthen ecommerce capabilities, simplify the customer

Tiger Brands Refreshes its Iconic Heritage Brand, KOO (‘SA’s Number 1 Tinned Stuff’), Adapting to Evolving Consumer Needs

Posted on by Initiator | 76393 Views | 10 min read

One of Tiger Brands’ iconic heritage brands, KOO, has refreshed its positioning and looks to showcase the value it brings to consumers, including convenience, healthy nourishment, superior quality taste, and homegrown ingredients. These features combine to make it one of South Africa’s most valuable brands and the market leader in the South African Canned Fruit