Retail and relationship-building have always been the key drivers behind Gerhard Nortjé’s evolution towards becoming an IT business leader. Today, Nortjé is more than three years into his highly successful tenure as MD at redPanda Software, the leading retail software partner in South Africa. Nortjé’s journey to tech was facilitated by retail, a shared passion
Unitrans has witnessed firsthand how technology has drastically transformed our lives and work. In logistics, this transformation enables deeper insights, enhanced decision-making, and greater operational efficiency. It is no longer a mere trend but an essential tool for companies seeking to boost productivity and remain competitive in challenging economic climates. At Unitrans, successful innovation means
Kinola Pather, CEO of Randgo Royalty rewards programmes are becoming essential, with 76% of South Africans participating in them, prompting brands to leverage this opportunity for customer engagement and business growth. As technology evolves, these programmes have grown in sophistication, with the most successful offering real-time rewards and personalised experiences. Given the vast amount of
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
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 (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
By Eleni Fourie, Corporate Sales Executive at Workforce Staffing The Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) space sees the movement of everyday essentials with short shelf lives, which as a result requires a well-functioning supply chain from procurement to retail. As this fast-paced sector prepares for peak shopping periods such as Black Friday and the holiday season,
A customer-obsessed mindset is no longer the preserve of B2C companies The concept of customer experience (CX) has shifted from customer-centricity to customer obsession, making it much more comprehensive and immersive than ever before. Where customer-centricity sets its sights on understanding and meeting customer needs, customer obsession goes a step beyond by integrating every aspect
The world-renowned **International Customer Experience Awards UK (ICXA™) is thrilled to announce the launch of the South Africa Customer Experience Awards (SACXA™), a groundbreaking initiative set to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in customer experience (CX) across various industries in South Africa. This prestigious inaugural event marks the homegrown edition of the well-known International Customer
South Africa’s e-commerce landscape has arrived at an important juncture. The explosive growth observed during the pandemic years has slowed down somewhat and consumer spending power has faltered amid low economic growth and a global cost of living crisis. At the same time, competition is heating up. Asian retailers such as Shein and Temu are
In a landscape where economic pressures weigh heavily on household budgets, South African consumers are setting a global precedent in their approach to value, particularly when it comes to their beverage choices. According to the latest findings from CGA by NIQ, a remarkable 51% of South African consumers now prioritise value over price in their
New research underscores the enduring strength and intricate dynamics of South Africa’s independent grocery trade, from big wholesalers to spazas, thriving amid two decades of retail shifts. When retail research business Trade Intelligence was founded in 2004, the formal grocery retail space was dominated by the ‘Big Six’ – Pick n Pay, Shoprite, SPAR, Woolworths,
Engen, South Africa’s biggest fuel and convenience retailer, opened its 700th Quickshop & Co store at Engen Summit Convenience Centre in Midrand on 1st August 2024. Located at 386 Olifantsfontein Rd, Engen Summit is designed to serve the early risers, the late-night cravers and the busy bees navigating life’s hectic schedules. Operating 24/7, the site’s
bp Southern Africa (bpSA) has announced three initiatives in response to market demands – a revamped store design and offer, an inhouse loyalty programme as well as a low carbon battery rental service “Our investment in new convenience offerings, in the year bpSA celebrates 100 years of doing business in South Africa, is testament to
Founded by 20 professional black women from diverse backgrounds in viticulture, Women in Wine marks a shift in the traditionally male-dominated wine industry, committed to opening doors for women, including vineyard workers and their families. Advocating for women’s inclusion in leadership roles, Women in Wine have established the Farm Worker Women’s Trust, collaborating with strategic
As the pace of digital adoption increases in our country, more and more South Africans are browsing and shopping online to ensure they get the best prices. In light of this rise in comparative shopping behaviour and the current challenging consumer environment, Makro has redoubled its efforts to help customers save money so they can
In October 2024, Forge stores, operating in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), are changing to Agrimark, a move which promises exciting opportunities for both customers and communities. This change is part of Agrimark’s strategic drive to create a unified brand identity across all regions, integrating the KZN branches with Agrimark. “Forge and Agrimark share a similar product range
Telr, the award-winning online payment gateway, has announced its strategic collaboration with Mastercard to introduce its digital checkout solution, Click to Pay, across its extensive network of merchants in the UAE. Through this partnership, Telr will deploy cutting-edge payment technologies to enhance the customer experience. Click to Pay is an innovative, seamless, and secure payment
As the pace of digital adoption increases in our country, more and more South Africans are browsing and shopping online to ensure they get the best prices. In light of this rise in comparative shopping behaviour and the current challenging consumer environment, Makro has redoubled its efforts to help customers save money so they can
Smollan, a leading global retail specialist representing some of the world’s loved brands, has officially entered into a Capital and Business Alliance Agreement with Impact HD Inc. a prominent Japanese company specializing in sales promotion and data marketing. The alliance aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to create enhanced value and develop innovative
Vodacom Eastern Cape region is spending R500 million this financial year on modernising the network, energy projects and accelerating broadband coverage across the region, particularly in townships and deep rural areas of the province. This investment forms part of the company’s commitment to drive digital inclusion in the communities in which it operates. In 2023–2024
The cost of living remains challenging for South African consumers many of whom are hard pressed to meet monthly expenses for basic food items. This situation is typically exacerbated in winter where people need to consume more calories. Consistent with its objective to ‘help customers to save money and live better’, Massmart continues its drive
The expansion of Döhler South Africa’s plant in Paarl introduces new, state-of-the-art production lines for compounds and emulsions as well as powdered and liquid flavours. In addition, it substantially increases the company’s capability for processing bulk juice concentrate. From now on, customers will have direct access to the complete portfolio of compounds, which shows Döhler’s
By Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software A point of sale, commonly referred to as POS, is a vital cornerstone of any retail business, regardless of whether it sells products or services. However, a misunderstanding of the definition of POS sees many small and medium-sized retailers fall into the trap of buying a
By Lauren Samaai, senior manager within the Retail business at Accenture, Africa It was just four years ago during the pandemic – with consumers restricted to their homes and mall doors tightly shut, that online commerce began its unprecedented rise. This phenomenon left retailers thinking about the role of the actual store moving forward. Today,
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
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
Bob Group’s Ship Logic platform is helping the country’s courier companies overcome faulty address details, failed delivery attempts and poor communication with customers South African ecommerce ecosystem Bob Group is playing a leading role in optimising courier services around the country through its Ship Logic platform, a software solution that enables delivery specialists handling high
InstaPay, a cutting-edge new merchant application, has been launched to transform the payments landscape in South Africa. This innovative solution offers unique functionality and competitive rates that surpass traditional card providers, setting a new standard in the industry. InstaPay is the result of combined expertise and technology between Omnea and Amber Pay, two industry leaders
As shopper behaviours evolve, brands and retailers are working hard to catch up, using tools to connect with a new generation of increasingly demanding and informed shoppers. South African shoppers are not what they used to be. They’re tougher, savvier, and more in tune with what they are looking for. A combination of COVID and
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
Debuting as the province’s first encounter with Makro and Game’s annual Top Rated by Kids event – parents and caregivers gathered as 250 children between the ages 6 and 12 took turns to judge this year’s newest toys. This is an important event for the retailers, as it serves as their guide to the ultimate
Reaching any midpoint, whether it’s to catch one’s breath on a ultra-marathon to gear up for the next stretch, or a project team reflecting on their progress and making necessary modifications – it’s all about positioning for success. So too a mid-year retail check-in offers valuable insights into some of the latest developments shaping how
The rising cost of living is significantly straining South African consumers’ budgets, with food expenses alone exhausting approximately one-third of their income. In response, The SPAR Group has announced its ‘R1 Billion in Savings’ shopper promotion, exclusive to SPAR Rewards customers. Until 22 July, the promotion aims to provide significant financial relief to consumers struggling
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) has appointed Rakesh Rajbally as the new Managing Director (MD) and announced further strategic appointments within its Commercial and Manufacturing function aimed at strengthening leadership and driving growth. Rajbally officially took up the position on 1 February, replacing Velaphi Ratshefola who formally retired at the end of January after seven
Payment24, a leading provider of advanced payment, loyalty, and fuel management solutions, is proud to announce the availability of its fuel voucher offering. This innovative product is set to transform how Payment24 partners incentivise customers, loyalty subscribers, internal teams, and even drivers. With seamless integration across a vast network of over 1,000 service stations, these
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
The current economic climate presents slowing growth, characterised by high inflationary pressure, increasing costs of property rates, the lack of delivery of basic utilities such as electricity and water, as well as consumer pressure. Notwithstanding the challenging environment, L2D’s assets continue to stand out. L2D’s retail assets delivered market leading trading performance, recording portfolio trading
Investing in solar power was a strategic decision taken by Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), as it provides a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly means of generating electricity. L2D’s sustainability strategy includes the reduction of its reliance on the grid, which has improved operating efficiencies. L2D has made significant investments in renewable energy as part of
By Gary Bowers, Product Manager and Shaun Shehab, Senior Sales Engineer at Ecentric Retailers need to keep costs under control and reduce complexity in economic conditions that can best be described as uncertain and challenging. Yet, despite this, they need to give customers (and their employees) the kind of payment experience they demand. Beyond this,
As the world celebrates World Environment Day, Massmart has shared its ongoing commitment to saving water in its operations. This is motivated by the fact that South Africa is a water scarce country where it is estimated that 70 million litres of clean drinking water are lost, each day, to leaking infrastructure. The group’s water
Following a disappointing full year performance for FY24, Pick n Pay CEO Sean Summers unveiled the new board-approved six-point strategy to restore the Group’s core Pick n Pay supermarket business to profitability. The Group delivered a weak FY24 result to 25 February 2024, driven by a substantial trading loss in the Pick n Pay business,
bp Southern Africa (bpSA) notches up one hundred years of fueling South Africa this month, on 9 May 2024 to be precise, and will use the milestone to refresh and re-energise for the next century and beyond. A programme of centenary events is planned over the coming months to thank employees, partners, dealers and stakeholders
Fintech company, iKhokha, one of the market leaders in the South African SME payments space, are this week opening their eighth retail store, where their point-of-sale devices are sold and where merchants can access support, networking opportunities and other business enhancement tools. Since launching in 2012, iKhokha has developed a deep understanding about the complexities
By Mark Wilson, CEO, SYSPRO EMEA & APAC There’s no avoiding the reality that we’re in a tough economic cycle laden with global and local uncertainty. Since 2020, the manufacturing sector has undergone a period of unprecedented change. Multiple overlapping – and largely unpredicted – macro-level shocks have combined to create a radically changed world.
Game and Makro are thrilled to announce the return of the beloved ‘Top Rated by Kids’ event, bringing together young toy enthusiasts to vote for the country’s top toys for 2024. Once again, a group of 250 testers between the age of 6 and 10, will have the exclusive opportunity to rate, test, and play
A new report from Accenture reveals that 95% of South African leaders (vs 83% globally) think that eCommerce is growing faster than they can adapt, and are finding it costly to be where customers are. This shared feeling of falling behind affirms how difficult it is to keep up with the pace of change. Additionally,
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
Despite South Africans doing all they can to stretch every rand when they buy food, according to Stats SA, the country is wasting about 10.3 million tonnes of food, valued at billions of rand across the production and consumption process, each year. Ensuring your purchases are well-planned and that food is stored and refrigerated correctly
By Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software A point of sale, commonly referred to as POS, is a vital cornerstone of any retail business, regardless of whether it sells products or services. However, a misunderstanding of the definition of POS sees many small and medium-sized retailers fall into the trap of buying a
Receive Regular news of the latest in African Retail straight to your inbox.
© African Retail. 2024. All Rights Reserved
