Tiger Brands to Rollout Solar Power at Manufacturing Sites

Additional energy efficiency initiatives aim to maximise efforts to reduce the company’s reliance on the national grid and minimise impact on the environment Tiger Brands will soon begin rolling out solar power at its manufacturing sites. This kicks off a multi-million-rand investment with the goal to have 65% of the business’ electricity requirements at a

NielsenIQ State of the Retail Nation Report Reveals Pockets of Positivity

Annual CPG sales top R527-Billion Liquor sector continues to rebound Food inflation remains a thorn in the side of consumers increasing by 8.1% versus a year ago The South African manufacturing and retail sectors remain stoic in the face of a continued onslaught of input prices, and consumers feeling the full effects of their severely

Bolt Announces Ongoing Post-pandemic Growth to Mark Ninth Anniversary

The company has quadrupled its business globally since the start of the pandemic and launched two products in the same period As of today, Bolt is present in 45 countries and over 500 cities, an increase of more than 200% before the pandemic  In South Africa, Bolt is available in 9 provinces and a total

RBR | Retailers Ramp up Mobile Self-Scanning

46,000 stores across the world allow customers to scan items as they shop, a figure forecast to grow by over three times during the next five years 10,000 additional stores offered mobile self-scanning during 2021 Customers can use mobile self-scanning at more than 46,000 stores across the world, according to Mobile Self-Scanning and Checkout-Free 2022,

SPAR South Africa Supports Early Childhood Development Centres

SPAR South Africa partnered with local producer Rama to raise funds for Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across the country. Over half a million South African Rands worth of nutritious meals will be distributed, thanks to the support of customers. Earlier this year, Rama committed to donating one meal to a child in need for

Women Instrumental to Success of Africa’s Largest Retailer

The Shoprite Group was the first retailer to celebrate the enormous contribution of South African women to society when Government announced National Women’s Day in 1996 when it introduced a significant campaign that ran for 17 years to celebrate women, the nationally acclaimed Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Awards. More than 25 years later

Women in Retail: The Real Superheroes

Many women juggle the role of both worker and matriarch, playing an integral role in society by not only taking on the responsibilities of raising the next generation and being the cornerstone of the family; but also by playing an active part in South Africa’s economy. This is according to Marine van Brakel, Chief Operating

Infor | Disruption as the New Normal in Food & Beverage

Phil Lewis, Infor’s VP of Solution Consulting EMEA looks at how food manufacturers can use technology to boost supply chain resilience in the face of ongoing disruption. Undoubtedly, COVID-19 pushed the food supply chain to its very limits, with some even going so far as to say it was responsible for breaking it completely. What

NielsenIQ | SA Consumers Reach Tipping Point of Affordability

Twelve of top 20 product categories experience double-digit inflation Price increases starting to impact unit sales Annual FMCG retail sales total R523-Billio The stranglehold of the current 13-year inflation high on consumer purchase patterns is clearly shown in the newly released NielsenIQ South Africa State of the Retail Nation report which shows that twelve out

Have You Seen what OneDayOnly are Doing??

OneDayOnly, South Africa’s biggest daily deals site, has just launched a brand new advertising campaign. “12 years ago, we started OneDayOnly with the mantra that every day was an opportunity to make someone feel like a big deal – bringing great deals on great brands to South Africans, every day”, Laurian Venter, Managing Director of

Nestlé for Healthier Kids Celebrates Ten-Year Anniversary in Kenya

In partnership with The Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Agriculture, to support parents and caregivers on a healthier lifestyle for their kids. Nestlé Kenya together with its partners, The Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Agriculture, have launched the Nestlé for Healthier Kids Programme in Kajiado County which will benefit 128 schools

Rosebank Mall gets Technical with New Store

Rosebank Mall is home to an innovative new store which is so much more than it first appears to be! Re-purposing is fast becoming a way of life and the tech space should be no exception. With this in mind, David Hirsch – CEO of TechMarkit – has introduced his very own brand of pre-loved

General Dealer Retail Sales Soar 14.6% (in real terms) as SA Consumers Bite the Bullet and Scale Down When Shopping

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 Responsible Retailing: Sustainable Sourcing Practices

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 Foods Prioritises Food Security this Mandela Day

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

Makro Launches New Native App as Massmart e-Commerce Strategy Accelerates

Makro has undergone an accelerated e-commerce transformation programme in recent months, as part of Massmart’s overarching strategy to become a leading omnichannel (online and store) retailer in South Africa. The new native Makro app is the retailer’s first fully fledged and stand-alone shopping app, enabling customers to make purchases of general merchandise, liquor and pantry

Woolworths Launches ‘Food for Thought’ Podcast Demystifying the Food Landscape

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 Group Announces the Return of “The Ultimate Checkout”- Bigger and More Epic Than Ever

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 5 Biggest Trends in Digital Innovation that are Enabling Better Customer Journeys

By Leon Jacobs, Chief Information Officer at RCS Driven by the engine of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), digitisation was already gaining significant traction before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it accelerated faster in two years than it had in almost a decade. The transition to a more digitised reality affected industries across

E-Commerce and Q-Commerce Boom Benefits Consumers and Couriers

Imagine a future in which your new cell phone is delivered to your home by a courier who also sets up your new device for you. What about a courier who can deliver a spare part for your washing machine and install it while he is there? These were some of the scenarios explored by

NIELSENIQ: 58% of South African Consumers say They’re Buying a Greater Variety of Brands Than Before covid

Consumers are also largely in search of their perfect brand match, with 76% of South African respondents feeling that if they look hard enough, they can find a brand that fits their exact needs NielsenIQ updates consumer brand preferences –with a focus on small and medium brands – in its latest report According to the

Makro Springfield Welcomes Shoppers’ Home

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

Nestlé Appoints Luke Gomes as Cluster Head for Greater Zambezi Region

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,

Opinion Piece: Lessons Learned on Bringing Digital Transformation to the South African Main Market

By Andrew Dawson, MD of MACMobile South Africa’s main market makes up a significant proportion of the local retail space and is one of the few segments in retail that is growing. As such, it presents a massive opportunity for parties further up the value chain to optimise processes, and digital transformation is one of

KongaPay at House of Lords, London, signs historic partnership with Bibimoney

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

Game Reaches Milestone in Turnaround Strategy

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

Cold Storage Infrastructure and Refrigeration Tech are Key for Growth in SA Food Production

South Africa’s food production and export industries are experiencing encouraging growth injections from the increase in demand for high value and diversified produce such as blueberries, macadamia nuts and citrus. The export demand in the blueberry industry alone is expected to grow by at least 44,000 tonnes by 2024. A critical enabling factor to support

The FOOD STALL at SPAR is Launched

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

Opportunity Capital – the Key to Unlocking Competitive Advantage in Retail

Savvy retail entrepreneurs look at working capital as a means to shift their business to the next level. It is this perspective that puts the “opportunity” in opportunity capital and that empowers retail merchants to remain competitive and relevant. “We live in volatile times, with higher food and commodity prices, rising interest rates and changing consumer preferences, all

Philip Morris Accelerates Smoke-free Transformation with Key Leadership Appointments

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

How Zambeef’s Investment Will Boost a Growing Zambia

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

Spur Corporation Launches Another Step in Expansion of Trading Channels

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

Engen Computer School Celebrates Another 67 New Graduates

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

This Ginger Beer Business Started in a Garage – and Now Employs Over 200 People

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

Outcome of Mergers Decided by the Tribunal

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

CGCSA | Appointment of Zinhle Tyikwe as Chief Executive Officer Designate

The Board of GS1 South Africa, trading as the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), is pleased to announce the appointment of Zinhle Tyikwe as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 01 July 2022. Ms Tyikwe, who currently is the CGCSA Executive in charge of Human Resources and Communications, takes over from Gwarega Mangozhe,

Nomanini launches StockNow, a digital retailer solution, to bring affordable working capital to Africa’s informal retail markets

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

MACmobile Enhances Security, Improves Functionality with Updates to FIELDForce

As part of the ongoing evolution of its offering in line with customer demand, MACmobile has delivered significant enhancements to the FIELDForce web and mobile applications with its latest update. These include security improvements as well as the inclusion of an Invoice Value Discount Engine and a Buy One, Get One Free (BOGOF) Engine. FIELDForce

Zambeef Expands Local Product Range in Revamped Outlet Roll-out

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 Ending COVID-19 Regulations

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

Shoprite Next Capital Launched to Further Develop SMME Partners

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 Pumps Convenience as DSV Locker Footprint Grows

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

Africa’s Big 7 Redefines the Food & Beverage Value Chain

Leading trade show tackles the challenge of affordable and accessible food in Africa Russia’s war in Ukraine has shone a spotlight on the ongoing food security crisis in Africa, as disruptions to international commodity markets and trade flows to the continent have caused the already high food prices to rise further. The UN predicts African

Computicket ‘Box Office’ Self-service Platform Democratises SA Ticketing Services

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

OneCart GMV Growth surpasses 200%; Plans to double Number of Massmart Stores by December

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

Shoprite Next Capital launched to further develop SMME Partners

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

SAITEX Explores New Trade and Investment Opportunities in Southern Africa

Township economy a top priority for SA business leaders Celebrating its 28th year of defining trade opportunities within Africa, leading multi-sector trade show SAITEX opened its doors to public and private stakeholders from across the globe at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg earlier this week.  Co-located with F&B show Africa’s Big 7 and the

Entersekt Partners with Capitec Bank to boost Security and Reduce Friction for E-commerce Transactions

Entersekt integrates NuData Security’s behavioural analytics intelligence into its EMV 3-D Secure solution to provide Capitec customers with real-time risk-based authentication for online purchases Entersekt, a global leader in device identity and authentication solutions, today announced that Capitec Bank has implemented its innovative EMV 3-D Secure solution that boosts the security of e-commerce payments, while

KITEA Acquires the Leader in Furniture Distribution in Kenya

The KITEA Group, leader in the distribution of furniture in Morocco, has just announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Furniture Palace Limited, leader in the distribution of home furniture, office furniture and house in Kenya. This transaction in East Africa is KITEA’s first acquisition outside the borders of Morocco and is in line