Engen Petroleum Achieves Industry-First RTMS Certification for National Heavy Vehicle Fleet

Posted on by africanretailteam | 8275 Views | 15 min read

Engen Petroleum has set a new benchmark in road transport safety, becoming the first and only oil company in South Africa to achieve Road Transport Management System (RTMS) certification for its entire national fleet of heavy vehicles. Awarded by JC Auditors (JCA), this prestigious certification underscores Engen’s unwavering commitment to good governance, safety, and compliance

Doomaket: A Game-Changing Marketplace Connecting African Merchants to Global Markets

Posted on by africanretailteam | 12677 Views | 7 min read

Logidoo announced the launch of Doomaket, an innovative marketplace platform poised to transform African e-commerce by addressing critical challenges in global trade. This solution is a powerful tool to empower African merchants, enabling them to expand their businesses worldwide and overcome traditional barriers to international commerce. Doomaket stands out from similar platforms through a comprehensive

Varun Beverages Invests Rs 412 Cr in South African Subsidiary

Posted on by africanretailteam | 8372 Views | 5 min read

Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL) has announced an investment of Rs 412.80 crore in its South African subsidiary, The Beverage Company Proprietary Limited (Bevco). The development aligns with VBL’s strategy to strengthen its presence in international markets while bolstering its operations in India and retail globally. Bevco is engaged in manufacturing and distributing PepsiCo’s licensed products

African Union Adopts 10-Year Plan to Transform Agri-Food Systems and Ensure Food Security

Posted on by africanretailteam | 7115 Views | 20 min read

The African Union (AU), has adopted a new agricultural development strategy that will see the continent increase its agrifood output by 45 per cent by 2035 and transform its agri-food systems as part of its new plan to become food secure in a decade. This is after the African Union Extraordinary Summit on the Post-Malabo

Sevi Set to Revolutionize African Retail Financing with ‘Stock Now, Pay Later’ Platform

Posted on by africanretailteam | 15619 Views | 6 min read

Sevi, a fintech company regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya, is revolutionizing stock financing for wholesalers and retailers through its “stock now, pay later” platform. Sevi addresses the challenge of insufficient working capital by providing users with access to credit while ensuring suppliers are paid upfront. With Sevi, suppliers like Coca-Cola, Anytime and Philmed

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa Recognised as a Top Employer in Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 8558 Views | 5 min read

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) (www.CCBAGroup.com) has been certified as a Top Employer in Africa for 2025, based on the results of the Top Employers Institute’s HR Best Practices Survey.   CCBA was certified as a Top Employer in Africa, and its operations in Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda achieved this accolade at country level.   “We

Neosun Energy Expands to Kenya Bringing Affordable Solar Power to Local Enterprises

Posted on by africanretailteam | 16174 Views | 9 min read

Neosun Energy, a global leader in solar energy solutions, has officially entered the Kenyan market. This expansion aims to provide cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions for commercial and industrial (C&I) projects, with system capacities ranging from 200kW to 10MW, tailored to help local businesses with affordable solar solutions. The company brings its expertise in constructing

Vodacom and Orange Create a Joint Venture to Expand Network Coverage in Rural Areas in the DRC

Posted on by africanretailteam | 12302 Views | 12 min read

Vodacom and Orange have joined hands to form, a first of its kind, rural towerco partnership in Africa. Through this partnership, the companies will collaborate to build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The initiative will extend network coverage and enable access to telecommunications

Massmart and Walmart Announce first Africa-Focused Supplier Growth Summit

Posted on by africanretailteam | 9932 Views | 9 min read

Massmart and Walmart have announced the first Africa-focused supplier Growth Summit which will be held in Johannesburg on 2 April 2025. The summit is modelled on similar highly successful events that Walmart has hosted, most recently in their Chile market. The objective of the event is to expand and strengthen Massmart’s Africa-based supplier network to

Tendo Technologies Acquires Shopa to Transform Africa’s Supply Chain

Posted on by africanretailteam | 17158 Views | 10 min read
Tendo Technologies

Tendo Technologies Limited, a pioneering online retail platform empowering African entrepreneurs, officially announces its strategic acquisition of Shopa, a leading provider of comprehensive commerce solutions for informal retailers across Ghana. This landmark deal, structured as a combination of cash and stock, is set to redefine the supply chain landscape in Africa. Shopa’s large network of

Redpanda Software MD: Gerhard Nortjé, a Retailer Born and Bred

Posted on by africanretailteam | 20359 Views | 25 min read
redPanda Software

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: Driving Supply Chain Innovation and Efficiency

Posted on by africanretailteam | 17358 Views | 12 min read
Unitrans

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

Royalty Rewards Programmes Harness Technology and Safety for Better Loyalty – Randgo

Posted on by africanretailteam | 22009 Views | 15 min read
Royalty rewards

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

Modern Retail Strategies: Innovative Loyalty Programmes Are Key Components of Success – redPanda Software

Posted on by africanretailteam | 21342 Views | 19 min read
Modern Retail

redPanda Software and Loyal Guru partner to bring global best practice to South Africa Modern retail strategies focus on customer attraction and retention, which are crucial as consumer behaviour shifts. Increased options and ongoing financial distress among South African consumers highlight the need for retailers to adapt to what customers want and need, according to

Creating Customer-Obsessed Experiences in B2B – fintech specialist e4

Posted on by africanretailteam | 17028 Views | 20 min read

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

Kazang Rewards Drives Mutual Growth for Brands and Micro-Merchants

Posted on by africanretailteam | 11739 Views | 7 min read

Kazang, the prepaid value-added services (VAS) and card acquiring business within JSE-listed fintech Lesaka Technologies, has launched the multi-faceted Kazang Rewards platform. The platform enables Kazang merchants to earn rewards for completing tasks for partners such as FMCG brands, wholesalers and companies providing prepaid services like airtime and data. These tasks include completing surveys, and

Gen AI: Easing the Burden of Consumer Decision-Making – Accenture

Posted on by africanretailteam | 22460 Views | 27 min read

By Junaid Kleinschmidt, digital marketing strategy and intelligence lead for Accenture, Africa The South African retail landscape is contending with a range of challenges, such as high unemployment, severe inflation, shrinkflation, and the lingering effects of Covid-19. These pressures have transformed consumer expectations and added layers of complexity to their shopping decisions. Retailers must now

South African Retailers Have Arrived at an E-commerce Crossroads

Posted on by africanretailteam | 30083 Views | 29 min read
South African Retailers

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

Navigating Disruption: How Retailers Can Prepare for the R100 Billion Ecommerce Market

Posted on by africanretailteam | 24902 Views | 16 min read

South African retail has experienced profound transformation over the past few years, with digital platforms and ecommerce reshaping consumer expectations. However, we are just in the earliest phases of digital transformation and SME retailers will need to be agile to keep up with emerging customer demands and new competitors. Steven Heilbron, CEO of Capital Connect,

The Enduring Power of Sa’s Independent Grocery Trade – Trade Intelligence

Posted on by africanretailteam | 20034 Views | 20 min read

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,

Prime Opportunity for Private Equity Funds to Rescue African Retail Companies

Posted on by africanretailteam | 27300 Views | 25 min read

By Tobie Jordaan and Jutami Augustyn, Partners, and Paras Shah, Kenya Managing Partner, BowmansThe retail sector in South Africa has experienced significant distress in the last year, with several high-profile retail businesses entering business rescue proceedings. Retail giants like AutoZone, West Pack and Cross Trainer, for example, have all recently entered business rescue, highlighting the

Telr Elevates E-commerce With Mastercard’s Click to Pay

Posted on by africanretailteam | 24776 Views | 8 min read

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

Redefining the Retail Strategy Through Store Reinvention – Accenture

Posted on by africanretailteam | 21950 Views | 29 min read

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,

Shift to Omnichannel Payments in Retail to Drive Efficiencies and Enhance CX – Ecentric Payment Systems

Posted on by africanretailteam | 21775 Views | 18 min read

By Quintin van der Linde, Head of Business Development & Don Lange, Partner Manager at Ecentric Payment Systems Even as more retailers turn to setting up online storefronts to extend their presence and cater to shoppers looking for convenience, the majority of South Africans still prefer to shop at physical stores, and retailers are looking

Shipping Technology Tackling South Africa’s Tricky Last-Mile Delivery Challenges – Bob Group

Posted on by africanretailteam | 41660 Views | 14 min read

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

Understanding SA’s Evolving Shoppers: A Call to Action for Brands and Retailers – Trade Intelligence

Posted on by africanretailteam | 30189 Views | 18 min read

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

Makro Cornubia Debuts KZN’s First Top Rated by Kids Judging Event

Posted on by africanretailteam | 15539 Views | 8 min read

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

Scan to Pay Takes Centre Stage in Spenda’s Fintech Suite

Posted on by africanretailteam | 28978 Views | 19 min read

Despite the global move towards digital transacting, 1.4 billion people worldwide remain unbanked. It’s these individuals that payment service providers like Spenda are empowering through the use of innovative payment solutions that address the financial inclusion gap. In its latest move to do so, Spenda has integrated Scan to Pay to launch Spenda Scan to

Knowing if Your Data Held by Your Favourite Online Marketplace Is Safe and Secure – Bob Shop

Posted on by africanretailteam | 25752 Views | 12 min read

South Africa’s Information Regulator recently revealed that it receives more than 150 monthly data breach notifications – a considerable increase from last year’s average of 56. Hackers are doing the country’s already battling economy no favours: the 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report, produced by the Poneman Institute and published by IBM Security, states

AI-Driven Product Testing Powers up Innovation in SA – IPSOS

Posted on by africanretailteam | 30795 Views | 14 min read

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

Ukheshe Rebrands to EFT Corporation to Lead Fintech Innovation and Banking Beyond Tomorrow

Posted on by africanretailteam | 31282 Views | 20 min read

In a bold step towards redefining the future of financial technology, Ukheshe has announced its official rebranding to EFT Corporation. The move consolidates Ukheshe’s pioneering digital solutions with EFT Corporation’s extensive reach and expertise under one unified brand, positioning it as a leading catalyst for financial inclusion in Africa. The rebranding of Ukheshe to EFT

Retailer’s Guide on How to Shift From Multichannel to Omnichannel Payment Experiences – Ecentric

Posted on by africanretailteam | 32769 Views | 16 min read

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,

How the Retail Property Sector and Local Government Can Collaborate to Prevent Urban Decay and Enhance Infrastructure – Fortress Retail

Posted on by africanretailteam | 20456 Views | 22 min read

Fortress Retail recently hosted the Collective Impact event, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss collaborative strategies to combat urban decay, improve infrastructure and integrate new technologies for the benefit of communities surrounding shopping centres. The event, moderated by renowned journalist Jeremy Maggs, featured insights from prominent industry experts including Julius Kleynhans (OUTA), Alan Dinnie (Profica),

Omnisient Recognised for Impact on Growing Financial Inclusion in Africa

Posted on by africanretailteam | 27993 Views | 8 min read

Omnisient, the global leader in privacy-preserving data collaboration, was recognised at the Africa Bank Summit held in Nairobi this week for the impact it is having on growing financial inclusion in Africa. This accolade highlights a groundbreaking initiative that has enabled banks to assess credit risk and qualify millions of previously underserved individuals by analysing

A Fintech First – IKhokha Opens Retail Stores to Enhance Engagement With Merchants

Posted on by africanretailteam | 32335 Views | 14 min read

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

Digital Transformation Drives Resilience in Africa’s Manufacturing Sector – SYSPRO

Posted on by africanretailteam | 34547 Views | 19 min read

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.

South African Business Leaders Believe That Ecommerce Is Growing Faster Than They Can Adapt, Accenture Study Finds

Posted on by africanretailteam | 37342 Views | 20 min read

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,

Innovate—or Lose Your Seat at the Top Table, Retailers Warned – BCG and World Retail Congres

Posted on by africanretailteam | 20857 Views | 20 min read

Over the course of the past three decades, the composition of the top global retailers has seen significant churn, with few managing to maintain a lead position. Established players have been usurped by creative newcomers that have prioritised innovation, staying ahead of the curve in terms of technological advancements and changing consumer preferences. A new

Smartfill Spearheads Packageless Retail With Major Accelerator Backing

Posted on by africanretailteam | 31245 Views | 22 min read

Smartfill, a greentech startup that eliminates the need for single-use plastic through a smart, efficient and sustainable dispenser solution, has been accepted into two prestigious programmes: Level 4 of the Microsoft Startup Founders Hub and the Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA). Smartfill further holds a grant from the AgriTech Innovation Centre at the UK Research and

Tech Trends Transforming Retail Finance in the Digital Era – Mobicred

Posted on by africanretailteam | 35726 Views | 18 min read

By Jason Sive, CEO, Mobicred (and Strategic Partnerships Executive at RCS) Greater levels of digital adoption and the increasing sophistication of technological tools have ushered in a new era for shoppers – one characterised by choice and convenience. Empowered by evolving demands, retail finance leaders have the exciting task of shaping the future of the

Card Times: Cash Finds Itself ‘Virtually’ Out of Fashion – Trade Intelligence

Posted on by africanretailteam | 27285 Views | 17 min read

By Nicola Allen, Senior Retail Analyst, Trade Intelligence Earlier this year, social media was abuzz with outrage at an announcement which was misinterpreted to mean that Woolworths was going to stop accepting cash in its stores – it was in fact Woolworths’ WCafés only that were going to stop accepting cash. Trade Intelligence partnered with

IKhokha Launches Affordable New Smart Card Machine for SMEs

Posted on by africanretailteam | 45738 Views | 11 min read

One of the market leaders in the fintech space in South Africa, iKhokha, has announced the launch of a new smart card machine that fits into your pocket, called the iK Flyer Lite. This new offering follows the success of the flagship iK Flyer card machine, launched in 2022, which far surpassed initial sales expectations.

Retailers Need Architecture and Redundancies Tailored to Local Conditions to Avoid Downtime and Lost Sales – redPanda Software

Posted on by africanretailteam | 20680 Views | 15 min read

Niel Coetzee, Head of Engineering at redPanda Software South Africa felt the full impact of internet disruption when four of the nine undersea cables providing connectivity to these shores went down at the same time in the middle of March. The disruption was widespread and affected businesses across industries. However, while some industries can afford

Pick N Pay Launches New Money Transfer Service, Now the Most Affordable in the Retail Market

Posted on by africanretailteam | 43528 Views | 12 min read

Pick n Pay has set a new standard in affordability and accessibility with the launch of its store-to-store Domestic Money Transfer service. At R8.00 per transaction, it is the cheapest price for customers within retail stores. The informal cash usage in the country remains high, and this service will be interoperable across all Pick n

What Retailers Should Be Taking Note of in the Wake of Shoprite’s Knockout Sales Performance

Posted on by africanretailteam | 34883 Views | 21 min read

Shoprite recently announced its remarkable half year sales results proving that its retail strategy is hitting all the right marks. Faheem Hoosen, Partner at BDO South Africa., unpacks these results and shares some insight into the learnings that other retailers can take from this success. Shoprite, a leading South African grocer which owns brands such

Four Business Trends to Navigate the Economic Future – Yoco

Posted on by africanretailteam | 58767 Views | 14 min read

Physical retail businesses remain crucial in the South African landscape, catering to the preferences of many customers. However, as eCommerce continues to surge, these businesses will experience challenges competing with industry giants like Amazon. The trends outlined below are essential considerations for a thriving retail business in an increasingly online world. While they’re not a

Harnessing the Potential of Mobile Payments in Africa – Halo Dot

Posted on by africanretailteam | 45696 Views | 12 min read

Dalene Deale, Strategic Consultant at Halo Dot Financial inclusion remains a critical barrier across Africa. A considerable segment of the population remains alienated from basic banking services. Yet, the arrival of mobile payment technologies, like Halo Dot, promises to bridge this gap. Halo Dot’s innovative approach turns mobile devices into secure, encrypted payment terminals, allowing

What Will Be Impacting Shoppers and Retailers as 2024 Unfolds? – BDO South Africa Incorporated

Posted on by africanretailteam | 43981 Views | 20 min read

The retail sector has faced a gauntlet of challenges: a rise in megatrends that are reshaping the sector, and increasingly innovative and competitive markets over the past four years that have significantly shifted shopper behaviour. In turn, retailer strategies have had to be agile enough to handle the unpredictability and fluctuations. Serena Ho, Director and

Accelerating Retail Transformation by Enhancing Operations and Empowering Employees – SPAR Group

Posted on by africanretailteam | 31475 Views | 17 min read

In today’s digital world, retailers are looking for more innovative ways of optimising operations, increasing employee efficiency, and enhancing customer experiences. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) provides them with an invaluable tool to do so especially when it comes to data analysis to augment existing employee skills. Retail modernisation by enhancing productivity in

How to Take Advantage of Retail Trends in 2024 – redPanda Software

Posted on by africanretailteam | 35426 Views | 19 min read

By Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software Perhaps the single most effective thing retailers can do in 2024 and beyond is to acknowledge that aspirations and consultative conversations have overtaken reality. If a retailer wishes to take advantage of the latest and greatest trends for this year and next, it would do well