bp South Africa – a subsidiary of global energy major bp – is undergoing a strategic transformation to modernize its services, infrastructure and customer experience across the country. In May 2025, the company launched a comprehensive nationwide upgrade of its existing service stations and announced plans to construct 40 new retail sites equipped with expanded
SYSPRO has announced that it has added two new companies as official SYSPRO Independent Software Vendor (ISV) referral partners for the EMEA region, bringing additional functionality to the SYSPRO ERP platform. Geo Rep, a South African-based provider of field sales management software, and Cranswick, which is focused on the intelligent warehouse space, join the SYSPRO
Vodacom Business has deployed a Mobile Private Network (MPN) at Sasol’s synthetic fuel facility in Secunda, Mpumalanga. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in leveraging advanced technology to enhance operational efficiency and connectivity in the industrial sector. “As part of Sasol’s digitalisation journey, there is a focus on utilising technology to improve processes that impact
The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade, Ms Sonja Boshoff, has welcomed the launch of Proudly SA’s new online platform for locally produced consumer goods. Ms Boshoff characterised the platform as a significant step towards reindustrialisation of the South African economy, which will protect local jobs. “This digital marketplace will serve
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is advancing agrifood systems through integration of effective digital technologies in Zimbabwe. Through the Fostering Digital Villages Initiative (FDiVi), FAO hosted a Digital Fair in the Masvingo province. The digital fair brought together digital service providers, farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders, creating a dynamic platform for knowledge
Massmart owned Jumbo is celebrating four decades of providing affordable access to quality goods and trusted brands to community-based spaza shops, wholesalers, tavern owners and liquor traders. Stats SA’s most recent Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) reported that the informal sector, of which community- based retail is a major part, accounted for 19,5% of total
Stitch Express, part of payments infrastructure company Stitch, today announced Elevate25, a new e-commerce conference set to take place on 7 August 2025 in Johannesburg. Designed to unite South Africa’s leading e-commerce brands, logistics providers, growth platforms, and digital agencies, the summit will welcome over 200 attendees for a day of actionable insights, strategy sharing,
Petshop Science has partnered with Sixty60, South Africa’s number 1 on-demand delivery service, to offer same-day delivery within precisely scheduled 60-minute timeslots of a wide range of specialised pet food, treats, toys and vet-approved local and international brands. From 25kg bags of dog food to top up treats, Petshop Science is enlisting Sixty60 to handle
Massmart has announced new operations leaders for its Makro, Game and Cash & Carry trading brands. Unathi Kildase, has been appointed Vice President, Game. Kildase is a seasoned supply chain professional who joined Massmart in 2020 as Transport Executive and was recently named Top Woman Professional of the Year by the Pan African Supply Chain
The Department of Agriculture is currently assessing the possibility of implementing regionalisation for chicken imports from Brazil to ensure local demand is met without compromising biosecurity. This follows South Africa’s suspension of imports of live poultry, eggs, and fresh (including frozen) poultry meat from Brazil after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The
The Shoprite Group’s 29 distribution centres across the country – including its newest state-of-the-art 94 000 m2 Riverfields facility – have ramped up operations for this year’s longest promotional campaign, Checkers’ XXL Savings, that offers over R45 million in savings to customers every day for six weeks straight (9 June to 20 July). In 2024, the XXL
Lewis Group reported a 66.9% increase in operating profit to R1.2 billion for the year to March 2025, driven by strong credit sales, expanding margins and robust growth in the debtors’ portfolio, while satisfactory paying customers reached a new record high. The group’s operating margin improved significantly, increasing by 790 basis points from 14.8% to
TFG announced a record set of annual financial results for the year ending March 2025, fuelled by a robust second-half performance from TFG Africa, continued store expansion across all territories, and the strategic acquisition of White Stuff in the UK. TFG CEO Anthony Thunström highlighted the Group’s improved operating leverage as a key driver of
Nestlé today announced a US$7 million investment to expand its cereal manufacturing facility in Harare, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s role as a strategic hub for breakfast cereal production in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR). This upgrade, which includes the installation of a fourth roller dryer for Nestlé CEREVITA, will increase the factory’s production capacity by
Cross Switch, a global payments technology company, has found a strategic collaborator in its mission to bring faster, smarter, and more scalable payments to emerging markets. In partnership with South African fintech leader Paysoft, these two forward-thinking platforms are joining forces to swing the axe against digital transaction logjams that hamper South African businesses. Be
Pick n Pay’s turnaround is taking shape as the retailer reports a year of recovery after solving its debt challenges and driving a like for like sales recovery in its core Pick n Pay supermarkets. “There are no surprises in this result, we are meeting the guidance that we have given every 6 months, making
Pick n Pay has launched a powerful new app that brings together its on-demand delivery service asap!, Smart Shopper loyalty programme, and value-added services into a single, next-generation platform. This is the retailer’s most significant digital milestone since launching asap!. The asap! back-end and front-end technology has been completely re-platformed over the past 18 months, resulting
South Africa’s retail sector is entering a pivotal phase. After several quarters of mixed signals — sluggish growth, cost pressures, and store closures — the latest developments point to a market regaining its stride. But this is not a simple rebound story. Beneath the topline growth, we see deep structural shifts reshaping how retailers operate,
RFG Holdings reported a strong recovery in sales volumes in its regional business for the six months to March 2025, increasing revenue by 7.6% despite continued pressure on consumer spending in the domestic market. Group revenue increased by 3.5% to R4.0 billion, tempered by the weaker performance of the international business owing to subdued global
Lewis Group has been named Company of the Year in the prestigious News24 Business Awards 2025 which recognise excellence in corporate South Africa. The award recognises the JSE-listed company that has created strong shareholder value over the medium-term, while also excelling in performance, transforming the business landscape in South Africa through strategic leadership and innovation
West Pack, one of South Africa’s most recognisable retail brands, has new owners after entering business rescue proceedings in 2024. The brand’s new owners recently announced their big plans for West Pack, specifically focusing on its franchise model. West Pack entered voluntary business rescue in June 2024 after its board of directors adopted a resolution
Frasers Group plc has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Holdsport, finalizing a deal initially publicized on November 26, 2024. The transaction was concluded after meeting all necessary regulatory requirements. Holdsport, a prominent South African retailer known for its specialty in sports and outdoor goods, operates through its well-established Sportsmans (NASDAQ:SPWH) Warehouse and
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, Dr Joseph Maswanganyi, to request an urgent hearing on the financial and ethical crisis at Daybreak Foods. This follows shocking reports that two directors of Daybreak Foods received six-figure payments while workers went unpaid, chickens were left to starve, and
Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) wrapped up its agribusiness mission to Angola on Saturday, May 10, following a week of productive government meetings and on-site farm visits across three provinces. The delegation—comprising Minister Carlos Fávaro, Agricultural Attaché José Guilherme Leal, Mapa’s Director of Promotion and Foreign Investment André Okubo, and some 30 Brazilian agribusiness entrepreneurs—began
While the economic landscape has been anything but stable, with international trade tensions and the national budget fallout spooking the market before rebounding when the VAT increase was later withdrawn, the retail sector is showing remarkable resilience, says Ecentric Payment Systems’ Rory Bosman, adding that many retailers proved at the end of last year that
Blind SA, a leading nonprofit organisation dedicated to advocating for accessibility and inclusion, has been working closely with Checkers to optimise the online shopping experience on the Sixty60 app for blind and partially sighted users. Following the launch of the new Checkers Sixty60 app in October 2024, various representatives of Blind SA – including Christo
The summit showcases the latest advancements and cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of payments, with the awards spotlighting companies that successfully integrate these innovations in collaboration with Absa. Presented for the first time this year, the Retail Powerhouse Award honours large retailers leading the way in payment technology across consumer and commercial services. This prestigious
South Africa’s leading online retailer, Takealot, is proud to announce the expansion of its on-demand delivery service, TakealotNOW, to greater Cape Town areas. This expansion aims to provide even more customers with the convenience of ordering hundreds of Takealot products, delivered in minutes. TakealotNOW, available on the Mr D app, offers a vast selection of
In an exciting development for the South African retail landscape – Takealot, the country’s leading online retailer – is poised to transform the digital shopping experience with the launch of TakealotMORE. This groundbreaking subscription service offers millions of South Africans exclusive monthly benefits to eliminate delivery costs and enhance shopping convenience. TakealotMORE emerges as customer demand grows
Nasdaq- and JSE-listed Lesaka Technologies reported a record performance in its consumer division helped it keep to its guidance for its third quarter, and it’s confident enough to expect a profit next year as well. Lesaka, which has been growing rapidly since rebranding from Net UEPS in 2022, reported its loss jumped to R404 million
The African Development Bank Group has approved a Zambian Kwacha-denominated Risk Sharing Credit Guarantee to support Zambeef Products Plc’s $100 million expansion programme across its core operations in Zambia. This guarantee is one of many innovative ways in which the Bank provides local currency to its borrowers, while also promoting collaboration with local commercial financial
This article was originally published here. Cross Switch, a leading provider of innovative payment solutions, has reached a significant milestone by securing its own Third-Party Payment Processor (TPPP) licence. The TPPP, issued by the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) and sponsored by Absa, is a regulatory status that strengthens Cross Switch’s position in the
This article was originally published here. Innovative payment solution TANGO is set to revolutionise the modern payment environment in the South African retail space, reports MoData. Darren Turnbull, CEO of MoData, says: “At major industry events we attend, such as the 2025 Absa Commercial Payments Summit and BankservAfrica Payments Conference 2025, we see a growing
Clicks Group today reported a 13.2% increase in diluted headline earnings per share for the six months to February 2025, driven by market share gains in core health and beauty categories, stronger private label performance and improved margins. Group turnover increased by 6.2% to R23.2 billion, with retail turnover up 6.4% and distribution turnover growing
Massmart’s Makro is set to open its 23rd store on the 23rd of April, this time in Gonubie, East London. This is the first time Makro is opening a new store since 2019, and this expansion brings the retailer’s signature value, selection, and convenience to a thriving local business hub known for its family-friendly atmosphere
The Cape Town-based coffee chain will roll out fully staffed concession stores across selected sites within the convenience chain in South Africa. Vida e Caffè has unveiled a new partnership to open cafès within SPAR convenience stores in South Africa. Founded in Cape Town in 2001, Vida e Caffè is South Africa’s largest branded coffee
Fuel retail is experiencing a massive evolution: Here’s how to maximise new opportunities By Karen Keylock For a variety of reasons, the fuel retail sector has been in decline for several years, which is expected to continue. The long-term expectation is a 9.2% decline in global value to $79 billion in 2030, driven by efficiency improvements,
A report commissioned by the Shoprite Group reveals the critical need for targeted support for female entrepreneurs and improved access to markets and resources in underrepresented regions of South Africa’s Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprise (SMME) sector. World Wide Worx conducted the research via a survey, which gathered insights from 800 SMME owners nationwide. It
Pick n Pay opened a new supermarket at Westown Square, a mixed-use development in Shongweni, KwaZulu-Natal. A Pick n Pay Clothing and Liquor store will also open in the centre. The new store introduces key features that Pick n Pay is incorporating into its refreshed store format, aimed at enhancing the customer experience. These include
Retailability Limited, a private owned retail group that specialises in affordable apparel and lifestyle products has entered into a transaction agreement with Pepkor who are seeking to expand their market share in adult wear. The transaction includes 462 stores that operate across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini. “This is a great deal for
Small-scale farmers from more than 60 community food gardens across Southern Africa will have a unique opportunity to sell their fresh, organically grown produce directly to customers at selected Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets at the retailer’s Market Day on 3 April 2025. By providing a direct route to market, Market Day helps emerging farmers generate an income, develop critical
Lewis Group has been named Company of the Year in the prestigious News24 Business Awards 2025 which recognise excellence in corporate South Africa. The award recognises the JSE-listed company that has created strong shareholder value over the medium-term, while also excelling in performance, transforming the business landscape in South Africa through strategic leadership and innovation
The Fuel Company (TFC), a division of KAL Group, has rebranded to PEG Retail Operations (PEG), consolidating its fuel and convenience businesses under a single brand identity. The transition strengthens PEG’s market position, aligns its operations, and creates a more integrated supplier and partner collaboration platform. PEG Managing Director, Xolisa Bangazi, said the rebrand enhances
Bayer has announced the opening of a new maize seed facility in Kabwe, Zambia. Through the 32-million-euro facility alongside further investments in organization and the grower network, Bayer triples its existing capacity for high-quality maize seed production in the country in 2025. This capacity ultimately converts into annual maize consumption of approximately 30 million people
Modern retail is dependent on technology to deliver the type of frictionless experience consumers demand and employees need. Over and above this, seamless integrations are the lifeblood of operational efficacy and efficiency in the race to win and retain market share. Peter Ludi, Managing Executive at redPanda Solutions, a leading retail software solutions partner, says
iKhokha, the fintech company dedicated to fostering growth for South African small businesses amid challenging macroeconomic conditions, hosted its first iKhokha Elevate event in Durban on Wednesday, 12 March. The event, which saw hundreds of merchants attending in person and thousands more joining online, centered around discussing the challenges and successes of small businesses. It
Vector Express – a new offering from Vector Logistics – is enabling the channel to market for servicing forecourts and non-major retail customers nationally across South Africa. The solutions are enabled via the implementation of a dedicated fleet of vehicles optimised for the forecourt solution. “With a network of nearly 3000 sites across the country,
AliExpress, an international online retail marketplace, announced today a significant expansion in its payment options for shoppers across Africa to elevate online shopping in the continent. This initiative follows AliExpress’ introduction of various local mobile payment methods last year, which was welcomed by consumers seeking better access to global products. Starting this March, AliExpress has
In 2025, the collective brand value of the Top 100 South African brands reached R688.6 billion, with banking, retail, and telecoms contributing over 62% of the ranking’s total brand value, as is often the case in emerging markets. This underscores the important role that the South Africa’s services sector plays in the economy and daily
Taco Bell has a plan to ignite international growth, expanding its global footprint from 1150 locations to more than 3000 restaurants outside the US by 2030. The brand plans to enter nine new countries including France, Greece and South Africa, and accelerate growth in its existing India, Australia, Spain and UK markets. The other six
