Woolworths has announced that an additional 50 stores plus two new stores will be single-use plastic shopping bag free by the end of April and has replaced plastic packaging with kraft packaging in popular ‘Ripe and Ready’ avocados which equates to an annual plastic saving of 35 – 40 tons. These milestones help steer the retailer
A survey conducted by mass retailer Game has found that despite increasing levels of digitalisation around consumer behaviour in the last year, South African bargain hunters are using leaflets more than Google search (55%-45%) to compare prices. Additionally, 86% of them prioritise bargain hunting more so now than they did a year ago, no matter
Million-dollar manufacturing deal aims to drive industrialisation and economic growth across Africa KAS Africa, a leading contract manufacturer of personal, home, baby and oral care FMCG products, has received an investment with an aggregate value of $10 million from TRT Investments Limited. The transaction significantly strengthens KAS Africa’s balance sheet and capacity to execute its growth
The Tribunal has extended the compliance period for one of the conditions imposed in the March 2020 merger whereby PepsiCo Inc. (PepsiCo) indirectly acquired Pioneer Food Group Limited, through PepsiCo’s South African subsidiary, Simba (Pty) Ltd (“the merged firm”). The merger, one of PepsiCo’s largest acquisitions outside the United States, was approved by the Tribunal,
The PMR.africa Awards, held annually are intended to enhance and set a benchmark for excellence and very importantly, to celebrate the success of teams doing a great job. Smollan received five diamond category awards covering markets in both South Africa and Botswana. PMR.africa conducts research telephonically and it is not pre-coded, meaning that it is
Woolworths maintains its position as the cream of the crop in the dairy industry by taking home some of this year’s most prestigious awards. With a wide selection of the finest quality dairy products, it’s no wonder they’ve stolen the show at this year’s annual Dairy Championships. This year’s National Dairy Championship had a total
After one of the most challenging years which was 2020, we are extremely proud to have been part of the 188th South African Dairy Championships which took place on 25 and 26 March 2021 at the Elsenburg Agricultural College. This year’s event was much smaller than previous years and took place under strict Covid-19 protocols
The Tribunal has conditionally approved the merger whereby Mr Price Group Limited (“Mr Price”) will acquire the retail apparel business operated by Otto Brothers Distributors (Pty) Ltd (“Otto Brothers”) and its subsidiaries, trading as Power Fashion. The Tribunal has concluded that the transaction is unlikely to substantially prevent or lessen competition in any market in
Engen’s fast-food convenience offering is flourishing, and Cape Town customers can now enjoy a slice of Andiccio24’s delicious pizza at the newly opened Engen Settler’s Way Convenience Centre in Mowbray. Opened officially on 25 March 2021, Engen Settler’s Way is open 24/7 and offers customers a diverse range of convenience services along with Andiccio24’s gourmet
Fair Cape Dairies took another major step towards becoming the leader in sustainable agriculture in South Africa. In the spirit of Fair Cape’s motto of ‘Do the Right Thing’, its newly installed 560-kilowatt solar power plant now allows Fair Cape to not only produce all fresh milk off grid during daylight hours, but also to
The Eastern Cape has received its second Packa-Ching mobile buy-back centre, following the success of the programme in East London. The new unit operates in Gqeberha. In exchange for recyclable packaging material, money is paid into an e-wallet which community members can spend at any Shoprite, Usave or Checkers supermarket. The programme also creates jobs,
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, blueberry exports increased by more than 27%, growing from 12,221 tons to 15,636 tons. The growth of the South African berry industry over the last five years is one of our country’s great agricultural success stories. Exports have grown from just 1,792 in 2015 to
The Shoprite Group’s new cellular network, k’nect mobile, launches next month. k’nect mobile offers 100MB free data for three months, and flat call and data rates. Shoprite, Checkers and Usave customers will be rewarded with free data and airtime. And data is zero-rated for selected apps and websites in the Group’s ecosystem. Customers will earn extra
Key information – continuing operations Sale of merchandise increased by 4.7% to R83.4 billion. Trading profit increased by 18.3% to R4.7 billion. Diluted headline earnings per share (DHEPS) increased by 10.4% to 418.0 cents (Dec 2019: 378.6 cents). Adjusted DHEPS* increased by 17.1% to 416.2 cents (Dec 2019: 355.3 cents). The interim dividend per share
Despite the many digital innovations being made in terms of cross-border payments, retailers still have an important role to play in facilitating the thousands of remittances made from South Africa each year. African retail giant, Game stores, offers cross-border money transfer services from its 120 stores nationally through several providers, including Mukuru, Mama Money, Hello
For The Twelve Months Ended 28 February 2021 Background The announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 coincided with the first month of the Group’s review period, and its impact has been evident over the entire twelve months, in varying degrees, as the respective countries’ risk-adjusted strategies progressed from total lockdown to gradual easing
Leading payment solutions provider, Netcash, has partnered with e-commerce platform, Ecwid E-Commerce, to launch Netcash Shop. Powered by Ecwid E-Commerce, Netcash Shop allows merchants to create an e-commerce shop and start selling their products online within a matter of minutes. Tight integration with Netcash Payment Gateway makes it simple for merchants to accept a wide
Struggling black-owned restaurants, catering and accommodation establishments that have been hit hard by the devastating impact of COVID-19, now have an opportunity to get back on the road to success with the Sekela Hospitality Support Programme. In an effort to bring some relief and lift the spirits of business owners within the hospitality industry, well-known
78% of South African consumers have changed their purchase behaviour South African consumers are navigating uncharted territory as they cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent financial fallout that has wreaked havoc on their income, financial situations and spending intentions. As a result, a whopping 78% of South African consumers say they have changed
Shoprite & Checkers has purchased more than 1.5 million litres of wine since the start of the lockdown to help local farms move excess stock It will be sold under a new exclusive label called Elephant’s Cousin, as well as under the retailers’ other private label wine ranges This is the latest initiative by Shoprite
The rise of e-commerce in the country over the past year may have been driven by the pandemic, but it was long overdue. On eCommerce Day, it is worth noting that South Africa was arguably too slow in initially adopting e-commerce, chiefly because it appeared focused on the niche upper end of the market. Thus,
South Africans can now shop online and pay later, interest-free over six weeks. Payflex has brought the buy now pay later shopping phenomenon to South Africa following its extraordinary popularity in Australia, the USA and Europe. Payflex customers can shop at Africa’s largest digital mall which includes over 500 well-known stores like Cotton-on, Superbalist and
By Njabulo Nzimande, Technology Solutions Professional at Altron Karabina In April 2020, headlines rang out after Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella proclaimed that business the world over were delivering “two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months”. And two years ago, this headline might have raised an eyebrow or two – but not today. For
South African merchants who have survived the chaos wrought by COVID-19 are turning to data insights to help them ensure a more sustainable future. For many merchants, shifting gears from ‘survive to thrive’ has been boosted by local consumers’ love of loyalty programmes. In an otherwise gloomy economy, data from South Africa’s largest insights-based QR
Checkers Sixty60 has launched a South African supermarket first with a new recycling initiative for its popular brown paper bags that will help close the recycling loop for its customers. The initiative, which is part of the Shoprite Group’s zero waste-to-landfill ambition, will allow customers to return their used bags with Sixty60 drivers for recycling.
When poultry import tariffs were introduced in 2020, the South African National Consumer Union warned that these tariffs would push up chicken prices – a prediction that has come true. A bag of Individual Quick Frozen (IQF) chicken portions has risen from R63.87 to R77.61 – an increase of 9% – in one year. This
2Engage is building on its success in Africa, with customer engagement and incentive solutions that deliver value to customers and companies across multiple industries. Based and operational out of South Africa, 2Engage has a presence in eleven African countries including Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. With over 200 rewards
“Thrifting” is a growing international trend in retailing that enables environmentally-conscious consumers to minimize textile and garment waste. Thrift By Flav opened in the Mall of Africa in Waterfall, becoming the first thrift store to open in a super-regional mall in South Africa. The store is the brainchild of 22-year-old Flavia Minenza, who started thrift
Customers can now deposit cash directly onto their bank card at the till point in any Shoprite, Checkers or Usave store. Together with other established in-store services like cash withdrawals, money transfers, and bill payments, this new functionality means shoppers can now perform most basic banking tasks at all supermarkets within the Shoprite Group. Cash
Spur Corporation encountered harsh COVID-19 lockdown trading restrictions throughout the six months to December 2020 while the outbreak of the second wave of the pandemic contributed to further pressure on sales and profitability. Total franchised restaurant sales declined by 29.5% to R2.9 billion for the half year. Sales from franchised restaurants in South Africa decreased
Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed EPP, Poland’s biggest retail landlord, has launched a live stream shopping initiative for its malls and their tenants. Demonstrating agility in ever-changing retail markets, live stream shopping is the latest of several cutting-edge innovations offered by EPP to support its tenants and create exceptional experiences for Polish shoppers in both
Connecting to what really matters, is one of the rationales behind Smollan’s decision to rebrand. By breathing new life, reigniting passion, and representing the diversity of people, nations, cultures, and services the business represents, this new brand connection tells a story of real people and opportunities connected to countless possibilities. It has been said that
Checkers Hyper Brackenfell offers a unique shopping experience with a coffee bar, wine store, sushi bar, pizza oven, imported rodizio grill, food truck, and in-store Kauai. The high-end bakery features well known brands like Schoon and Houwhoek Pies. A one-stop-shop, this flagship store also has a dedicated wellness section, party shop, and improved pet department.
Effective 1 February 2021, Imperial acquired 60% of eCommerce logistics business, ParcelNinja. ParcelNinja offers an outsourced warehousing and fulfilment business to South African online shops, using its custom-developed best-of-breed warehouse system and fulfilment network to ensure that clients benefit from scalable infrastructure and an innovative costing model. “Imperial’s purpose is connecting Africa and the world
At least 640 jobs will be saved as a result of the merger, approved by the Tribunal, whereby Devland Cash and Carry (Pty) Ltd (“Devland”) will acquire certain stores owned by Masscash (Pty) Ltd (“Masscash”), which is controlled by Massmart Holdings Limited (“Massmart”). Devland owns and controls several firms that are active in the retail
The Shoprite Group now generates a substantial amount of power using solar panels Its biggest solar PV project, at the Basson distribution centre, covers the surface area of an entire soccer field Several other initiatives – like solar panels on delivery trucks, and the widespread use of energy efficient LED lamps – are further reducing
By Phil Lewis, Infor VP Solution Consulting EMEA The unforeseen disruption experienced in 2020 has prompted food and beverage producers to future proof their businesses as far as is possible. While uncertainty seems set to continue for some time, through focusing on expediting time to market; food quality and safety; supply chain resilience; and the
SA’s COVID-19 grants are faltering, with many unable to collect the R350 stipend initially offered to those most in need. The Shoprite Group has intensified its food security efforts, donating more than R100 million worth of food, since the start of lockdown. The Group has also continued to create jobs, in spite of tough economic
Getting customer insight and loyalty from each and every transaction The pandemic has shocked local businesses into action when it comes to transitioning from offline to online. While many have managed to digitise aspects of their business, brick-and-mortar companies are yet to fully realise the customer insight and retention benefits of ecommerce transactions. “So many
Online payment gateway, PayFast has launched a new merchant-financing service in partnership with local fintech lender, Retail Capital, called Easy Advance. The service is designed to help merchants leverage short-term working capital to grow their business, without compromising their cash flow. “Small businesses are generally more agile and quick to adopt creative strategies. Throughout 2020,
Simple and effective solution solving complex and expensive problem QR codes have been a huge hit with smaller traders, especially in the hospitality industry, weekend markets and owner-run businesses. Zapper’s continued success at Dis-Chem, however, is proving that the technology is possible at even the largest of retailers – without the expense of new pin
By Tasmika Ramlakan, Investment Banking Associate: Corporate Finance; Nedbank CIB In the fourth quarter of last year, as COVID-19 appeared to be receding and the country had moved to a virtually lockdown-free scenario, the SA retail sector undoubtedly would have been looking forward to a significant uptick in festive season trade and hoping for that
The Competition Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) has granted a variation to conditions imposed on two Coca-Cola mergers, which include two new substantive public interest obligations relating to localisation and procurement commitments which will benefit black sugarcane farmers. The applicants (Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (Pty) Ltd (“CCBSA”); Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (Pty) Ltd (“CCBA”); The Coca-Cola Company; and
The rhetoric of “retail is dead” is incorrect. In fact, retail is advancing at a rapid rate to meet the consumer demands for in-store innovation and service solutions for their shopping requirements in this post-COVID era. This was the view of industry thought leaders who participated in the Fortress Retail Evolution webinar that took place
MediRite now offers the cheapest COVID-19 rapid antibody tests in South Africa. The tests cost just R129.99 each, and are available from the MediRite pharmacies conveniently located in Shoprite and Checkers stores across the country. This low COVID-19 antibody test price point, and the relatively painless and hassle-free nature of the test, make understanding antibody status more
Clinomix® is a zeolite-based feed additive and stock remedy that contains 90% clinoptilolite, a completely natural mineral mined and processed exclusively by Pratley South Africa. Clinomix® effectively reduces acidosis and ammonia levels. Using Clinomix® therefore improves the overall health of sheep, cattle and other ruminants. It is a mycotoxin binder that eliminates 99.9% of deadly
By Mike Smollan, Chief Growth & Innovation Officer, Smollan With the brakes applied in lock-down and a nationwide ban on alcohol spilling over into the New Year, letting your hair down flamed by one’s favourite tipple was turned on its head as spare rooms, car boots and garden sheds were hastily converted as ‘stocking up’
By: Allan Dickson the Independent Chairman at redPanda Software ‘As a retailer, how much should I be spending on IT?’ Although retail decision-makers have been asking this question (with high frequency) for decades, the amplified role of technology in driving sales today has arguably made this question more important than ever before. Without a doubt,
It’s official: Checkers is South Africa’s best grocery store and supermarket brand as voted by readers of The Star in their annual 2020 Star Readers’ Choice Awards. Checkers is known for convenience, quality and freshness and through constant innovation has brought many unique experiences to its customers, including: world-class retail with its new Fresh X stores, such
Continued COVID-19 pandemic lockdown trading restrictions, albeit at reducing levels in the first half of this reporting period, further exacerbated by the onset of the second wave of the pandemic and the resultant implementation of revised Level 3 restrictions in the key trading month of December 2020, curtailed franchised restaurant sales in the six months
