The world of retail has changed. With more and more customers now shopping online, retailers have had to come up with creative ways to bring the physical and virtual worlds together to create seamless, memorable experiences. But with this comes a great deal of complexity. Having a robust tech foundation is no longer a nice
Agrikool, a small agricultural business, is showing exponential growth after securing a deal with the Shoprite Group, delivering fresh produce worth over R3 million to the retailer in just over a year. The Pietermaritzburg-based business solves challenges in the farming value chain, develops small to medium-scale local farmers, and sustains regional food security, by connecting
Celebrating 20 years of Africa’s Big 7and festive foodie features The local food and beverage market was abuzz at the twentieth edition of Africa’s Big 7, which wrapped up in Johannesburg at the Gallagher Convention Centre last week, co-located with SAITEX. “Recognising a two decade-long commitment to delivering top quality and reasonably priced, trendy food
More than a quarter of global self-checkout shipments went to non-grocery stores as the technology penetrates new segments Wider range of retailers adopting self-checkout 2022 was the second highest year for self-checkout shipments globally, according to Global EPOS and Self-Checkout 2023, the latest report from strategic research and consulting firm RBR. More than 193,000 units
One of Tiger Brands’ iconic heritage brands, KOO, has refreshed its positioning and looks to showcase the value it brings to consumers, including convenience, healthy nourishment, superior quality taste, and homegrown ingredients. These features combine to make it one of South Africa’s most valuable brands and the market leader in the South African Canned Fruit
South Africa’s loyalty sector triumphed at the International Loyalty Awards in London last night, with Truth CEO, Amanda Cromhout, winning the only individual award, and eBucks and DSTV receiving global acclaim in four categories. The International Loyalty Awards are considered the pinnacle of recognition for consumer loyalty programmes and pay tribute to the brands building
Research reveals frontline workforce underserved by IT tools, and which cites communication and access to information as key areas for digital transformation Most South African retail workers are feeling overworked but the vast majority believe technology is the answer to their situation, a Microsoft-sponsored IDC study has revealed. “We often refer to them as ‘the
Jumia, Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, released a new report, “Expanding E-Commerce in Rural Areas in Ivory Coast,” highlighting its successful penetration into underserved regions and success in bringing e-commerce opportunities to rural populations. The report draws on Jumia’s 2022 non-financial data and provides insights into its expansion strategies to rural communities in Ivory Coast. Physically
Consumers in South Africa are experiencing escalating levels of financial stress and are actively seeking alternative forms of payment due to the country’s rising cost of living. The use of developing digital payments are gaining pace in South Africa and statistics show that there is a rising desire for credit among consumers with digital payment
Up and coming retail group, Retailability, says the online launch of one of South Africa’s most revered and much-missed brands, Boardmans is not only timely but will fill a gap for value conscious consumers looking for that special touch in home décor. South Africa’s familiar kitchen and home brand, Boardmans, is set for re-launch as
OMCs can now track and reconcile transactions easily, increasing their operational efficiency by 50% Tingg by Cellulant In-Store solution is transforming the digital payments space in Ghana by providing Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) with a single payment collection point across multiple payment options and channels, ensuring real-time settlement. This advancement allows OMCs in the country
KES 400 discount for goods worth KES 3,000 and above when customers shop on the MAF Carrefour Mobile app and pay with locally issued Visa cards The campaign will run every Tuesday for three months starting June 2023 Carrefour, owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in Kenya, has announced its partnership with Visa, the
RFG Foods recently clinched the prestigious Dairy Product of the Year Award at the highly acclaimed South African Dairy Championships 2023 for its 600g Ayrshire Mozzarella, produced exclusively for Woolworths. This product emerged as the leader among an impressive array of 929 dairy products from 71 renowned producers. Con Costaras, Managing Director of Fresh Foods
A new report from Trade Intelligence reveals an FMCG retail trade that is under enormous pressure – but that continues to innovate, to serve shoppers, and even to turn a profit. South Africa’s economic landscape is challenging for any business, but particularly so for players in the consumer goods industry. The complexity in this sector
Woolworths has once again demonstrated its exceptional prowess this year at the annual SA Dairy Championships, solidifying its position as an industry leader. The outstanding achievement of notching up a total of 79 awards, including 23 first place trophies, five prestigious Qualité Awards, and the highly sought-after Product of the Year award for their Ayrshire
On Thursday 25 May 2023 Fair Cape Dairies were once again recognised with the most Gold Medals at the SA Dairy Championships winning 14 Golds as well as 5 prestigious Qualite Awards for products which excelled with the highest standards of quality and taste. The recognition included milk, yoghurt, drinking yoghurt and dessert category products,
With the ongoing rise in interest rates in South Africa, businesses are increasingly faced with the daunting task of obtaining affordable financing. And with higher interest rates comes the burden of higher borrowing costs. CredX, launched by the Shoprite Group in 2022, enables its suppliers to obtain critical working capital funding at the lowest industry
RFG Holdings today reported a 37.1% increase in headline earnings to R217 million for the six months ended March 2023 as the regional and international businesses expanded margins and delivered strong all-round performances. The Western-Cape based food producer, which owns market-leading brands Rhodes, Bull Brand, Magpie, Squish, Hinds and Today, increased group operating profit by
The number of stores allowing customers to scan items as they shop grew by nearly a quarter globally last year, and is expected to triple by 2028. 57,000 stores offering mobile self-scanning Retailers are increasingly investing in mobile self-scanning technology, with an additional 11,500 stores offering the service in 2022. According to Mobile Self-Scanning and
Lewis Group reported resilient credit sales growth and a strong debtors’ book performance in the year to March 2023, while the group’s overall results reflect the poor state of consumers in South Africa’s low growth, high inflationary environment. Headline earnings were 9.8% lower at R506 million while headline earnings per share increased by 1.0% to
Massmart, owner of Game, Builders and Makro, has introduced Walmart’s Global Integrated Fulfillment (GIF) software to all Makro stores – with plans underway to expand into Game and Builders. Massmart, owner of Game, Builders and Makro, has introduced Walmart’s Global Integrated Fulfillment (GIF) software to all Makro stores – with plans underway to expand into
Globally, retail pharmacies are adapting their models to meet changing consumer preferences. According to consulting firm McKinsey, the pharmacy of the future needs to create “a differentiated experience for the consumer” or offer a “differentiated set of products and services.” Meeting the evolving needs of consumers is a priority for Clicks. Nearly two decades after
Shoprite and Checkers’ private label products scooped first place in nine categories – including best Mild Cheddar Cheese, Buffalo Milk Mozzarella, Chunky Cottage Cheese and Dairy Dessert – at the 190th South African Dairy Awards. A total of 52 products were submitted under seven of the supermarkets’ different private labels: Housebrand, Ritebrand, Crystal Valley, Royale,
The countrywide adoption of Bitcoin payments by industry titan, Pick ‘n Pay, late last year, heralded the first among many new developments in the payment technology landscape. The past few years have seen the proliferation of new methods of transacting, with local fintech innovators earning their place within the new-generation payments ecosystem. Consumer credit has
SA juice market R7.9-Billion in sales to end March 2023 Traditional trade outlets offer refreshed shopping opportunities The South African juice market grew by 9.5% in the 12 months to the end of March 2023 and is now worth R7.9-Billion in annual sales. This is according to new data analysis by NIQ that was presented
Strong brands and a growing footprint. Famous Brands is best known for its much-loved brands and reputation as a leading and responsible franchisor. Famous Brands is a vertically integrated Group with 17 restaurant brands and a network of 2 887 restaurants. We operate franchised, master licensed and Company-owned restaurants. Our business model comprises four core
Pick n Pay helping to feed South African families with R10m of free groceries Pick n Pay, one of South Africa’s leading retailers, has launched an exciting initiative to reward their Smart Shoppers by randomly selecting one winner from every store nationwide every day until 18 June 2023 to win their entire shopping for free.
Paratus is branding three existing shops in Soweto, Otjomuise and Okuryangava selling Paratus products and services to a previously untapped market; community members given training, jobs, and commission; community site owners receive income; convenience for informal sector residents to buy telco services. In a clever partnership deal, telecommunications operator, Paratus Namibia, has now branded three
Convenience retail is an unstoppable force in South Africa’s consumer goods market. A new report from Trade Intelligence examines the size of the prize for retailers and brands, and the forces shaping this dynamic and rapidly evolving sector. The local tearoom or café was once the cornerstone of suburban South Africa, much as the spaza
Africa’s Largest B2B E-commerce Network Launches First Location in Southern Africa Wasoko, the African e-commerce company leveraging innovative technology to transform the informal retail supply chain, has today announced its expansion into Zambia – the company’s first location in Southern Africa. Following the launch, Wasoko will invest over $1mn in its first year of operations
• 32% have turned to online to get better deals, save on petrol and minimize shopping trips • 26% claim they only have enough money for food, shelter, and the basics Amidst a financial pressure cooker and a continued barrage of power cuts, the 2023 NIQ Consumer Outlook Report for South Africa has found that
How smart-tech companies kill two birds with one stone – order fulfilment and marketing Happy customer, happy business. It’s an old adage but one that rings true even with all the changes that have occurred in retail. Whether you’re running a brick-and-mortar store or e-commerce business, enabling shoppers to conveniently buy quality goods at affordable
E-commerce shoppers have been promised a frictionless checkout for years, but new moves by the card schemes will take South African consumers a step closer. Soon, local merchants will be able to offer online shoppers a faster checkout experience giving them a seamless experience, much like the ones already available on Amazon and other global
SPAR’s partnership with social impact company Too Good To Go, has saved 3.5 million meals from going to waste in 14 countries. Since the launch of the international partnership in 2020, over 3,000 SPAR stores have actively been curbing food waste with the innovative digital solution across 14 SPAR countries. This has supported Too Good
Francisco Gil, Managing Director Ingenico Iberia & Africa Markets, explores the added value that Android technology brings to the retail sector. He sets out through various examples how Android can not only help to improve the customer experience, but also generate additional revenues in sales. The covid pandemic was a challenging time for the traditional
The Board of Directors is satisfied that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that the Group’s financial results for the year ended 28 February 2023 will differ by at least 20% from those reported for the year ended 28 February 2022 (“the prior comparable year”) and is therefore required to issue this trading statement in
ACI Worldwide, a global leader in mission-critical, real-time payments, has teamed up with MagicCube, the creator of i-Accept™, to deliver secure and seamless contactless payments on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) smartphones and tablets using Tap to Pay—with or without PIN. The solution will provide mid-size and large retailers operating in complex environments with device-agnostic control and visibility of
Customers truly embraced the spirit of SPAR’s Stuffed with Love campaign which ended on 31 March. Shoppers and local institutions were encouraged to donate items and toys for children in need. This netted many more donations than the retailer had anticipated, with great diversity of items being collected. SPAR Zimbabwe has a multi-pillar responsible retailing
In 2021 Massmart announced a renewed commitment to eCommerce as a strategic growth vector and the owner of Makro, Game and Builders has invested significantly in this area over the last two years. In 2021 Massmart announced a renewed commitment to eCommerce as a strategic growth vector and the owner of Makro, Game and Builders
In accordance with the JSE Limited Listings Requirements and Section 122(1) of the Companies Act, No 71 of 2008 (“the Act”), shareholders are advised that JP Morgan Chase & Co. has formally notified Shoprite Holdings that it has acquired ordinary shares in the Company, resulting in the total beneficial interest of Shoprite Holdings ordinary shares
As online retail growth pushes into the double digit territory, companies that are holding onto a purely face-to-face business model will lose out. Companies under pressure to deliver the revenue growth their investors are looking for shouldn’t just be focusing on adding an ecommerce play, but should rather be looking at the opportunities presented by
Local retailer, Game, was this month named South Africa’s tenth strongest brand according to Brand Finance’s 2023 ‘South Africa 100’ report – up from 92nd place just last year, after a 36-point increase in its Brand Strength Index score. This is the first time the 53-year-old brand has entered the top ten, amongst other brands
Clicks Group proved its resilience and defensiveness in challenging trading conditions as retail turnover increased by 11.9% in the six months to February 2023, with Clicks reporting market share gains in all product categories. Group turnover increased by 6.8%, excluding vaccinations, to R20.0 billion for the half year. Diluted headline earnings per share, adjusting for
At the recent Digital Retail Africa 2023 Conference, held in Johannesburg, experts agreed that eCommerce is gaining great momentum across the continent. Especially due to the propulsion to digitise by the Covid 19 pandemic, businesses are innovating, embracing digitisation. According to SABS News’ coverage of the event, it is estimated that nearly half of the
Online retail in South Africa has hit a major milestone, eclipsing R50 billion in annual sales during 2022. Research from World Wide Worx records a 40% increase in the total number of South Africans shopping online since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Yet many retailers are struggling to turn this trend to their
Africa’s Big 7 returns with entries open for the inaugural Innovation Awards According to Statista, revenue in South Africa’s e-commerce food sector is projected to reach US$522.90 million this year, with an Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR) of 5.47% over 2023-2027.[i] Ordering food online is just one facet of this booming industry, packed with tasty
By Zak Haeri, Managing Director – South Africa, GfK South African brands have spoken about omnichannel customer experiences and engagements for years. Yet despite the massive growth of digital sales and marketing channels during the pandemic, true omnichannel strategies remain far and few between. Many retailers and consumer brands are still struggling to catch up
It’s hard to think of life without technology. From being able to stream movies on Netflix, asking Alexa to play our favourite songs or just being able to Google the weather, latest soccer scores or answers to life’s most puzzling questions – technology is playing a central role in the way we work, play, and
• Consumers in Africa are often early adopters of new products and services—especially when they are offered by brands that share their values and do good. • Businesses in region serve an increasingly young population who are eager to embrace digital experiences and online services—provided they feel safe and secure while doing so. • Balancing
E-commerce card purchases continue to gain momentum as pandemic-driven habits remain popular and e-commerce card payments have become increasingly convenient, secure and widely available Online payments account for a fifth of payment card spending RBR’s study, Global Payment Cards Data and Forecasts to 2027, reveals that $8.1 trillion was spent using payment cards in 2021,
