Annual CGCSA conference this October

To help CGCSA deliver the conference the industry has been asking for, the organisation has enlisted the services of Trade Intelligence, who has canvassed key industry leaders to assist in setting an agenda that delivers value and is relevant to the needs of members' businesses.

This year, with relevant themes, dynamic speakers and a new energy driving it forward, the conference promises to do justice to the consumer goods industry's central role in the South African economy. According to the IDC, in 2011 the wholesale and retail trade's contribution to the total economy was 19.7% for employment and 12.8% for 'value-added'.

"Times are tough," says CGCSA CEO, Gwarega Mangozhe, "As an industry we believe that in some areas the sharing of ideas and best practice will make us all come through this period stronger. As the Council, we need to reintroduce ourselves to our constituency, to hear what the industry is saying and to facilitate a new dialogue between our members. Finally, an event like this enables us to showcase the industry as a powerful creative and economic force and to dominate the news cycle in a positive and dynamic way, rather than being reactive to the issues of the day.

"We're excited to have the conference organisers on board," says Gwarega. "The company has a long association with the Council, having worked on several of its publications over the years and assisted it in bringing thought leadership from the industry to its members and stakeholders."

Speakers announced so far include Vicki Cantrell, senior VP, National Retailer Federation; Mack Hoopes, shopper and consumer insights, Dial Corporation, a Henkel company; Siyabonga Gama, CEO, Transnet Freight Rail; and Chris Hart, strategist and chief economist, Investment Solutions.

For more information, go to www.cgcsa2012.co.za.