Dominating local headlines since yesterday, the source of the world's largest Listeriosis outbreak, which has claimed roughly 180 lives since January last year, has been traced to an Enterprise Foods facility in Polokwane. An RCL Foods factory in the Free State also tested positive for Listeria, but samples from this facility are not the same strain that is causing the outbreak. The department has issued the affected companies with safety recall notices.
In other food and beverage news, the South African Brandy Foundation has expressed its concern about the recently announced excise duty hikes for brandy, claiming they could pose a major setback for producers and impede recent entrepreneurship, training and job creation initiatives. And we explore Bean There Coffee Company's buying philosophy that centres on the direct sourcing of fair trade coffee from small-scale farmers in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In fashion news, I interview Durban-born designer Mathew Kieser on the inspiration behind fashion label Sol-Sol's signature brand of smart casual streetwear. Meanwhile, AFI has announced the designer lineup and venue for Cape Town Fashion Week set to take place on 23 and 24 March.
Other good reads this week include details on how e-commerce automation and personalisation is ushering in new era of retail in SA, and we take a look at pros and cons of the growing multi-unit franchising model.
Here's to a creative week!
Lauren Hartzenberg
Retail editor: Bizcommunity.com
