Soft goods such as coffee, sugar, cotton and orange juice are nowhere near their all time high prices like so many other commodities such as energies, grains and metals. The soft sector of this market may be the next leader of the commodity bull market. Within the soft commodities, coffee futures may be next to make a historic market run. 10 Jul 2008
The National Prosecuting Authority has revealed that New Clicks Holdings trading as Musica has been found guilty of trading in counterfeit goods, in a matter that was successfully prosecuted by the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU). 10 Jul 2008
Music and gaming chain Musica has instituted legal proceedings against Dolphin Enterprises after being found guilty of selling pirated Sony PlayStation products it had bought from the Durban-based company. 10 Jul 2008
USA - Retailers should use the standards set by the Payment Card Industry as a starting point when ensuring that their customer data is as secure as possible, suggests Kristin Lovejoy, IBM's director of corporate security strategy. 10 Jul 2008
The entire United States is debating whether the country is in the midst of an economic slowdown. Some of the signs are fairly explicit: steadily rising fuel prices and their cascading effects on the average consumer, unemployment rate bumps and the continued fallout from the housing market bubble. Independent of which side of the debate you fall, there is one sector of the business world, outside of the oil industry, that continues to defy even the toughest economic naysayer: online businesses. 10 Jul 2008
Earlier this week, the US Food and Drug Administration ordered the makers of certain antibiotics to add a 'black box' label warning - the FDA's strongest - to alert patients of possible tendon ruptures and tendonitis. 10 Jul 2008
The introduction of Grolsch's first batch of premium Dutch brew last week by SAB Ltd through a tightly-controlled distribution plan has been met with a "very encouraging" consumer reaction, says SAB corporate communications manager Janine van Stolk. Supplies were sent to those customers believed to be best placed to shape this global brand's position in the South African market. 10 Jul 2008
Bovril is bringing the flavour of its beef spread to the dinner table with the launch of its new brand extensions: Bovril Gravy Powder and Bovril Instant Gravy. 9 Jul 2008
In an effort to assist debt counsellors overcome the challenges they are facing, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) and the Banking Association of South Africa (BASA) are currently conducting training sessions for debt counsellors until the end of August 2008. 9 Jul 2008
MiWay, the newly launched direct financial services provider, has introduced its official online rewards store, mirewards.co.za. 9 Jul 2008
The Gauteng Provincial Government, under the auspices of the Department of Economic Development, is looking to once again honour a select group of women in the prestigious Passing the Torch Awards 2008. 9 Jul 2008
Retailers would prefer the government to use social welfare measures — rather than price-fixing — to alleviate the effect of rising food prices. 9 Jul 2008
A new study and analysis by Royal Mail, with the Association of Publishing Agencies (APA) and Millward Brown, reveals a range of benefits by making some format adjustments to customer magazines. 9 Jul 2008
Warning that the "hyper acceleration" of some of the fastest growing emerging media platforms - including search, social media, online video, gaming, interactive TV, and digital out-of-home - appear to be slowing, Interpublic's Magna Global unit has released an outlook that nonetheless called for a 31.1% rate of growth for emerging media in 2009. 9 Jul 2008
The worldwide market for CRM software grew in 2007, according to a Gartner report. Emerging markets were a major factor in the increase, as were the popularity of Software as a Service offerings. The United States accounted for 53% of all CRM sales during the year. 9 Jul 2008
Employers who forbid the use of social networks in the workplace often do so out of concern for security and productivity. However, if approached correctly, social networks can offer businesses great opportunities for employee training and learning, writes Udutu CEO Roger Mundell. 9 Jul 2008
The South African-borne red espresso, a premium ground rooibos tea produced under patent for use in a coffee espresso machine, is taking the beverage market by storm. It was recently awarded ‘Best New Product' in the specialty beverage category at the Specialty Coffee Association of America's 20th Annual Conference & Exhibition, held in Minneapolis. 9 Jul 2008
Andy Grove, the former chairman of Intel, has made it his mission to trumpet the virtue and urgent necessity of plug-in vehicles. "The drumbeat of the electrical transportation is accelerating like nothing I've ever seen in my life," he said. He's not only working to encourage development of new cars, but also to encourage the practice of retrofitting old cars with new engines. 9 Jul 2008
The Maputo International Trade Fair (FACIM) is respected as the most important international event of its kind in Mozambique and one of the most important in Southern Africa since 1963. The event will take place from 1-7 September 2008 with business people and enterprises from different parts of the world coming together. 8 Jul 2008
Shoprite has gained market share at the bottom end of the market, taking custom from cash-and-carry outlets. 8 Jul 2008
