South African group Distell, the world's fourth largest producer of brandies, has bought a 19th-century chateau in the heart of Cognac which is to become the home for its recently acquired cognac brand, Bisquit. 10 Jul 2009
Despite expectations that the economy will recover from the global financial crisis, consumers are still keeping their wallets closed. To keep a restaurant business going is even harder now. 10 Jul 2009
Motorists will from Friday onwards conveniently be able to pay for petrol after filling up with their credit cards. 10 Jul 2009
Aluminium may be the most abundant metal on the planet, but Pietermaritzburg-based manufacturer Hulamin will soon find it more difficult to get its hands on the material. Other local value adding producers will be affected, too. 10 Jul 2009
In the middle of a deep recession, Shoprite was still able to perform better that most of its competitors, an analyst said Thursday, 9 July 2009. 10 Jul 2009
Shopping cart abandonment is an e-commerce evil, but it's not a necessary one. Researchers have uncovered some of the top reasons customers walk away, and e-tailers that choose to ignore them do so at their peril. Taking a holistic approach to protecting shopping carts can go a long way toward protecting, perhaps growing, revenue. 10 Jul 2009
Consumer product companies have been cutting down on extraneous packaging for good reasons. The rise in raw material, energy, manufacturing and transportation costs, coupled with the rise in consumers' environmental consciousness all play a part in reducing packaging. 10 Jul 2009
The estimated manufacturing production for May fell by 17.1% after dropping a revised 21.8% in April, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) announced on Thursday, 9 July 2009. 9 Jul 2009
PARIS: French lawmakers opened hearings on Wednesday, 8 July 2009, on whether to ban the burka, calling in experts who said France should act to discourage Muslim women from wearing the head-to-toe veil. 9 Jul 2009
Ice-cream producer Milkworx on Tuesday, 7 July 2009, announced that it had signed an offer to acquire agricultural and food processing company Ububele through a share swap. 9 Jul 2009
WASHINGTON: Amazon has cut the price of its electronic book reader, the Kindle, from US$359 to $299. 9 Jul 2009
Massmart Holdings reported on Wednesday, 8 July 2009, that total sales for the 52-week period to June 28 2009 increased to R43.1 billion, a growth of 10.4% over the prior year's 52-week period, with inflation estimated at 11.4%. 9 Jul 2009
SA's largest food and goods wholesaler, Massmart, faces strike action if workers' demands for pay increases and better working conditions were not met, the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) said this week. 9 Jul 2009
The CEO of JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties, the largest listed property company, on Wednesday said SA was unlikely to see any “meaningful” commercial development in the next 12-18 months due to the economic slump. 9 Jul 2009
Four hundred special edition Mandela Day bangles will go on sale next week to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday. 8 Jul 2009
The Cape Wine Academy's MD and wine master, Marilyn Cooper, has been named one of the three finalists in the CEO Magazine's ‘Most Influential Women in Business & Government Awards' in the Arts and Culture Sector. 8 Jul 2009
Sony Ericsson has launched its latest in eco-friendly mobile phones, offering users a greener choice without having to compromise on style or design. 8 Jul 2009
Cowey Centre and its commercial office building in Durban's Morningside area is set for a R12m makeover. Growthpoint Properties, which owns the building, says the refurbishment is scheduled to start this month and will be undertaken amid trading, with measures in place to ensure minimal disruption for shoppers. 8 Jul 2009
The livelihood of about 6000 informal traders at Warwick Junction, Durban's primary transport hub, are being threatened by the eThekwini municipality's plan to demolish the historic Early Morning Market to make way for a reconfigured taxi rank and R400m mall, Caroline Skinner, a researcher from the School of Developmental Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said Tuesday. 8 Jul 2009
British luxury clothing company Hackett is looking to expand in South Africa despite a downturn in the retail sector. 8 Jul 2009
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