According to the Direct Selling Association of South Africa, this succesful sector provides jobs for 1.1 million independent business owners, which is increasing by over 13% annually. It contributes more than R11 billion in sales to the South African economy and revenue is anticipated to grow by at least 7% this year. 17 Feb 2017
Despite difficult trading conditions in both South Africa and Australia, Woolworths Holdings announced that group sales increased by 6.7% to R37.8bn and profit before tax increased 37.9%, following the sale by David Jones of its Market Street property in Sydney for a profit of $172m (R1762m). Adjusted diluted headline earnings per share (adHEPS) declined by 2.4% to 244.9cps. This was for 26 weeks to 25 December 2016. 17 Feb 2017
Nigerian contemporary lifestyle retail group, The Style Group is offering fashion, accessories and design services via modern social media commerce. In the booming social media and e-commerce market of Nigeria, its model is a hit and is reaching thousands of Nigerians eager to shop online. 17 Feb 2017
Woolworths has turned its focus to sourcing goods from SA and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a move that CEO Ian Moir says has been good for business. In the 26 weeks ended December 25, its clothing and general merchandise sales grew by 3.5% with inflation of 7.3%. Comparable sales in this segment grew by 1.2%. 17 Feb 2017
Like Amazon's Alexa, Google's digital assistant will allow buyers to add payment information to their accounts to enable voice-activated shopping (AFP Photo/Spencer Platt)
WASHINGTON – Google announced on Thursday it was launching voice-activated shopping from its artificial intelligence-powered Home speaker, in a direct challenge to Amazon's Alexa devices. 17 Feb 2017
Shoprite Checkers has again supplied the sixty-five entrants into the annual Heidelberg Giant Pumpkin Festival with special hand-selected pumpkin seeds imported from Canada. 16 Feb 2017
Martin Kruger
A newly announced business partnership between Panasonic and Mustek will enable Mustek to start distributing Panasonic products such as document scanners, Toughbook mobile computers and high definition visual communications (HDVC) video conferencing solutions. 16 Feb 2017
The retail space is changing drastically through the evolution of technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), which can offer retailers better control over stock flows and better customer service. This technology, and in particular machine learning, can step in to help retailers cater to the needs of their customers in smarter ways. 16 Feb 2017
A South African study has identified key areas of the global food supply chain where high losses occur, particularly in developing countries. Reducing food losses and waste can contribute to efforts to alleviate world hunger. 16 Feb 2017
Tetra Gemina Aseptic family - Square, Leaf and Crystal - featuring the closures to be made at the Thailand factory.
Food processing and packaging solutions company, Tetra Pak has announced that it will invest €24m into Rayong, Thailand with its first factory for packaging closures in South Asia, East Asia & Oceania. The advanced regional manufacturing facility will be located within the company's existing straws and strips plant and will become operational in early 2018. 16 Feb 2017
December's total retail sales were 0.9% higher than the same month in 2015, beating the economists' consensus of 0.2% growth. 16 Feb 2017
Puma's Run The Streets campaign gets a local twist with rapper Gigi Lamayne, 2015 South African Hip Hop Awards winner Nasty C, Digital Maskandi founder and artist Mashayabhuqe KaMamba and Puma's own Rolo Rozay lacing up in the IGNITE Limitless Core and IGNITE evoKNIT Fade footwear. 15 Feb 2017
Food safety is a key area of focus for manufacturers, brands and retailers alike. Consumers must trust the products they purchase, therefore if there is a quality issue this can easily lead to dissatisfaction, negative feelings towards a brand or even a costly product recall. 15 Feb 2017
Whether one is considering taking a leap into entrepreneurship or thinking of adding to one's growing business portfolio, investing in the fuel retail sector might offer the financial independence and wealth creation opportunities one has been seeking. 15 Feb 2017
The Estée Lauder Companies has partnered with Nigerian online retailer Jumia to launch three of the company's brands – Clinique, Estée Lauder and Aramis. 15 Feb 2017
Moody's Investors Service has joined other rating agencies and withdrawn all of its ratings on Edcon. Earlier this month S&P Global also announced that it had withdrawn its ratings on Edcon, after downgrading the group's long-term corporate credit rating to default. 15 Feb 2017
Gold Brands Investments has agreed to purchase a 50% stake in Hot Hot B Holdings, which owns Hot Hot Burger Bar, a themed burger restaurant chain operating in Greece and Crete, for €800,000. 15 Feb 2017
Euromonitor has released its new health and wellness research that indicates health and wellness continue to outperform the wider packaged food and soft drinks industries. 15 Feb 2017
A new retail home delivery service for townships, funded by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), has launched in Ekhuruleni. Buddibox is operated by youth from within the community who are trained up to become micro-entrepreneurs (Buddis), earning their own cash, delivering FMCG goods for the family shopping basket, from toiletries to fresh produce. 14 Feb 2017
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