Manufacturing today is no longer simply about making physical products but about finding new ways to create and capture value for the end user. Changes in consumer demand, the nature of products, the economics of production and the economics of the value chain have led to major shifts in the way goods are designed, produced and sold. Increasingly customers who are spoilt for choice are demanding personalisation and customisation, almost blurring the line between consumer and creator. 11 Jul 2017
Austrian plastic packaging company, Alpla, has purchased 100% of South African headquartered Boxmore Packaging, which specialises in PET pre-forms, PET bottles and closures, and currently employs around 1,000 members of staff at nine locations. The Boxmore acquisition is Alpla's fifth since the beginning of the year and its largest buy-out ever. 11 Jul 2017
Biogen, the manufacturer of Testoforte, a supplement marketed as a sports brand, now says athletes should not use its over-the-counter sport products. This was after Testoforte was found to contain testosterone - a steroid that is banned by the World Anti-Doping Authority. 11 Jul 2017
With Stats SA reporting a 0.7% GDP decrease in the first quarter of 2017, the announcement we were all dreadiWith Stats SA reporting a 0.7% GDP decrease in the first quarter of 2017, the announcement we were all dreading finally came in June: South Africa was officially in a recession. For marketers and retailers, first thoughts have turned to consumers; will this economic fallout drag consumer spending down further and irrevocably change how and where consumers spend their money? 11 Jul 2017
Cashflow is one of the cornerstones of your business because if you can't get it right, your business will crumble. 10 Jul 2017
South Africa's clothing and textile industry has seen some trying times. In the past 15 years, jobs in the local sector have decreased from 200,000 to 19,000 and numerous factories have shut their doors - some following reports of worker exploitation. Then there's the competition from large international retail chains and brands with an eye on increasing their South African footprint, their profits sometimes built on the backs of low-cost foreign labour sourced from the likes of China and Bangladesh. 10 Jul 2017
The Wholesale and Retail Leadership Chair has released a research study on ‘Expansion of South African Retailer's Activities into Africa'. The study suggests that to realise their full potential, retailers need to understand their consumers better and form strategic partnerships within the countries they are operating in. 10 Jul 2017
A new report from Forrester has identified five key success factors for e-commerce businesses as they plan, launch or expand their organisations. 10 Jul 2017
Sonic is to launch hybrid burgers that could potentially be a game changer in the fast food chain industry. 10 Jul 2017
YANGON, Myanmar - With Myanmar emerging as a manufacturing hub for mass-produced clothes, a crop of young designers are using homegrown fashion to preserve the country's sartorial heritage and reshape the sweatshop model. 7 Jul 2017
TFG, the retailer that owns Foschini, @Home and Totalsports is in talks to acquire British womenswear brand Hobbs, a UK press report says. Hobbs, a high-end fashion retailer, was put up for sale by its private-equity owner 3i in January for 80m, according to The Times of London. 7 Jul 2017
The third batch of Nigerian entrepreneurs has graduated from GE Lagos Garage Training Programme, which provided participants the opportunity to interact directly with the latest manufacturing technologies, including 3D printers and laser cutters that enable innovation through rapid prototyping. 7 Jul 2017
The big-name supermarkets should be compelled to stock products produced by "smallholders" and new shopping mall developments should be made to allocate 25% of floor space to local township businesses, it has been suggested to the Competition Commission. 7 Jul 2017
South African financial technology company, Sureswipe, has announced a new integrated payment and POS solution that boasts 2-second transaction speed to growing and independent retailers. 7 Jul 2017
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), Africa's largest Coca-Cola bottler which is headquartered in South Africa, has acquired Equator Bottlers, the third largest Coca-Cola bottler in Kenya. The Competition Authority of Kenya has now approved the acquisition, as all of the conditions precedent were either fulfilled or waived and the deal was completed on 30 June 2017. 7 Jul 2017
Food producer Clover's share price fell 4% to R16.30 on Thursday morning after it announced it had completed moving control of its milk trading arm to dairy farmers. 7 Jul 2017
Swedish retailer H&M plans to open another six stores in SA before the end of 2017 as it extends its reach in the country. 7 Jul 2017
CANADA - Canada has never been a driving force in fashion. As a nation, our culture and identity are often reduced to stereotypes involving plaid, nature and hockey. Though we have held multiple fashion weeks, they never quite found their rhythm, and failed to sync with the global industry. 6 Jul 2017
A new chicken has come to roost in the richest square mile in Africa. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is set to open its doors in Sandton next week, but feathers are set to fly as the New Orleans-based brand muscles in on territory ruled by KFC and Chicken Licken. 6 Jul 2017
The Grocery Retail Sector Market Inquiry, initiated by the Competition Commission, has received input from the Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation (SLF), in partnership the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE) and the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape. 6 Jul 2017
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