Headlines
RetailBrimstone buys controlling stake in Sea Harvest[ActivRetail] A consortium led by JSE listed Brimstone Investment Corporation has announced it is set to acquire Tiger Brands' 73.16% shareholding in Sea Harvest for R541,4 million. Tiger Brands has accepted the offer. Avusa awards for retailersGauteng's top retailers were honoured late last week at the inaugural annual Retail Awards ceremony at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. Surprise! US consumers looking for value and discount stores for the holidaysAccording to Deloitte's 23rd Annual Holiday Survey of retail spending and trends, 59% of consumers expect to reduce their spending this holiday season. Higher food prices (73%) and higher energy prices (69%) were the top two reasons for spending less, outpacing the economy (61%) and job uncertainty (18%). The trend is probably going to be followed here in SA, to a greater or lesser extent. SA will weather the economic storm - DG[Vivian Warby] The Director General of Trade and Industry Tshediso Matona on Thursday reiterated that he was confident that South Africa was not on a recessionary slide. ‘Worst on inflation front not over yet'[Siya Miti] Retailers fear the worst is not over on the inflation front despite Statistics SA's September CPIX inflation index dropping to 13% from 13.6% the previous month. Inaugural Retail Awards to highlight quality as keyQuality will be a key focus at the inaugural annual Retail Awards for Gauteng hosted by Avusa media titles, The Times and Sowetan. The gala award ceremony will be held at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg, tonight, Thursday, 30 October 2008. Pimp your what? [Chris Roper] Man, you gotta love the new American Swiss billboard on the N1 in Cape Town, and on whatever that road is that takes you to OR Tambo in Joburg. It's a pic of a ring or something, with the words "Pimp your Bride". Fantastic. At last, we have a company that's taking the downturn in the economy seriously, and looking after the consumer. Advertisement:
AssociationsWoolies, union at CCMA[Kea' Modimoeng] The five-week long strike by the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers' Union against Woolworths is about to end.
Banking & FinanceBanking on loyalty: Economic boot camp for SMBs[Jerri Stroud] USA: The financial services industry is finding creative ways to deal with the economic downturn - keeping customers loyal by offering them a valuable education that will help their businesses. The desired result is that both parties survive and grow together. Johannesburg economy grows by 6.4%[Michael Appel] With an economic growth rate of 6.4% between 2006 and 2008, Johannesburg remains one of South Africa's most important economic hubs in terms of investment, business and construction. US insurers' strategy moves to direct online sales[Jonathan Steiman] Today's increasingly competitive marketplace elevates the importance of an efficient sales strategy that meets the demands of current and future policyholder. Helping defaulting customers pays offFirst National Bank (FNB) Credit Card - together with its advertising agency Action Ambro's - has won Silver in the prestigious International Echo Award in Las Vegas, Nevada, for its Credit Card Debt Repair campaign.
Brand newsNew TV commercial is no monkey business In a case of primates for prime TV, Savanna has gone to Hollywood for creative inspiration. Bling it on... some art on the lighter side BIC lighters are world leaders in their market, with five million sold every day. What's more, they are making sure of continued growth with their annual launches of new series of these fashionable yet practical accessories. PEP opens in AngolaSouth Africa's biggest single brand store network, PEP, is extending its southern African store footprint into Angola and is making a major investment in Africa's fastest growing country. On 31 October 2008, PEP opens its first store in Lobito, central Angola. The group has also established a 2 000 m² distribution centre in Benguela. Nando's new Peri Deli[Tshepiso Seopa] From the brand that has become synonymous with Peri Peri comes the Peri Deli - a niche brand, smaller-format, contemporary Nando's store that sells freshly prepared grab-and-go fast food. Cadbury appoints new ad agency Cadbury South Africa has appointed Ogilvy as creative agency on their chocolate brands - a portfolio that includes global giants Dairy Milk, Lunch Bar, Crunchie, Flake and Milk Tray. Bizcommunity members urged to vote for pet food nominee - Vondis Holistic Pet NutritionVondis Holistic Pet Nutrition has been nominated for the Nedbank Small Business Award. As Vondis is also a fellow member of Bizcommunity we ask you to pledge your support by voting for us. Rentokil: Pioneers in strategic fly control - Rentokil With fly season on our doorstep, Rentokil Pest Control has recently launched a unique four-step programme to control flies.
Corporate Social InvestmentPEP helps out with extra lessons[David Jackson] Training scholars in essential life skills serves an invaluable dual purpose: it provides some of the building blocks towards achieving a good education, and it helps to keep them free of the temptation of becoming involved in criminal activity. Protea provides for pooches during ‘Dinner in the Dark'General Managers and staff from Protea Hotels around the country and Africa recently got together and raised R212,883 for the SA Guide Dogs Association at a unique dinner where they were all blindfolded. Annual Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards 2008Inyathelo, the home of philanthropy in South Africa, will be hosting their annual Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards - sponsored by Standard Bank South Africa - which will take place on the 5 November 2008 at the Walled City, Ratanga Junction, Cape Town. Global clothing brand helps South Africans to know their statusAlthough virtually all South Africans know that HIV/AIDS exists, including how the disease is contracted and the importance of condomising in preventing its spread, experts estimate that less than one third of the population have ever been tested for HIV/AIDS. And despite the ongoing press surrounding the pandemic, the major reason why South Africans do not submit themselves for testing is that they do not believe that they are at risk. Sale of SA ivory to go towards elephant research[Nthambeleni Gabara] The sale of 51 tons of stockpiled ivory will benefit elephant research, conservation and community development, according to the South African National Parks (SANParks).
e-CommerceOnline shopping drops with consumer confidenceSAN FRANCISCO, USA: An industry report released Tuesday shows that US visits to online shops have been sinking along with consumer confidence as retailers brace for a stingy Christmas gift-giving season. Recognition coming in leaps and boundsThe results of The Standard Innovation 100 Awards were recently released and local social media/online retail outlet Springleap.com was judged as the second most innovative retail company worldwide, placing it above the Apple Application Store, Amazon.com, Threadless and thousands of other nominees. Springleap has also been nominated by Frost and Sullivan for the Product Line Strategy Award that is presented each year to a company that has demonstrated the most insight into the needs and product demand of its customers. The site is currently competing in the South African E-commerce Awards in the Clothing and Accessories category, up against the likes of Edgars and Keedo.
ExhibitionsGM concepts and exotics at JIMSGeneral Motors will display a record number of concept cars and exotics at the Johannesburg International Auto Show which runs from 1 - 9 November at the National Exhibition Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg. New home for the Rand ShowSouth Africa's oldest and ostensibly most successful consumer exhibition, the Rand Show, will move into its new home as of April 2009 at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand. The 11-day show will take place from 3 - 13 April 2008 at Gallagher with an entirely energised exhibition and entertainment offering.
FranchisingFamous Brands revenue was up 25% to R714mFamous Brands, the quick service restaurant and casual dining franchisor, has reported a 7% increase in diluted headline earnings per share to 78 cents for the six months ended August from 73 cents a year ago.
HospitalityPartnership search of culinary excellence
Prudential is the sponsoring partner of New Media Publishing's Eat Out Restaurant Awards, now in its 11th year. According to Bernard Fick, director of Prudential Portfolio Managers of South Africa, there are surprisingly many analogies between the world of asset management and the culinary industry. “Award winning asset managers as well as top rated chefs have to consider very carefully the ingredients that make up their offerings,” he says. The 2008 Prudential Eat Out Top 10 Restaurants will be announced on 30 November 2008 at a gala event in Cape Town.
Import/ExportCape selected to host world experts in wine tourism Some of the foremost role players in international wine destinations are set to meet in the Cape to discuss important new trends in wine and wine tourism, when the city of Cape Town and the Cape Winelands Municipality will co-host the annual general meeting of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network in November. SA - Luxembourg trade relations on the tableForeign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is to host the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn for bilateral political, economic and trade discussions. Spotlight on SA during Service Exporter Network meetingNation brands are difficult to get right. When it comes to Africa, the branding of the continent can be particularly one-sided. Africa is often misrepresented. Despite being one of the world's most compelling continents. Africa's dominant image bas been created by charity brands such as Live Aid. The tables, however, are beginning to turn. Illicit trade undermining single East African marketIllicit trade is undermining moves to establish a single market in East Africa according to a report issued yesterday, 30 October, 2008 at the East Africa International Business Forum in Kigali. BUSA calls for a new partnership with ChinaBusiness Unity South Africa has called for a new partnership for economic cooperation between Chinese and South African business in Africa.
Informal RetailingCape Town to address tensions between township tradersThe City of Cape Town is conducting a study to determine the underlying causes of tensions among township traders in an effort to create a healthy trading environment for both local and foreign traders.
Instore mediaGame launches interactive stores[ActivRetail] Mass Discounters has launched its Gameactive in-store brand-building promotional service for Game stores around the country. It aims to help companies promote their products in Game stores and simultaneously give customers one-on-one assistance with all products.
LogisticsMixed fortunes for transport firmCargo Carriers interim results hold steady overall despite fuel cost and interest rate increases.
ManufacturingSignificant 3.1% drop in factory gate prices[Michael Appel] Pretoria - The Production Price Index (PPI) for September dropped quite considerably by 3.1 percentage points, down from 19.1% in August 2008 reported Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) today.
Packaging2008 Pentawards winners The international jury for the Pentawards, a worldwide competition devoted exclusively to packaging design, presided over by Gérard Caron, last week announced its 2008 list of winners. Best of Show, winning the Diamond Pentaward, went to the Piper Heidsieck Rosé Sauvage champagne bottle, signed by the Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf and produced by Sleever International. US consumers less tolerant of recalls, says studyPackagers face public's growing concern over safety of products. London museum is home to packaging nostalgia A packaging museum in London presents containers from yesteryear as a testament to the role packaging plays in shaping our culture. Plasma coating protects wine in PET bottle US-based company Artisan Wine launches new wines in 750ml PET bottles with an internal silicon oxide coating that eliminates oxygen penetration.
PromotionsNothing frosty about this fun family festivalWant a day in the country, where tranquillity reigns and wine abounds? Then mark your diary for Saturday 15 November when the wine ward of Voor Paardeberg dons its glad rags for its annual festival. The event takes place at the Visitors Centre on the David Frost Estate and promises activities for the entire family. Kids Intellectual Property SA - Egg Marketing & Communications A closer look at homegrown children's brands and entertainment properties and the licensing thereof. Bostik Prestik, 101 and then some! - Egg Marketing & Communications [Charlotte Bradley] Bostik Prestik is the original, reusable adhesive - a fact which is underlined by people's reference to similar products as ‘Prestik', regardless of the brand. The product has become such an integral part of our everyday lives that we sometimes forget how truly unique it is.
RegulatoryKenya: KBL moves to court to settle Ksh21m disputeKenya Breweries Ltd (KBL) will face a beer distributor in a full hearing in court over a Sh21 million stock dispute. FDA warns Bayer Healthcare on illegally marketing two unapproved drugsAction involves Bayer Aspirin with Heart Advantage and Bayer Women's Low Dose Aspirin + Calcium. National Ports Act - friend or foe?Although the National Ports Act commenced almost two years ago, the full effects of it are yet to be felt. The act contemplates some drastic changes to the regulation of port facilities and port services, one of the most notable being the requirement that all port facilities and port services be licensed or registered by the National Ports Authority (TNPA) in terms of the procedures laid out in the Act and its rules and guidelines.
ResearchWhy we buy: Brain waves don't lie[Seth Brown] It's the holy grail of marketing analytics - an unbiased look into the neurological signals underlying purchasing decisions. Scientists in England have been using neuroimaging to measure people's responses to marketing messages. Cellphone sales slide in Q3[Peter Svensson] The usual pre-holiday ramp-up in cellphone shipments didn't happen this year because of the feeble global economy, a research firm said Thursday. US consumers less confident, more job losses expectedBigreseach, a leading US-based market research company has released its report for October. It makes for some grim reading... More UK businesses fail in financial crisisExperian, the global information services company, today published its latest insolvency data. The analysis shows that there were 16,591 UK business failures in the first nine months of 2008, representing a 22% increase compared to the same period in 2007.
Retail servicesCape convention centre contributes R2.7 billion to SA's GDPThe Cape Town International Convention Centre has contributed an estimated R2.7 billion to South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2007/08. Updated mobile ad guidelines releasedNEW YORK; LONDON, UK; SINGAPORE & SAO PAULO: The updated global Mobile Advertising Guidelines, released yesterday, Wednesday, 29 October 2008, by the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), address mobile TV and video and multimedia messaging (MMS). The MMA has published regional ad guidelines since 2005 and globalised these in April this year. Centre launched to provide best-in-class after-sales service Philips SA Consumer Lifestyle has launched its flagship Authorised Service Centre at the new Stone Ridge Shopping Centre in Edenvale. Claimed to be the first of its kind in Africa, the service centre is aimed at giving consumers best-in-class after-sales service in a highly stylised environment. Customer chat tricks of the trade[Anand Chopra] Sure, Web-based chat applications on your site represent a leap in customer service and sales technology. But let's not forget that the brick-and-mortar standards still apply. If an end user is comfortable and finds your online rep trustworthy and predictive of his or her needs, the opportunities increase exponentially.
RetailersMore success in store[Sasha Planting] New Clicks' management team has reached an important milestone in the turnaround of the business: the group's return on equity (ROE) increased from 24.7% to 32.8%, easily above the 30% target set for this year. Target's response to credit crisis: Cut customers' limits[Anne D'Innocenzio] USA: Target, facing slower sales and rising delinquencies in its credit card business, last week said it is further tightening terms for its card holders - even those with good standing - and is being more aggressive in collection activity. German retailer Hugo Boss cuts 2008 targets The German fashion company Hugo Boss said on Thursday that its nine-month net profit had fallen and dropped its forecasts owing to the economic slowdown. Hugo Boss net profit fell by 17% from the first nine months of 2007 to €128 million ($168 million), even though sales gained 3.0% to €1.36 billion, it said in a statement. "In the context of a considerable decline of retail sales in important regions during the second half of 2008," the company said that full year sales growth would not fall within the previously forecast range of 68%. Hugo Boss also said it would not increase core earnings this year, but that on the contrary, they were expected to fall to between €210-220 million. - I-Net Bridge - AFP
SecurityChat rooms harbour 'fraud as a service' peddlers[Phil Muncaster] Newly organised methods of online criminal activity are threatening to democratise fraud and undermine banks and online traders, according to security experts at this year's RSA Conference Europe.
Supply chainSupply chain management awards open for entryThe nominations for the third annual Supply Chain Management (SCM) Education Excellence Awards are open. Hosted by SAPICS (The Association for Operations Management of Southern Africa), with the participation of the Federation of Supply Chain Management Professionals, the awards will take place in April 2009. The green supply chain: Cutting out weak links[Vivian Wagner] As companies evaluate their carbon footprints, supply chains are one area of business that have come under increased scrutiny. Making the complex network of manufacturers, packagers, shippers, wholesalers and retailers greener protects the environment, saves energy, and ultimately reduces costs. Bio-fuels production dominates Africa's arable land[Michael Appel] With the global demand for the production of bio-fuels growing, Africa's arable land once used for food production is increasingly being used to grow crops for the cleaner more sustainable alternative to oil.
TechnologyHappiness is a warm controller[Renay San Miguel] The Beatles are making a major move to bring their appeal to a younger generation. The band will be featured in a play-along game made by Harmonix, makers of "Rock Band". Beatles music has not been sold in digital form before. Edcon's stores go .mobiTwo major brands within Edcon's discount division, Legit and Jet, have become some of the first retailers to make use of new media technology that enables them to reach their customers via their cell phones and a unique .mobi site. Tighter purse strings could choke consumer electronics firms[Michelle Quinn and Alex Pham] The high-tech industry's near-term health depends on how badly you need that iPod or flat-panel television. The king of colour, and black & whiteIndustry sales figures by InfoSource, an independent market research organisation, have revealed that Bidvest company, Konica Minolta South Africa has strengthened its position to become South Africa's number one player in multifunctional printing systems (MFPs) in the first half of 2008.
TrainingFirst post-grad flavour and fragrance course open for enrollmentThe South African Association of the Flavour and Fragrance Industry (SAAFFI), in conjunction with the University of Johannesburg, has custom-designed a groundbreaking university course at NQF-7 level in order to attract newly graduating students to the exciting and creative world of fragrance and flavour serving the food, beverage, cosmetic, toiletry and detergent industries. | 
