 23 Aug 2010 |
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To GM or not to GM? In a blow to anti-GM activists in South Africa, the Academy of Science of SA (ASSAf) has given the green light to the technology used in producing genetically modified foods. This is, however, a major coup for a continent suffering from severe food shortages - although some African countries will still need to be convinced of the worth of GM food supply. ASSAf's research shows that the technology can increase crop yields; and while this stands undisputed by anti-GM lobbyists, the African Centre for Biosafety says it is unsustainable in the long term. With hunger and malnutrition affecting one in three Africans, are you pro- or anti-GM foods? [poll]
Shan Radcliffe, Retail editor Please send retail news to: retailnews@bizcommunity.com Responses to this column welcomed in our new online editor's column archive. Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Simon Howden Top stories
RetailZim: An apparel shop and a funeral plan[Dumisani Ndlela] There is a new signal that seasons have changed in Zimbabwe, and it is the apparel shops displaying "winter clearance sale" or "summer fashions just arrived" signs on their display windows. Read more >>An advertiser's nightmare [Colin Ramparsadh] I read with great interest and amusement the recent article 'Mr Advertiser, can you reach me?' from Yvonne Johnston. Well, Mr Advertiser, I'm no bargain... Read more >>June retail sales up after World CupRetail trade sales in June rose by 7.4% after a higher than expected rise of 4.5% in May, according to figures released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Wednesday, 18 August 2010. Read more >>AssociationsZim: Over 100 brands up for Superbrand contest[Dumisani Ndlela] The Marketing Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ) says it remains on course in its hunt for the most powerful brands in the country under the Superbrand - Brand of the Year 2010 competition launched in March 2010. Read more >>Brand newsNew Barbie offers articulation Barbie Fashionista, a new release, offers a doll with 12 articulation points that allows her to strike a pose and show off her stylish attitudes. She can bend her elbows, twist her wrists, bend at the waist and roll her head. A full range is available at selected retailers and toy stockists. Read more >>Nuts about Tumbles Cadbury has relaunched its Tumbles brand and added the Nutties range to it, now renamed Tumbles, still available in its 150 gram and 250 gram box formats. [video] Read more >>Distell in top 100 ranking Amarula, from Distell, has been ranked as one of the world's fastest-growing spirit brands by Drinks International. Data for the listing is researched by Euromonitor International and covers sales for the 2009 calendar year. Also accorded SuperBrand status by the SuperBrand Council of South Africa, it is featured as the seventh biggest liqueur on the 2010 Drinks International Millionaire's List, which ranks the world's biggest-selling spirit brands. Read more >>Clothing & TextilesPretoria school wins design competition The 2010 Making the Difference Through Design competition, sponsored jointly by Sappi and Woolworths, was won by a group of Grade 11 and 12 design learners from Zwartkop High School in Centurion, who have been named the Gauteng and overall national winners. Read more >>Commercial propertyCorporate Social InvestmentDistributionBEE deal on fuel distribution depotKZN Oils, a 100% Black-owned company has purchased the Empangeni fuel distribution depot and all the assets and operations associated with the depot from Chevron South Africa, in line with the global optimisation strategy of the oil company. KZN Oils will take. Read more >>e-CommerceFriend and foe? Combating e-commerce 'friendly fraud'[Tricia Philips] While financial cybercrime against card-not-present retailers has many forms, "friendly fraud" has emerged as a particularly painful thorn in the side of e-commerce merchants. Defined as a situation in which a customer disputes a legitimate credit card transaction, falsely claiming fraud or non-delivery of goods, friendly fraud is extremely hard for retailers to identify and nearly as costly to their business as criminal fraud. Read more >>Bidorbuy buys into online payment companyBidorbuy.com Inc, a Delaware company and the parent of bidorbuy.co.za has bought a 33% stake in South African online payment solution, PayFast. It operates a South African online payment service through two websites and provides South Africans with an online payment service that makes it safe for buyers to send money and easy for sellers to receive money. It aggregates a number of different payment methods including credit cards, EFT and UKash within one simple payment system. Read more >>Exhibitions & EventsIndia Show in Joburg offers top fashion design The India Show, a trade and investment dialogue taking place in Johannesburg from 29 August to 1 September 2010 will star Miss India winners and models in a fashion showcase at 6.30pm on Monday 30 August in Newtown. Two of India's most accomplished fashion designers, Manish Malhotra and Satya Paul, will present their latest collections. Read more >>GlassExpo Africa conference offers international line-up To inform, debate and discuss the role that glass can play in achieving an optimal and sustainable building solutions, from opportunities to applications and legislation, an impressive line-up of local and international speakers have been invited to talk at GlassExpo Africa Conference. Read more >>Expand trade to UK, meet specialist trade advisorThe UK Trade & Investment, which facilitates trade between South Africa and the UK and assists South African companies to establish a physical presence in the UK through a range of complimentary services and advice about doing business in the UK, has organised a trade visit by Professor Janet Bainbridge. Read more >>FranchisingFranchising gets international interestSouth Africa's successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup has put the spotlight on South Africa as the powerhouse of Africa and the springboard to the rest of Africa. International franchise brands have already shown interest in bringing their concepts to South Africa, as part of their global franchise expansion plans and the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) will do all it can to promote South Africa as an investment option when it participates at the World Franchise Council Meeting in South Korea in October 2010. Read more >>Green sustainabilityFood retailers aim for quality organic produce [Zeenat Moorad] South African food retailers are taking strides to ensure that their offerings meet the rising consumer preference for organic and locally produced produce. Read more >>Import/ExportInformal retailingLogisticsManufacturingWeaker production input slows growthFollowing a considerable rise in May, growth in wholesale trade declined from an upward revised 3.6% year-on-year (y/y) in the previous month, to 2.6% y/y in June, according to data released on Wednesday by Statistics South Africa. Read more >>PackagingRegulatorySAB, Metcash in heated tribunal clash over discounts[Michael Bleby] Bitter accusations and fiery exchanges marked yesterday's Competition Tribunal hearing into South African Breweries (SAB) after the boss of one of the country's largest retail chains accused the brewing giant of getting a "free ride" by not paying companies such as his a fee to distribute beer. Read more >>The SA clothing industry and CPA [Renato Palmi] The clothing industry, from large retail chain-stores, private boutiques, independent designers and manufacturers either feels that the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) does not affect it or is ignorant to the content and consequences if it is not compliant. Read more >>ResearchFNB release internal trade sectors reportFNB's commercial economist, Sizwe Nxedlana, has released a report on the internal trade sectors (retail, wholesale and motor trade) that covers recent trends in the sectors and his expectations. Read more >>Black diamonds: all that glitters is not gold [Issa Sikiti da Silva] A thought-provoking research conducted by TNS Research Surveys has revealed what many marketers have all along ignored - that the black diamonds are not always what they seem to be and therefore they cannot be judged by their superficial cover (posh cars, suburban homes, designer clothes and shoes and many more). Instead, experts warn sellers to have a deep understanding of this market before reaching out to them. Read more >>Retail marketingFinal RAC Lite lineup RAC Lite 2010, the one-day version of the American Retail Advertising Conference, being presented by Caxton and CTP Publishers & Printers on 24 and 26 August, has announced its final two speakers in the lineup, Dr Azar Jammine and Mark Andeer. Read more >>Shipping & TransportCargo Carriers shines in the Eastern CapeCargo Carriers has announced that it is having its best new business year for 20 years through securing contracts including a 50-50 equity deal with Caltex Eastern Cape Marketer (CECM) to establish a new transportation business aptly named Khanya Carriers ('khanya' means 'to shine') for the distribution of Caltex fuels and lubricants into the rural Eastern Cape. Read more >>Durban trade port is a gateway to AfricaIn a few years, the Dube Trade Port - the "aerotropolis" taking root 35km north of Durban at King Shaka International Airport - should attract substantial investment at a faster rate than has been the case at other major airport sites, says Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting CEO TC Chetty. Read more >>Supply chainGreen light for genetic crops [Shannon Sherry] In the most authoritative endorsement yet in SA of genetically modified (GM) foods, the national scientific body has affirmed the technology as a tool to address chronic food shortages. Read more >>Technology
Brand newsGet set for much, much more talent - 'Oviaas'! - Cadbury South Africa Cadbury Lunch Bar has announced its official sponsorship of SABC 2's hit reality talent show, SA's Got Talent. Set to hit the small screen in September, Season 2 promises to entertain viewers with a bigger and better show... and much, much more talent! Read more >>
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Swiftly, swiftlee catchee Suzuki [Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Scooting around in a little pocket rocket can be bags of fun, particularly if you are lining up at the traffic lights in a cheeky little Suzuki Swift - not the standard model, but the testosterone-fed Sport derivative. Read more >>New study sheds light on recovery from intoxication A new study shows the impact of alcohol intoxication on reasoning and problem-solving abilities and may explain why some people feel they have recovered enough to drive after drinking. Read more >>More Motoring news...
Hmm to get up or sit the f**k down? [Ruth Cooper] I used to like Jax Panik, even though it was formulaic pop music it was tongue in cheek and didn't take itself too seriously, a phenomenon that is not often found in the sickly sweet pop world. But Jax Panik seems to have lost his sense of humour with new track Get Up (if you're hot) featuring HC. Read more >>'We have great hair' says Dead Alphabet [Ilva Pieterse] I caught up with Dead Alphabet at Oppikoppi "Sexy.Crooked.Teeth" for a quick interview after their show. Friends since high-school, this local rock band is made up of: Adam Edwards on vocals and guitar; Justin Gent on drums; Hugh Hunt on bass guitar; and Phil Klawansky on guitar and Vocals. Here is what they had to say. Read more >>A-Team of scoundrels [Patricia Pieterse] I never watched The A-Team as a child, so I was lucky to enter this movie with a blank slate. Granted, I probably missed a whole bunch of in-jokes, but at least I wasn't muttering about how it didn't stack up. Read more >>The Plastics' Shark - FTW [Sindy Peters] Remember that band that won the Red Bull Radar competition at Rocking the Daisies 2008? Well, they've finally dropped their debut album. The Plastics recently released Shark at the official Cape Town launch gig which took place at the always popular Assembly. Read more >>More BizLounge news...
"The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side." - Margaret Carty "A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes." - Hugh Downs "The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking." - Albert Einstein "The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity." - Peter F Drucker "We fail more often by timidity than by over-daring." - David Grayson Print - Print any item in this newsletter.
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