Regulator 'knew of bid to challenge Metcash'

[Michael Bleby] A cloud lifted on Pick n Pay's troubled bid to sell its Franklins stores to Australian retailer Metcash last week when evidence emerged in court that the regulator, despite opposing the sale on the grounds it would harm competition, knew all about a rival's bid to set up a wholesale operation to challenge Metcash. Read more >>

Jan wholesale trade sales growth revised downwards

One is not surprised by the marginal downward correction in wholesale trade sales growth in January to 6.5% year on year (y/y) from an upwardly revised 7.1% y/y in December 2010. Read more >>

Retail sales fall lower than expected

Retail trade sales in January fell lower than expected at 6.4% year-on-year, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Wednesday, 16 March 2010. Read more >>

all adidas campaign, launch of denim, bags

adidas has created a campaign, leveraging the its Sport Performance, Originals and Sport Style sub-brands, ensuring that it is the most diverse and all-encompassing glimpse into the brand. The campaign showcases its presence across different sports, cultures and lifestyles, fusing the worlds of sport, music and fashion. It launched yesterday, 16 March 2011 with its hero advert film. Read more >>

JD Group to buy Steinhoff's SA retail assets

JD Group on Monday, 14 March 2011, announced the proposed acquisition of Unitrans Automotive, one of the four largest motor vehicle retailers in SA, and Steinbuild, owners of the Timbercity and Pennypinchers building supplies and DIY businesses. Read more >>

Banks, telecoms companies set clash as models are changing

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] In the next 24 to 36 months, the African continent could see banks clash with telecommunication companies, as the latter are looking for new horizons to expand, particularly focusing more on micro-based transactions, and as both industries are engaged in the quest to enhance their store values, Stafford Masie predicted today in Sandton, Johannesburg. Read more >>

Retail withdrawals increase

According to FNB, more consumers are withdrawing money from supermarket tills, up 10% since December 2010 and 11% more are using debit cards to pay at the till. More than 30% of the bank's lower income customers make regular POS transactions a month with more than 12% of these customers withdrawing cash at the same time. Read more >>

GE Africa gets new president, CEO

The new General Electric (GE) president and CEO, Jay Ireland, has been appointed for GE Africa and will be based in Nairobi. He will report to John Rice, president and CEO, GE Global Growth and Operations and have responsibility for the sub-Saharan countries. Read more >>

Three Ships wins coveted international award

The Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish received the category award for the 'Best Rest of the World Blended Whisky' at Whisky Magazine's 2011 World Whisky Awards, held in London earlier this month, where 300 whiskies battled over three tasting rounds for the coveted titles of the '2011 Best Whiskies in the World'. Read more >>

Where fashion goes...

[Herman Manson: @marklives] ...The rest will follow. That is the assumption trend forecast analyst Dion Chang works on with his analysis of the fast-paced change the fashion industry is grappling with. He recently shared his findings at the Freeworld Design Centre in Cape Town as a guest of New Media Publishing. Read more >>

Protea Hotel Franschhoek rooms for sale

Investors can take up an opportunity to purchase a fully furnished hotel room in the 4-Star Protea Hotel Franschhoek, which is managed by the Protea Hospitality Group. For a period of 36 months from the date of transfer, each owner will be guaranteed a net rental yield of 6% per annum on the purchase price, calculated from date of registration of transfer. From month 37 onwards, the rental guarantee will fall away and the owner will thereafter receive 24% of gross accommodation turnover, calculated in terms of the rental pool agreement. Read more >>

Pick n Pay launches loyalty programme

Consumers throughout the country can expect a sizeable portion of their grocery basket back in the form of loyalty points and will also receive additional special offers from Pick n Pay, as it launches its new loyalty programme. Read more >>

The case for moving contact centres to hosted call centres

[Bruce von Maltitz] Cutting the costs of contact centres by between 30-45% is possible by outsourcing to a hosted contact centre solution, based on the Software as a Service (SaaS) business model, thus eliminating the need for companies to buy, implement and maintain call centre technology. The technology is outsourced to the hosting provider, which assumes responsibility for maintaining the technology. Read more >>

Zappon.co.za launches today

Avusa Media has gone live with Zappon.co.za today, Tuesday, 22 March 2011, entering the hotly-contested South African daily deal group buying space, with the full might of its brands, such as Sunday Times, The Times and Sowetan, behind it. Read more >>

Exclus1ves website increases traffic 300% in first year

The South African entertainment website, Exclus1ves.co.za, which launched March 2010, has seen a steady surge in turnover that speaks volumes about consumer trends and the future of retail. Linked to Exclusive Books, the website is integrated into the popular Exclus1ve Books Fanatics rewards programme. Read more >>

International Transport and Environment conference produces key outcomes, future awards

The Responsible Packaging Management Association of South Africa (RPMASA) held its second successful International Transport and Environment conference at the ICC in Durban earlier this month, in partnership with the City of Durban and the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The conference provided guidelines for the future responsible and safe transportation of hazardous goods. It was sponsored by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the South African Maritime Safety Association (SAMSA). Read more >>

McDonald's names Ramaphosa as SA licensee

Fast-food chain McDonald's Corporation has appointed Shanduka Group chairman Cyril Ramaphosa as new developmental licensee for SA. Read more >>

Velvet Sky, First Car Rental take off today

The new low-cost airline, Velvet Sky, opened its reservation system for bookings Friday, 18 March 2011, ready for its first commercial flight on Tuesday 22 March. First Car Rental will provide it with an exclusive car rental partnership. Read more >>

Flight of faith pays off

[Gwen Watkins] This year's Unilever Food Solutions By Invitation Only competition, one of South African's most prestigious annual culinary competitions, was won by Petrus Madutlela, currently at the Savoy in London, in a tense cook-off at Hostex on Wednesday 16 March 2011. Read more >>

US, China tussle over Africa: governments warned to exercise caution

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] As African governments spread their wings to embrace China's no-strings-attached ideological and economic involvement in Africa at the expense of the US, experts urge the continent to guard against a 'simplistic shift' in allegiance from west to east, according to a Standard Bank Economic Strategy report released on Monday, 14 March 2011. Read more >>

Swartland Winery wins trademark case on appeal

Swartland Winery is the exclusive owner of the mark Swartland when it comes to alcoholic beverages; the decision from the Appeal Court in Bloemfontein has upheld the original case, which decided that the use of Swartland on bottles of wine produced for export by Groupe LFE (SA) (defendant) was a trademark infringement. Read more >>

Cape Town CBD research shows mixed retail results

The latest Retail Opinion Survey, commissioned by the Central City Improvement District (CCID) and carried out by Geocentric Information Systems, showed mixed results on the end of year results but 55% are confident about 2011 results. Read more >>

Despite drop in consumer confidence, results remain high

The FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index, released yesterday 14 March 2011, shows that consumer confidence dropped in the first quarter of 2011 from +14 in 4Q2010 to +9. This result yielded the first noticeable decline in consumer confidence in over a year, pulling back to about the same level as at the end of 2009. Historically the index has varied between a low point of -33 and a high point of +23, therefore the current level can be regarded as relatively high. Read more >>

Fashion-forward men's clothing store opens in Cape Town

Officially opening on Thursday 24 March 2011 in Kloof Street in Cape Town, Unknown Union (UU) is more than a clothing shop. With interiors designed by globally recognised, New York-based architectural designer, Rafael de Cardenas and curated by a dynamic team of international music, design and fashion players, it represents a collective of global creativity that is set to make itself a fresh and important part of Cape Town's urban, cultural scene. Read more >>

Lamberti to stay at Massmart

Should the Competition Tribunal approve the acquisition of 51% of Massmart by Wal-Mart, the US group intends asking Mark Lamberti to remain on as independent non-executive chairman. Read more >>

Seafood industry aims to halt that sinking feeling

BOSTON, USA: Seafood industry players from around the world grappled here Monday, 21 March 2011, with ways to net the most elusive catch of all: a solution to the problem of feeding growing appetites with ever fewer fish. Read more >>

MIPTV: Connected Creativity announces Ventures finalists

PARIS, FRANCE: CC Ventures, the new start-up competition for innovation in connected entertainment has announced the 11 finalists. They will pitch their projects to an expert jury during Connected Creativity at MIPTV, the new global forum uniting the world's dominant market forces and leading innovators in entertainment, mobile media and technology which runs from 4-7 April in Cannes. Read more >>

YouTube, Cannes Lions launch 'Good Work' to match creatives with non-profits

LONDON, UK: YouTube and the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity have announced the launch of 'Good Work', a partnership designed to bring together the transformational power of creative minds, with the issues that need them most. Read more >>

Revenues, mobile and tablet in focus at Digital Media Europe in London

LONDON, UK: Google One Pass, a payment system that enables publishers to set the terms for access to their digital content, will be examined at Digital Media Europe, a major new conference in London from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). Read more >>

New study discovers link between social media popularity, stock prices

NEW YORK, US: A new study conducted by a researcher at Pace University, in association with Famecount.com, has looked at the link between social media popularity of key brands and their respective share prices - and identified a statistically significant correlation. Read more >>

Ivan Johnson on judge and being judged

NEW YORK, US / CAPE TOWN, SA: 140 BBDO (formerly Net#work BBDO Cape Town) ECD Ivan Johnson was recently in New York judging the Art Directors Club 90th annual awards advertising entries. As the only judge from South Africa on the multi-national jury panel, he answers a few questions on what really lurks behind the golden statue or the gilt-edged frame. Read more >>

FIPP Research Awards shortlist

PARIS, FRANCE: The shortlist for the FIPP Research Awards has been announced. The awards will take place after day one of the Research Forum on 14 April 2011, at a special dinner at the Hotel California in Paris and will celebrate the best research that promotes the use of magazines as an advertising medium, anywhere in the world. Read more >>

CNN leads audience reach: Europe, Africa, Middle East

JOHANNESBURG, SA / ATLANTA, US: According to an independent survey, CNN leads audience reach across Europe, Middle East and Africa in first-time release of multi-regional data. Read more >>

Judging panel announced for 2011 Diageo Awards

LONDON: The panel of judges has been announced for the eighth Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards set to take place on 30 June 2011. The annual awards aims to encourage more prolific reporting of economic opportunities in Africa and to celebrate excellence in business journalism. Read more >>

Peugeot 308 gets GTi venom

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Good news for Peugeot fans is that the GTi badge (last seen on the 206 GTi) is back, this time stuck to the nicely-rounded derriere of a newly launched 308 GTi. Read more >>

Upper East Side... with a 'touch of funk'

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] WITH the abundance of five-star properties in Cape Town, it makes sense that the recently four-star graded Upper East Side Hotel positions itself rather with The Vineyard Hotel, The V&A Hotel and The Portswood than in the deluxe category. Read more >>

Fit for the future: The 4th E-Tourism Africa Summit launched in Cape Town

The 4th Annual E Tourism Africa Summit was launched today, 16 March, in Cape Town at the quarterly Joint Association Membership Meeting (JAMM) of Cape Town Tourism, FEDHASA Cape, SAACI and SATSA Western Cape. Read more >>

Bushmans Kloof - for a quiet walk on the wild side

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] My interest in the Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat, in the stark Cederberg Mountains of the Western Cape, was sparked by a combination of cynicism and curiosity. (Photographs: Rod Baker) Read more >>

Table Mountain announces 'Vote Thursdays'

The Table Mountain Bid Committee is calling on every South African to set aside 30 seconds every Thursday (aka 'Table Mountain Vote Thursdays') to vote for Table Mountain, the nation's only nominee in the New7Wonders of Nature contest. Read more >>

Ethiopian Airlines to start new flights to China

Ethiopian to start new flights to Hangzhou, its fourth destination in China. Read more >>

ITB 2011: Part 2 - Key trends and learnings for Cape Town

[Mariette du Toit-Helmbold] Social media and new technology once again took centre stage at the world's largest trade show ITB in Berlin between 9 and 11 March 2011. Read more >>

A hot K-Day

[Jordan Scott] As you looked across to the stage, all you could see was a mass of umbrellas; people wandering about all over the show and looking down on it all were the amazing Paarl Mountains. The scene of some film set? No. This was K-day, 2011. Read more >>

Fleur du Cap award winners announced

The winners of the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards were announced earlier this past Sunday at a ceremony held at the Artscape Theatre, Cape Town. Read more >>

Mr Cat and the Jackal spin us a yarn

[Ruth Cooper] BizLounge recently met up with Gertjie Besselsen and Jacques du Plessis, founding members of Mr Cat and the Jackal. With the recent unleashing of their second album "Sins and Sirens Songs" and a new video release imminent, we thought it best to gain a little more insight into this unique band. Read more >>

Cape Town Festival begins today

The Cape Town Festival (CTF) begins at noon today, Friday, 18 March and ends on Human Rights Day, Monday, 21 March, 2011. It will be held at the Company's Garden between noon and 8pm daily. Today's celebrations will be for Magnificent Friday, an initiative to encourage support for our national sports teams. Read more >>

So Queer: Where are the cricket hunks?

[Siphosethu Stuurman] Coming from the rather uninspiring city of Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg with a head full of dreams, I've had to start off in very humbling fashion. I share a two-bedroomed flat in Midrand, where I had to sleep on the mattress for my first two weeks! This was definitely not how I imagined my post-university life, but considering I was just starting off I had no choice but to grin and bear it. Read more >>

Swashbuckling Mr Cat & The Jackal unleash Sins and Siren Songs

[Ruth Cooper] Mr Cat & The Jackal are not gonna be everybody's beverage of choice but, if you like your drinks strong and straight up with a twist of theatrical quirk, their new album Sins and Siren Songs should go down a treat. Since I received the album I have been drinking it down fairly rapidly and so far I'm loving it and happily hangover free. Read more >>