All the 2011 Sunday Times Top Brands

A few weeks ago, TGI held its top three Icon Brand winners at its second Icon Brands awards. On Thursday, 4 August 2011, Avusa Media and TNS Research Surveys announced their version of South Africa's most icon brands in the 13th annual 2011 Sunday Times Top Brands Awards, held at Helderfontein Estate in Johannesburg. Read more >>

US food giant Kraft to split company in two

WASHINGTON, USA: US giant Kraft Foods on Thursday, 4 August 2011, said it will split its company in two, with one company for its US grocery business and the other for its global snacks portfolio, 18 months after taking over storied British confectionery firm Cadbury. Read more >>

SA July new vehicle sales up 10.5%

New vehicle sales grew at a slower pace in July, recording an increase of 10.5% to 45,703 vehicles in the month from 41,345 units sold in the corresponding period last year, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa). Read more >>

Steyn leaves Pep after 25 years

George Steyn, current MD of Pep has announced his retirement from the group on 30 September 2011, after 25 years. His position will be filled by Pep operations and sales director, Leon Lourens, who has been appointed MD Designate until Steyn leaves. Read more >>

JHI's African expansion

JHI Properties has purchased East African Properties, a Zimbabwean company with an existing property management portfolio comprising 48 properties, which are a mix of industrial and retail. This forms part of its strategic expansion into Africa. The group is currently in Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana and Zambia. Read more >>

Diplomat Distributors enters SA's FMCG market

[Zeenat Moorad] Diplomat Distributors has established a marketing, sales and distribution company in SA's fast moving goods (FMCG) sector, with an initial investment of R20 million. Read more >>

Kids snack goes online

Fruit Pack, the kids' fruit purée snack in a flexible pouch, will now be available on line from CaloraBaby.co.za to ensure product accessibility and convenience for parents across South Africa. Read more >>

Good group buying invests in vendors

Group buying is an increasing business judging by US results. In 2010, there were about 63000 deals through group buying sites and in the first quarter of 2011, there have been an estimated 40000. The success of the largest of these companies, Groupon, named by Forbes recently as the fastest growing internet company in history, as well as the simplicity of the business model, has meant that it is easily copied. In 2010 there were already over 500 group buying companies worldwide, a number which is growing at an exponential rate. Read more >>

Nominations for South African E-Commerce Awards open

Yesterday 1 August 2011, the nominations for South African E-Commerce Awards opened as Round 1, public nominations for South African e-commerce websites. This year, the organiser, Jump Shopping, has decided to change the voting procedure and it, along with the public's votes, will be evaluating nominated websites in a three-round voting and evaluation process to determine this year's winners. Read more >>

International women's awards open for entries

The Stevie Women in Business Awards has officially opened its entries to all South African business and entrepreneurial women, with a closing date of 31 August 2011. The date for late entries submission is 30 September 2011 with a fee of US$35. Read more >>

56 wines in CWG Auction

The 2011 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction has announced a line-up of 56 wines this year, 17 more than the previous auction, at the Spier Estate on Saturday 1 October 2011. This year's increase is due to the less constricting selection criteria adopted by the Guild aimed at boosting creativity. Read more >>

Jewellery winners to go on tour

In announcing the winners of the Pravda Vodka Royal Collection Jewellery Design competition, Pravda Vodka and the Jewellery Council of South Africa (JCSA), organisers of the competition stated that the top winning designs would go on a national tour and then be donated to the Jewellery Council Chairman's Fund. If pieces are sold, the money will be used to assist previously disadvantaged students and jewellers around the country. Read more >>

SA Rugby wines from Ernie Els

The SA Rugby Red, a Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 blend and the SA Rugby White, a 2011 Sauvignon Blanc will both be produced by Ernie Els for the Rugby World Cup 2011, which kicks off on 9 September and runs until 23 October 2011. Both wines are now available at most major retailers. The red will retail from R79.99 and the white from R59.99. Read more >>

Lip gloss spots spiked drinks

UK-based cosmetic brand '2 Love My Lips' has launched a range of lip glosses in South Africa that come packaged with two drink spike detector test strips that are able to trace drink spiking drugs in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Read more >>

Oversupply of accommodation a serious problem

In calling for a reality check in the accommodation sector, Brett Dungan, CEO of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) said that somewhere, something does not add up. He says the private sector, government and organised labour need to work together to ensure sustainable job creation in the hospitality sector. Read more >>

Existing food trademarks could be compromised

[Simonne Moodie] The new regulatory environment that promotes the social and economic welfare of consumers in South Africa includes legislation governing food labelling and advertising. However, the implementation of this legislation will affect not only the selection of new trademarks, but could also compromise the validity of existing trademarks on the SA Trade Marks Register. Read more >>

Company trading names still an issue

Commenting on the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) assurance to business owners that a company can be registered with the commission and trade without a company name, if it has been issued with a unique number, Dominique Mulder, candidate attorney at Spoor & Fisher said, "These provisions seem to make life easier for those wishing to start a business. Practically, however, the situation is somewhat less straightforward." Read more >>

Shoprite/Metcash deal approved with conditions

[Zeenat Moorad] The Competition Tribunal on Monday, 1 August 2011, approved with conditions the transaction in which Shoprite Checkers, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shoprite Holdings (SHP), intends to acquire the entire shareholding in Metcash Seven Eleven as well as a part of the Friendly Distribution Division of Metcash Trading Africa. Read more >>

Key sectors show growth over 2009 figures

New statistics from SureSwipe, a debit and credit card swipe machine distributor, show that all but eight of 23 key sectors have sharply spiked up on 2009's figures. So far this year, furniture, usually one of the first sectors to suffer when consumers start feeling cash-constrained, has seen the most growth at 168%. Read more >>

New website groups retailers' offerings

Chillies has launched a new website this week that will gather retailers' offers online, at one source, in a similar way that print pamphlets do on a weekly basis. The website, described as online marketing haven for all major retailers, allows users to click on a favourite retailer's icon and download the latest specials in PDF format. Read more >>

TBWA Africa Conference addresses changing face of African consumer

JOHANNESBURG: The fifth annual TBWA Africa Conference was held in Sandton, Johannesburg late last week. TBWA's head of strategic planning Mariska Oosthuizen's presentation on "The changing face of the African consumer" focused on market and consumer trends in a rapidly evolving and changing Africa. Read more >>

Marcus John to head MediaCom SPORT

LONDON, UK: MediaCom Worldwide has launched a new global sports division, MediaCom SPORT. Global head of sports Marcus John, who was previously SVP & managing director of IMG Consulting Asia/Pacific, will head it. Read more >>

Antony Young is Spikes Asia media jury president

SINGAPORE: The Spikes Asia Media Jury, which awards excellence in media strategy, planning and execution, will now be chaired by Antony Young, formerly CEO of Optimedia US, incoming CEO Mindshare North America. Read more >>

Project your imagination

LONDON, UK: Bombay Sapphire is a brand created by marketing. For all its Victoriana dressing and what's optimistically known in the branding world as 'heritage cues', the gin in the famous blue bottle was actually created in 1987, supposedly based on a long lost recipe from 1761. Read more >>

LTE spectrum research reveals significant regional mismatch in band adoption

LONDON, UK: New research by Informa Telecoms & Media (http://www.informatandm.com/ltespectrum) reveals the degree to which spectrum policy and availability is causing the market for LTE (Long term evolution) to become regionally fragmented. Read more >>

Here's an idea... New book celebrates creativity in business

NEW YORK, US: The Creative Business Idea Book from Euro RSCG Worldwide sets out to explore the vital role of creativity in business success, drawing on global case studies to reveal the thinking behind the biggest and best ideas. Read more >>

New Merc coupé no party animal

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Mercedes-Benz South Africa is on a roll and just weeks after unwrapping its new generation C-Class saloons it has added a glitzy coupé to the range - and this time round it is not just a revamped show-off CLC but a true two-door coupé, styled in the classic tradition. Read more >>

Behind the wheel this holiday weekend? Drive properly

The statistics on distracted driving are startling. In the United States, for example, the US Department of Transportation statistics indicate that in 2008 nearly 6000 people died and more than half a million were injured in crashes associated with driver distractions of all types. And even though this article relates to the US, it is relevant here in SA. Read more >>

MXit new voting platform for Table Mountain

South Africans can now vote for Table Mountain to become one of the New7Wonders of Nature with the online mobile messenger MXit, which has an estimated 37 million registered accounts in South Africa. Read more >>

Workers pelt tourists at God's Window

Tourists travelling to God's Window near Graskop in Mpumalanga were pelted with stones by angry strikers who are demanding salary increases of 15%, a R1500 housing subsidy and a R1000 standby allowance, reports The Star. Read more >>

Mount Grace Country House & Spa open for business

Following several enquiries Mount Grace Country House & Spa would like to assure its clientele, suppliers and partners that the hotel is open for business and operating as usual. Read more >>

1time introduces route changes

1time Airline has announced that it would be withdrawing from its Maputo route as of 31 August 2011. Read more >>

Get the low-down on the Rugby World Cup

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND: World Cup visitors can now get their very own digital guide to the local 'hood' thanks to a new city guide, compiled by a Who's Who of fashion, food, art, shopping and fun in downtown Auckland. Read more >>

Counterfeiters target cyclists

Consumers looking to purchase a bicycle are being advised to check that they receive the equipment on which they spend their hard-earned cash. Read more >>

Taxi Violence, unplugged and unrestrained

[Ruth Cooper] Hard rockers Taxi Violence, known for their high-energy supercharged moshy shows chilled things down somewhat for an intimate unplugged sit-down show at Mercury Live on Saturday. With the recent release of a sorta unplugged album, including reinterpretations of past TV classics, I was quite eager to see how this more stripped down version of the band would translate live. Read more >>