Report indicates food industry under pressure

The Coface Group, a leader in credit insurance, has released its analysis on food industry companies, which process agricultural products (wheat, barley, rice, cocoa beans, sugar etc) and livestock for human consumption. Wines and spirits are not included within its scope. The analysis covers commodity prices upstream in the food industry, and wholesalers and retailers further downstream. Read more >>

Four new KickStart winners for SAB programme in KwaZulu-Natal

Masibonga Mthethwa, a 24 year-old owner of Frutee Belliez, which she opened in Hillary in 2009, has won SAB's KickStart competition in KwaZulu-Natal. The business had flourished to the extent that it needed bigger premises and capital equipment and the R140 000 prize money will go towards this a refrigerated truck and a move to the Umlazi Industrial Park. Read more >>

Avoid starting New Year in debt

The National Credit Regulator (NCR) is focusing on educating consumers about using credit responsibly during and after the festive season and spending within their means. It is collaborating with the South African Savings Institute (SASI) as part of its 'Spend Wisely' campaign this festive season. Read more >>

Repo rate unchanged at 5.5%

The repo rate will remain unchanged at 5.5%, the Reserve Bank said on Thursday, 10 November.The repo rate will remain unchanged at 5.5%, the Reserve Bank said on Thursday, 10 November. Read more >>

Spark Cash Index - highest ever October withdrawal values

Average cash withdrawal values across South Africa for October 2011 was R418, 1.22% up from September's R414, as measured by the Spark Cash Index (SCI). Read more >>

Distell captures New York spirit

In its first entry into the 2011 New York International Spirits Competition, Distell was awarded the title of Distillery of the Year, winning the only double gold medal of the show, in an event that attracted over 300 entries from 30 nations worldwide. The double gold honours went to Oude Meester's specialty, top-of-the range, Souverein. Read more >>

JD Group lifts full-year earnings

Furniture retailer JD Group (JDG) on Monday, 14 November, reported diluted headline earnings of 403.5 cents for the full-year ended August 2011 from 300.1 cents previously. Headline earnings per share were up 34% to 407.7 cents. The directors declared a final dividend of 100 cents from 80 cents per share previously. Read more >>

Winners of FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Competition

The 5th annual FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Competition, held under the auspices of the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group (SBIG), a producer organisation, saw no less than 169 entrants aiming for Top 10 glory. Read more >>

Reminder to support Fairtrade week

Today marks the opening of the first Fairtrade Week in South Africa, with the theme 'Taste the Change'. This national campaign is aimed at increasing consumer awareness around Fairtrade and the significance it plays in improving lives in farming communities and in offering consumers the possibility of an ethical choice. Read more >>

Taste confirms The Fish & Chip Co acquisition

Quick service restaurant group Taste Holdings said on Tuesday, 8 November 2011, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Buon Gusto Cuisine, that it has entered into a sale of business agreement with The Traditional Fish & Chips, to acquire The Fish & Chip Co. Read more >>

2012 Platter's Guide out

The 32nd edition of Platter's Guide, launched 8 November 2011, features more than 900 South African wine producers, merchants and brands, including 58 new ones and over 7000 locally produced wines. Read more >>

Two Oceans listed by Four Seasons hospitality group

Two Oceans has been listing by the Four Seasons hospitality group for its Chardonnay, sold by the glass. On the menu for all catered events, it will be offered across 25 establishments in the US and Caribbean for the next 24 months. Read more >>

Fleur de Cap announces top 10 restaurant winners

From its inaugural Top 100 Places to Eat in Cape Town competition, Fleur du Cap has announced its Top 10 restaurants, which were honoured at an awards ceremony held on Sunday 6 November 2011 at the Taj Hotel. This is reportedly the first time a restaurants awards programme celebrates only Cape Town restaurants. It includes a broad range of places to eat, not just the fine dining establishments. Read more >>

SA manufacturing up 7.7%

Manufacturing production in SA grew 7.7% year-on-year (y/y) in September after a revised increase of 5.9% (5.6%) in August, data released by Stats SA on Wednesday, 9 November, showed. Read more >>

2011 Pyro Inspiration Awards winners announced

The annual Pyro Inspiration Awards, which selects a winner from the 25 bi-monthly award winners selected throughout the year, were announced last week in Cape Town. Entrants were judged on originality, impact and clever use of space. Read more >>

Pioneer Hi-Bred, Pannar file for appeal

[Andries Mahlangu] US-based multinational seed producer Pioneer Hi-Bred International and the locally based seed company, Pannar Seed, have filed appeal documents with the Competition Appeal Court in an attempt to set aside the Competition Tribunal's ruling which prohibited their merger deal. Read more >>

Powerful single women affect advertising models

An intensive South African Consumer Connection System (CCS) survey, conducted for the second year by media agency Carat South Africa, shows that rich, powerful unmarried women have become a formidable commercial force to be reckoned with and are kicking stereotypes in to touch as they embrace life without putting purchasing decisions on hold for love. Read more >>

Cautious festive spending says Deloitte Year-end Holiday Survey

The annual Deloitte Year-end Holiday Survey, which compares potential consumer buying patterns in South Africa and 18 European countries, notes that South African consumers are beginning to tighten their belts ahead of the upcoming festive season, with the majority determined to spend less and get the best value they can out of seasonal sales and in-store special promotions. Read more >>

Spar Group earnings 522.8c vs 506.3c

South African grocery chain Spar Group on Wednesday, 9 November, reported a 3.3% rise in diluted headline earnings per share to 522.8 cents for the year ended September 2011 from 506.3 cents a year ago. Read more >>

FNB launches biometric system in 160 branches

FNB has successfully tested and rolled out a biometric identification and verification system, allowing for online verification of customers in 160 branches nationwide. More than 130 of these are EasyPlan branches, the bank's low-cost banking model. Read more >>

Southern Africa seeks to unite its railways

Countries across southern Africa are pouring billions of dollars into overhauling their railways, hoping to ease the flow of exports and to boost their plan to create a common market. Read more >>

Twenty-five places available for UK/SA entrepreneur development

The UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the Micro Enterprise Development Organisation (MEDO), a South African-based organisation specialising in micro and small enterprise development at the grassroots level, have announced a partnership to support entrepreneurs. Read more >>

South African on 2012 One Show 2012 judging panel

NEW YORK, US: More than 25 of advertising's most influential and respected professionals - including Ross Chowles, of Jupiter Drawing Room, Cape Town - have been selected to judge the One Show, claimed to be the premier international awards competition. Read more >>

Festival of Media Asia 2011: Leading media experts share their secrets

SINGAPORE: The event's organisers have announced The Showcase Theatre at The Festival of Media Asia. As part of the overall conference agenda, each day Vision Leadership partners will take to the stage to host thought-provoking sessions in the theatre. Read more >>

Neville Brody creates /50 identity for D&AD's 50th

LONDON, UK: Neville Brody has created a new /50 logo for D&AD as the organisation celebrates five decades of recognising and supporting UK and international creative talent. Read more >>

Wall Street Journal debuts Nielsen's e-book best-seller lists

NEW YORK, US: Showcasing the growing importance of digital books to consumers and the publishing industry alike, The Wall Street Journal has expanded its relationship with Nielsen BookScan to add e-book sales reporting to its customised best-seller charts. The new charts appear weekly as part of WSJ Weekend, the Journal's weekend edition, in print and on WSJ.com. Read more >>

Purchase preferences: How families are socially influenced

LONDON, UK: New research to help better understand how families are socially influenced when making purchasing decisions has been carried out by Different Size Feet, a new specialist family unit of global word-of-mouth agency 1000heads. Read more >>

How to maintain prestige (and sales) in a down market

[Kyle Priest] DAYTON, US: When the economy is troubled we all face the same issues... of maintaining sales and our company's profile. So here are some ideas on how to do just that - without depreciating brand value. Read more >>

Generation Zzz: Energy drinks keep younger consumers awake

[Mintel Oxygen reports] LONDON, UK: They are born into a world of fast communication and instant gratification - but it looks like they need a little extra help to get through their frenzied days. Read more >>

Corporate insolvency trends reflect the continuing fragile economy

LONDON, UK: PwC analysis of today's national corporate insolvency statistics found that 5393 companies entered insolvency in the third quarter of 2011 - this is an increase of 7.4% on the same quarter of 2010 but a decrease of 2.1% compared to the previous quarter of 2011. Read more >>

Smoking Joe Merc C63 AMG

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] If any of the great composers such as Bach, Mozart or Vivaldi was still around today I reckon one of them would have produced as musical masterpiece after hearing a hot V8 engine howling in anger - particularly if it was coming from under the bonnet of the latest Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 thundering down the main straight of a race track. Read more >>

Ndebele: Road safety is a collective responsibility

According to News24, transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele said that road safety campaigns will succeed only when all road users change their behaviour. "Road crashes kill over 14 000 people every year in South Africa," Ndebele said at the launch of the I-Pledge road safety campaign in Sandton. The campaign, aimed at changing the behaviour of road users, was first introduced by Imperial Car Rental in July and targeted the company's employees. Read more >>

Hybrid and EV manufacturers not courting Black consumers

[Mintel Oxygen reports] CHICAGO, US: The hybrid and electric vehicle market is having a tough year in 2011 in the US. Sales for hybrid vehicles are down 2.7% through August 2011, despite the fact that US vehicle sales are up 10.5%. Read more >>

Toll roads - what motorists must do

Business Live warns that Gauteng motorists must either buy e-tags for their cars or have the new number plates fitted to comply with the introduction of toll roads around Gauteng that start operating in February next year. Read more >>

Ranger outguns the opposition

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Makers of spirited cars constantly strive to find the optimum balance between comfortable drive and dynamic handling while bakkie-makers these days face the challenge of building capable workhorses that are also comfortable and safe - something which Ford has achieved with remarkable success with its newly launched Ranger bakkies. Read more >>

New single cab for under R50 000?

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] A shining new half-ton bakkie for less than R50 000 on sale in South Africa? Yep, your eyes aren't deceiving you, nor is it April Fools Day. Read more >>

There's magic in those hills

[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] I don't believe in magic but a visit to the Limpopo hills almost has me convinced otherwise. Near enough to Johannesburg for a weekend getaway or, in our case, to break our trip to Kruger Park, Limpopo Province and Tzaneen in particular, offers the kind of fairy-tale environment of verdant hills and lush valleys that exudes a magnetic attraction. Read more >>

Win 50 000 Guest Miles with Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is celebrating reaching 50 000 fans on its Facebook page by launching a giveaway. The promotion will see one lucky Etihad Airways Facebook fan win 50 000 Guest Miles. Read more >>

New7Wonders announcement to take place on 11/11/11

The time has come to reveal Table Mountain's fate in its battle to be named a New7Wonder of Nature and the results will be announced during a free concert at the V&A Waterfront's Amphitheatre on Friday 11 November. Read more >>

Air France now flying into Cape Town

Air France is operating a direct flight between Paris and Cape Town making it the 17th international airline to offer direct flights to the city according to IOL. This means that Cape Town will have an average of 12 international flights landing at the airport each day. Economic Development and Tourism MEC, Alan Winde welcomed Air France to the city and then departed on the airline's inaugural flight to Paris. Read more >>

East3Route may boost regional tourism

KwaZulu-Natal's tourism initiative East3Route has been hailed by residents in Swaziland and Mozambique as being great for business in the province and the neighbouring states, according to a report in Travel Wires. Read more >>

Crime doesn't pay in Tower Heist

[Eugene Yiga] "This financial crisis was caused by corruption at the highest levels of government and business. Like a cancer, legalised corruption eats away at the moral fibre of the world. Men and women of power, craving more power, sell their souls to glorify their egos, destroying lives and bleeding the wealth from people they are supposed to serve." These words, taken from Robert Kiyosaki's latest book, express the anger many still have from the financial crash. These words also express the underlying emotion in Tower Heist. Read more >>

The Evil Queen is dead. Long live the Queen!

[Sindy Peters] Was the "Evil" Queen in Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs really as evil as your mum or dad made her out to be at bedside storytime or was it all just a load of propaganda cooked up by seven vertically challenged men? Finally Snow White's stepmother gets the opportunity to share her side of the story in Dianne Simpson's "Rose Red". Read more >>

MCQP theme and party line-up announced

This years MCQP theme is Maid in China and will be held at the CTICC on 17 December, 2011, there will be nine dance floors, three stages and three experiential areas, each with its own theme and music style. Good Luck, Crazy White Boy, DJ Blaine, Josh Borrill, Odidiva, The Commercial Hippies, Killer Robot, Pascal & Pearce, DJ Ryan Dent and more will be performing. Read more >>

Some Like It Vrot - just go see it!

[Johann Smith] Some Like It Vrot, ag, dis te pragtig - what more is there to say? Only please go see this musical comedy romance. Read more >>

Call for entries for the Africa Movie Academy Awards

The call to enter for the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) has been made and feature, short and documentary entries are welcomed for the 2012 awards in Nigeria, in April. The deadline for submissions is 30 December, 2011. Read more >>