Despite the challenges presented by changing consumer habits, sugar taxation and increasing public pressure for healthier beverage options on the shelf, the soft drinks industry remains extremely optimistic in its outlook. 19 Sep 2018
South African startup TastePal is ready to scale into other sectors and countries after completing its proof of concept stage with six corporates. 19 Sep 2018
When you think about artificial intelligence and how it will impact our daily life, what are the images you conjure up? Intelligent robot companions that clean and cook and keep you company? A disembodied voice that controls your car, home, TV and your life? You can relax in the afternoon by demanding "Computer, turn the lights down, run me a bath and play death metal". We all relax in different ways. 19 Sep 2018
Owners of small shops in South Africa - in most cases foreigners - have been accused of stocking counterfeit food and food that's past its sell-by date. The issue has been caught up in xenophobic violence, with shop owners targeted by South Africans. There is very little hard data about what's referred to as "fake food" in both the formal and informal sectors. This means the issue is politically charged and dominated by opinions, not evidence. The Conversation Africa's Ina Skosana asked Jane Battersby-Lennard and Gareth Haysom to unpack this issue. 19 Sep 2018
Speaking at this year's annual PriceCheck Awards ceremony, CEO Kevin Tucker noted that the Tech and E-commerce Awards are more important than ever before. He said that while 2018 has been a tough year for retail, it's an industry with massive potential for growth. 18 Sep 2018
South Africans are embracing online shopping, with fashion retail and food delivery services specifically showing enormous promise. Grocery shopping, on the other hand, remains largely a physical activity with fresh produce posing a significant online barrier. 18 Sep 2018
The eight finalists for the Sunday Times Lifestyle Gin Awards have been announced, whittled down by the judging panel from 74 local and international entries. The competition, the result of a partnership between The Sunday Times, Makro and Fitch & Leedes, celebrates the creators and retailers of crafted gins and variants. 18 Sep 2018
South Africans are under financial pressure, as indicated by the latest consumer confidence data. The recently released results of The Conference Board Global Consumer Confidence Survey, conducted in collaboration with Nielsen, reflects a 5-point decrease in South African consumer confidence to 90 in Q2, 2018. 18 Sep 2018
It can be difficult to carve out a competitive advantage in today's cutthroat business environment. For some companies, investments have been focused on creating digital advantage through measures like apps or fancy websites, or improved processes with clever technology to make things run faster and better. 17 Sep 2018
South Africa's buttermilk and maas category has continued to increase year-on-year in both volume and value terms during 2017, states a recently released BMi Research report. With products being eaten with maize or used for cooking and baking, buttermilk and maas are considered part of the staple diet in the country. 17 Sep 2018
Ugandan e-commerce startup 2ambale is targeting people between the ages of 21 and 35 with its mobile app, which promises deliveries of orders within one hour. 17 Sep 2018
Two weeks after immigrant-owned shops closed in Ratanda, south of Heidelberg, Gauteng, residents accuse local shop owners of hiking prices for bread and airtime. 14 Sep 2018
Rooibos tea has become an integral part of South Africans' way of life and is considered by many as our national beverage. In light of Heritage Month, the SA Rooibos Council (SARC) set out to determine how consumption of this local favourite has changed in recent years by polling more than 1,000 South Africans from diverse cultures and ages about the popular brew. 14 Sep 2018
Coles' recent "Little Shop collectables" promotion has proved a hit with consumers, with entire sets of the toy products selling online for exorbitant prices. 14 Sep 2018
Massmart is championing the shift to renewable energy in the retail sector with the launch of its sixth solar plant. 14 Sep 2018
Chicken emerged as a favourite to be VAT-exempted for the support of South Africa's poor, when stakeholders presented their responses to the Woolard Panel of Expert's report in Parliament yesterday. The overwhelming majority of organisations represented, which included FairPlay, Cosatu, SAPA, PWC, the Institute of Economic Justice and the SA Chamber of Banking called on MPs to vote for chicken to be added to the VAT-free basket. 13 Sep 2018
Image credit: Callebaut
Belgian-Swiss cocoa company Barry Callebaut officially unveiled ruby chocolate in September last year, much to the delight of confectioners, chefs and average chocolate-loving consumers around the globe. 13 Sep 2018
Chemicals commonly found in beauty products may place manufacturers and suppliers at significant liability risk, states a new report released by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS) and Praedicat. 13 Sep 2018
Food losses and waste are an enormous drain on natural resources. Roughly one-third of the annual food produced globally for human consumption - approximately 1.3 billion tonnes - is lost or wasted. These losses are particularly unfortunate in Africa where approximately 20% of the population is undernourished. 13 Sep 2018
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