Mncane Mthunzi, current CEO of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), will join Massmart on 1 September 2011, as supplier development executive, heading up the R100 million Supplier Development Programme, first proposed by the merging parties Massmart and Wal-Mart, as a voluntary condition during the Competition Tribunal hearings. He will serve on the Massmart executive committee. 15 Jul 2011
Fitch Ratings said on Monday, 11 July 2011, that the recently approved transaction between Steinhoff International Holdings (SHF) and South Africa-based furniture retailer JD Group (JDG) would be largely neutral for its ratings. 13 Jul 2011
The wheels of Massmart's grand food plan are in motion, with the company announcing its intention to buy fruit and vegetable supplier The Fruitspot for an undisclosed amount. 13 Jul 2011
LONDON, UK: On average in 2011, UK retailers have closed 20 stores a day, according to a PwC and Local Data Company analysis, which shows retail insolvencies have risen by 9% since this time last year and the numbers of clothes, shoe shops, jewellers and bookshops are all falling. 12 Jul 2011
NYON, SWITZERLAND: UNI Global Union says that the announcement from South African supermarket chain Pick n Pay that it plans to cut about 3137 jobs from its workforce is a clear sign of the "Walmart effect" it believes the world's biggest retailer will have on South Africa as it prepares to enter the country. 12 Jul 2011
Pick n Pay announced today, 6 July 2011, that due to operational requirements, it was considering the retrenchment of approximately 3137 workers at the company within the non-management bargaining unit (NMBU). 6 Jul 2011
While local food retailers are fantastic businesses, they don't present an attractive value proposition for investors compared with their global counterparts, according to Johannes Visser, a senior analyst at independent asset management company RE:CM. 6 Jul 2011
PARIS, FRANCE: French supermarket giants Carrefour and Casino traded further blows on Monday, 4 July 2011, over their operations in Brazil, a key market where both are claiming a tie-up with the same company. 5 Jul 2011
Nictus Group's (NCS) growth and performance in the past three years, and the size of its asset base and insurance funds have propelled it through a transition phase to a higher level, it said on Thursday, 30 June 2011. 1 Jul 2011
Walmart's entry into South Africa is set to have a profound and far-reaching impact on Africa's retail supply chain. What are some of the 'must do's' that every retailer will have to action to survive? How can smaller retailers meet the challenge? What will be the benefits and disadvantages of Walmart's presence in the South African market? How will that impact local retailers? 28 Jun 2011
... Or not so odd after all... Who would have thought petroleum and potatoes would make such good business bedfellows, but Chevron SA, through its retail brand Caltex, has seen an increase in fuel volumes of between 8% and 10% after partnering with Freshstop, a member of the Fruit & Veg City group. 23 Jun 2011
Pick n Pay's mistake regarding its disposal of Franklins was to make everyone aware of it, according to an analyst. 14 Jun 2011
Freshstop, a member of the Fruit & Veg City group, aims to open up to 50 stores by the end of the year and 50 more stores in 2012, solidifying is position as SA's fastest growing "c-store", or convenience store, brand. 14 Jun 2011
Foschini rode high on strong demand from fashion-hungry consumers in its year to March, producing its first solid bottom-line performance since 2006/2007. Buoyed by sales that rose 15.5% to R9,94bn, the retailer's headline EPS came in 21.3% higher than the previous year's, which had been barely above the level of three years earlier. 10 Jun 2011
Though there seems to be an optimism amongst local consumers, retailers in general seem to be in a state of panic and confusion, with many having put holds on marketing budgets due to conventional methods simply not giving the returns they used to. Some have half heartedly tried to embrace social media but simply seem to be out their depth in this area, or using a company that doesn't fully understand their customers. 9 Jun 2011
Clothing, footwear and textiles retailer Edcon, the owner of Edgars and Jet, has warned that the arrival of international players such as Wal-Mart and Zara could increase competition in the retail market. 7 Jun 2011
While Wal-Mart has got the green light to come into SA it will not be flying its bright blue and yellow banner. 7 Jun 2011
Clicks does not make a cent out of its more than 260 in-store pharmacies. But without them, the retailer's business model would not be the success story that has driven its return on equity from 17.7% in 2006 to 55.8% now. 3 Jun 2011
Business models are as good as their ability to stand up in tough conditions. In furniture retail none has proved more resilient than Lewis's unique model, honed over more than 70 years. 3 Jun 2011
MWeb officially opened its fourth South African retail store at The Pavilion Shopping Centre in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, last week. As part of the store's opening specials, the first 100 customers who sign-up for a new MWeb ADSL package in-store will get a free 320GB external hard drive or R300 gift card. 2 Jun 2011
