Moody's Investors Service has assigned a provisional (P)Caa2 rating to the proposed issuance of €400m senior notes‚ due in 2019‚ by retailer Edcon Holdings. 11 Nov 2013
Fashion retailing conglomerate Pepkor - which owns the sprawling Pep Stores and Ackermans chains - has changed to a less risky approach for its microlending business. 11 Nov 2013
Shares of South Africa's credit-heavy retailers‚ Truworths (TRU) and Foschini Group (TFG)‚ took a beating on Thursday, 7 November 2013, after reported figures pointed to slower sales growth and consumers' prevailing indebtedness. 8 Nov 2013
In its six-month report to end September 2013, retail group TFG (The Foschini Group) has increased retail sales by 9% to R6.7-billion with sales in the rest of Africa growing 25%, with cash sales growing by 12.7%. Its diluted headline earnings per share rose by 3.8% to 411.2 cents on a strong, sustained operating margin of 22.5%. An interim dividend of 243.0 cents a share has been declared. 8 Nov 2013
Woolworths will pull out of its three stores in Nigeria as high rental costs‚ duties and complex supply chain processes make trading in the West African country "highly challenging". 7 Nov 2013
Woolworths said on Tuesday, 5 November, that it had signed agreements to purchase its franchise businesses in Botswana‚ Namibia‚ Swaziland and Ghana. 6 Nov 2013
Mango's branch at Palms Mall shopping centre, Victoria Island. Image: Wiki Images
Given the challenges facing them‚ foreign retailers would not enter the African market in a significant way within the next 10 years‚ according to Boris Planer, chief economist at London's Planet Retail. 6 Nov 2013
Africa's growing middle class has expensive tastes and research by Bain & Company suggests that luxury goods sales will increase by 11% this year - demonstrating the continent's potential for upmarket goods. 5 Nov 2013
Canal Walk in Cape Town. Image: Wiki Images
South Africa is a nation of shoppers but it's failing to fuel sustainable growth in the country where more fixed investment and job creation are needed to foster real growth. 4 Nov 2013
Shoprite's turnover in Africa was up almost 30%. Image: Shoprite Holdings
Shoprite Holdings‚ Africa's biggest retail group‚ reported that its turnover had increased by 10.2% in the three months to September. 29 Oct 2013
Clicks Group expects weak consumer spending to continue and says it will emphasise value and innovation over the Christmas period‚ CEO David Kneale said on Thursday, 24 October 2013. 25 Oct 2013
Bose boutique stores have opened inside DionWired outlets at Greenstone and Woodmead in Johannesburg. Created in line with the Bose store-within-a-store design used across the world, this is the first of many in-store boutiques that will offer customers a complete sound solution, from demonstrations to installations to after sales service. Bose is recognised as a global leader in quality home cinema and personal audio systems. 25 Oct 2013
Massmart opened the doors to three George pop-up stores yesterday, 23 October 2013, to introduce South African consumers to the famous British brand of clothing. 24 Oct 2013
Republic Umbrella, the Durban-based design company responsible for the Woolworths hummingbird cushion design, has spoken out in defence of the retailer and its artwork. 23 Oct 2013
Richard Brasher, CEO of Pick n Pay. Image: Pick n Pay
Retailer Pick n Pay on Tuesday (22 October) reported a 35.8% increase in its headline earnings per share (HEPS) to 40.81c for the 26 weeks to September‚ which had two fewer trading days than the comparable period. 23 Oct 2013
Pick n Pay is "back"‚ the retailer's founder‚ Raymond Ackerman said today, 22 October 2013, at the group's interim results presentation in Cape Town. 22 Oct 2013
Privately owned and family-operated business Cape Union Mart Group will expand its footprint in SA, Namibia and Botswana, CEO Andre Labuschaigne said on Friday, 18 October 2013. 22 Oct 2013
A premium Pick n Pay will open at the Ipic Shopping Centre in Kenridge, Cape Town in early December 2013. It will offer a selection of fresh produce, butchery, deli lines, a dedicated bakery and an Italian section. As an added convenience, shoppers will be able to make third-party payments and purchase airtime at till points. 18 Oct 2013
Christmas period retail sales could grow by slightly more than 3% in real terms provided there is no resurgence in strike activity that disrupts both production and workers' earnings‚ Credit Guarantee Insurance Corporation senior economist Luke Doig said. 18 Oct 2013
This year's Best Retailer Overall at Sandton City's annual Tenant Excellence Awards was a tie, with Browns jeweller, Louis Vuitton and Nespresso winning the award jointly. Lorenzi won Best Customer Service Overall. 17 Oct 2013
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