RETAIL BLOGS

Reaching the illusive township shopper is high on the agenda of most FMCG companies that want to tap into the buying power of South Africans in some 43 major metro townships.  read more

Different wheat flours read more

Franchises are essentially contracts between independent firms. Historically, and contrary to the situation in other countries, franchises were not specifically regulated in South Africa, but the Consumer Protection Act, 2008 now protects franchisees by regulating the content of franchise agreements, providing for a cooling-off period in favour of the franchisee and requiring disclosure of essential business information at the time of contracting or renewal of the franchise.  read more

Minimum resale price maintenance (“MRPM”) has been outlawed for many years, most recently under section 5(2) of the Competition Act, 1998, which prohibits the practice on a per se basis (ie, it is presumed anti-competitive by object). This prohibited practice also attracts an administrative penalty of up to 10% of a firm's annual turnover for a first time transgression. read more

Since early 2011, the Consumer Protection Act ("CPA") has codified the SA consumers' rights and obliges suppliers to change their way of doing business so that the consumer has improved chances of not being waylaid. Successful retailers had already accepted that the consumer was king and have gone the extra mile to keep the consumer happy with generous trading terms. read more

Over the past two years use limitation provisions in property related agreements have been investigated by the Competition Commission under the restrictive practices and the merger control provisions of the Competition Act. Specifically, exclusivity terms in anchor tenancies of supermarkets in shopping malls have been central to these investigations. read more

Omni-Channel Retailing could be construed as an imminent threat to “traditional retailing”. However this new age retail phenomenon, I believe established bricks and mortar players have the upper hand.  read more

Apart from the new international retail and clothing brands entering South Africa, such as, Spanish retailer Zara (opened earlier this year in Johannesburg) and Gap (opened two independent stores in March this year), consumers are being introduced to new store layouts designed to create a more exciting in-store experience and respond to consumer shopping habits, particularly in sports and lifestyle retail. read more

I work in one city and live in another. I rent a car nearly every week and usually opt for the two lowest classes, either a 1.3 or 1.4-litre engine choosing air-conditioning for a little extra in the summer months. Last week I had a pleasant surprise. read more

Woolworths have recognised a need to service its growing customer base by providing a more comprehensive shopping experience. Until now most shoppers have used its stores as an auxiliary format to purchase only certain items on their shopping list or as a "top up" type daily purchase of convenience items. The group has performed well on this basis but have found themselves vulnerable when trading conditions have tightened. Already we have seen pricing strategies change with more products becoming falling into line with competitive supermarkets, a premium shopping experience without the associated cost is certainly a comfortable proposition for consumers. read more

The terms of purchase are integral to a retailer’s supply chain and the more simplified this process is, the easier it is for retailers to maintain tighter margins and optimise profits. The role of a retailer buyer is essential in making this work.  read more

Private labels are taking on a new role in retail, positioning themselves as higher quality products on supermarket shelves, rather than the “low quality’ option they were initially perceived to be.  read more

The exercise of setting up a temporary store and trading for a short period of time is not new (look at the many boerewors stands that pop-up at sporting events), but what is becoming a more accepted practice is to set up a temporary store, or a pop-up store in a shopping centre. read more

Whether launching a new FMCG brand or rejuvenating an existing one, in-store promotion is essential for grabbing a consumer’s interest, ahead of the clutter and many other brands in-store, all competing for the same attention. read more

With online consumer spending on the rise in South Africa last year, brick and mortar retailers should jump on the bandwagon and capitalise on the Internet as a sales platform.  read more

Marketing to consumers is at the heart of any retail business and although retailers may follow a similar procedure to roll out their marketing campaigns, the brand perceptions they create are often very different. But, what brand perceptions are our retailers creating? And, can a retailer’s performance be measured by the brand perception it creates? read more

Moving into 2012, retailers are going to have to begin implementing the ambitious expansion plans set out in recent months. The bulk of new store openings by South African retailers will be taking place outside of our borders. It’s not only grocery retailers that intend to open new stores in Africa, Foshini, Mr Price, Woolworths and Pep are looking to aggressively develop their footprint in Africa as well. read more

The arrival of the Internet and all things digital has raised many debates about the future of traditional print media. SA’s biggest retailers would face a predicament if print media falls away in favour of its digital counterparts, since they make use of broadsheet price promotions as their staple print advertising diet.  read more

Retailers play an essential role in the recycling chain. They are the last exit point for food packaging and should be the first point of entry for re-useable waste. read more

Africa has become a prime destination for retailers in their quest to break into new markets. Our growing consumer populations combined with slower growth in developed markets, among other factors, all contribute to making it a sought-after business destination. But, as with most ventures, there are challenges to overcome in order to succeed in the untapped markets of Africa. read more

Regulations set by the Consumer Protection Act have businesses in the food industry scrambling to ensure that their product packaging meets all the necessary requirements before the deadline in March 2012. An off-set to this is that consumers will become more aware of what food products contain and how they are sourced. One retailer and a few food producers are taking it a step further to ensure that their offerings come from sustainable supply chain, keeping their offerings in the best interests of the consumer and those involved in producing it.  read more

With a number of upcoming events on our calendar, it’s an exciting time to be in retail. Conferences, workshops and the like, play an important role in growing and shaping our industry.  read more

Apart from the evident benefits of convenience stores to the consumer, like 24-hour accessibility, and ready-to-eat foods, these C-store formats provide unique opportunities for retailers to capitalise on particular food categories. Opportunities, that can’t be easily capitalised on elsewhere. International trends offer some comparable insights on how this can be successfully achieved.  read more

The race for African retail dominance has begun. Nigeria, which is predicted to be the globe’s fastest growing economy between now and 2050, is a key destination. It is already clear which retailers are aggressively seeking their slice of the pie. read more

Price optimisation is a business strategy for retailers to seriously consider implementing as it helps them improve margins and streamline the supply chain. But, more importantly, it provides retailers with a tool to make intelligent pricing decisions. read more

Regulation in packaging design – it’s the buzzword of the moment, both locally (where we collectively face a March 2012 deadline) as well internationally. read more

Electronic Shelf Label technology has, for some time, been a concept that could clearly deliver significant benefits and cost reductions to retailers but costs have made that investment case just a little too risky for most. That scenario has begun to change as a number of retailers have now adopted this technology. As more units are sold the price per unit will drop and, as that happens, the use of ESLs will become the standard.  read more

While reports suggest that consumer confidence has declined in South African retail, the recent international interest in South African retail and logistics paints a completely different picture read more

The World’s most expensive bottle of white wine was recently purchased for £75,000 by a private collector by the name of Christian Vanneque. This rare bottle of white wine, an 1811 Chateau d’Yquem will be on display at Christian Vanneque’s restaurant, the SIP Sunset Grill in Bali, Indonesia, when this establishment opens in September.  read more

With the Walmart / Massmart deal in the final throws of approval, it is only a matter of time before the South African retail landscape changes significantly. The giant’s entry will have implications for all South African retailers, it’s not just the grocery specialists who will find themselves under fire. read more