Category: Food service, Retail, E-commerce

Pick n Pay fully integrates Bottles operations into its business, re-branding to Pick n Pay asap!

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SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s supermarket chain Pick n Pay has relaunched and rebranded its on-demand delivery service, Bottles, as Pick n Pay asap!. Bottles was launched in 2016 as South Africa’s first on-demand alcohol delivery app, and partnered with Pick n Pay in 2018. Following the prohibition on the sale of alcohol in March 2020, Bottles and Pick n Pay worked closely to pivot the app from liquor to grocery deliveries. In October last year, the retailer acquired the delivery startup, with Bottles founding members Enrico Ferigolli and Vincent…

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Yum! Brands, McDonald’s post double digit growth driven by away from home consumption rebound

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US – American multinational fast food companies McDonald’s and Yum Brands have seen sales surge in the first half of the year as more restaurants around the world reopen dining rooms and consumers become open to the idea of eating out.   McDonald’s net income for the first half of fiscal 2021 was US$3.8 billion an impressive jump from the same time of the previous year when the company earned US$1.6 billion.  The company’s digital efforts bore fruit, delivering sales of nearly US$8 billion across McDonald’s Corp.’s top six markets during the first six months of 2021.  According…

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Retailer OK Zimbabwe registers 49% growth in revenue driven by rise in volume sales

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ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe’s largest retail group, OK Zimbabwe has reported a 49% surge in revenue in the first quarter of its current financial year to June 2021, despite COVID-19-induced disruptions. Its sales volume grew by 48% over the same corresponding period in 2020, attributed to a recovery from more stringent prior year Covid-19 restrictive regulations and the success of the OK Grand Challenge promotion. According to the stock exchange-listed supermarket chain, it resumed its flagship OK Grand Challenge Promotion which had been temporarily suspended in 2020 due to Covid-19 lockdown…

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Woolworths sets new sustainability goal, receive financial backing from Standard Bank

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SOUTH AFRICA – In line with its vision to be one of the world’s most responsible retailers, Woolworths Holdings Limited (WHL) based in South Africa has unveiled its next set of ambitious Good Business Journey sustainability goals. These new goals focus on traceability, transparency, circularity, diversity and inclusivity as well energy and carbon emissions, to include future-focused, measurable targets aimed at making a meaningful difference in critical social, environmental and supply chain issues. Part of its primary GBJ goals is attainment of fully transparent and traceable supply chain by 2025…

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UK delivery startup Deliveroo mulls pulling out of Spain as GoPuff raises US$1Bn in latest funding round

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UK – UK delivery startup Deliveroo is considering ending services in Spain due to high costs associated with a recent requirement for food delivery companies to convert their couriers into staff workers.  The company said in a statement that it had determined that achieving and sustaining a top-tier market position in Spain would require a disproportionate level of investment with highly uncertain long-term potential returns.  This did not make economic sense to the company for a market that accounted for less than 2% of its overall transaction values in the first half of 2021.  The…

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E-commerce website Amazon set to launch in Egypt in 2021

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EGYPT – American multinational technology company and e-commerce giant, Amazon, has revealed its intention to launch its Egypt website this year, to give entrepreneurs, business owners, and local sellers the opportunity to reach a larger number of customers nationwide. The company said the registration for local sellers would take place through the Amazon Seller Partner Center, a tool dedicated to managing their businesses. Amazon clarified that sales partners previously registered on Amazon’s Souq.com affiliate can access their accounts through the Amazon Seller Center. They will also be able to verify…

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McDonald’s names first chief customer officer as Indian franchise plans to open over 25 stores annually

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US/INDIA – American fast-food chain company McDonald’s has promoted Manu Steijaert to the newly created role of executive vice president and global chief customer officer, effective Aug. 1.   Mr. Steijaert will report to McDonald’s President and chief executive officer Chris Kempczinski and will lead McDonald’s new customer experience team.  The team combines several existing teams responsible for end-to-end customer experience — data analytics, digital customer engagement, global marketing, global restaurant development, and restaurant solutions.  Mr. Steijaert- the son of a former McDonald’s franchisee – brings to his new role more than 20 years of experience in the McDonald’s…

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KFC South Africa expands its eCommerce reach by leveraging on Vodacom’s Super App

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SOUTH AFRICA – Fast food chain operator, KFC South Africa, has become a Mini Program partner on the Vodacom Super App, to enable it access new customers, trade and promote its business at a personalised level at no cost on what is, arguably, South Africa’s most high-tech and infinitely scalable digital mall. KFC is one of approximately 70 businesses that have already signed up or committed to build their own Mini Program in the Vodacom Super App. These include retailers, fast moving consumer goods companies, food outlets, transport operators and…

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SAB encourages responsible drinking through launch of ghost kitchen serving pre- and post-groove meals

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SOUTH AFRICA – Keeping to its true nature of introducing new innovative offerings in the South African market, alcohol major South African Breweries (SAB), has launched a ghost kitchen to deliver delicious bites to consumers, before and after indulging in alcohol, under its Flying Fish brand. Dubbed, The Flying Dish Kitchen, the beer maker has partnered with Uber Eats to feature a select menu of consumers’ favourite pre- and post-groove meals, as chosen by them. The tantalizing menu is set to feature affordable gourmet burgers, to vegan vibes, made by…

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Egypt’s contact-less grocery delivery platform GoodsMart raises US$3.6m for further expansion

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EGYPT – Egyptian grocery delivery platform GoodsMart, has raised US$3.6 million in a funding round led by Sawari Ventures. Founded in 2014, GoodsMart allows customers to browse thousands of premium grocery and home products from a variety of shops and suppliers, place orders, and have goods delivered to their door. On the surface, the company may look like any other grocery delivery startup but the overall user experience and operating model GoodsMart has is completely different. According to reports by Menabytes, its grocery delivery service is contactless as the users…

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