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South African alcohol manufacturers welcome lift of alcohol sale ban, tax payment deferment

Jul 26, 2021Jul 26, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s government has lifted a ban on liquor sales and relaxed other pandemic restrictions, moving to Adjusted Alert Level 3 lockdown, amid hope that the worst of the third wave of Covid-19 may be over. Its been a month since the country was placed under stricter lockdown restrictions aimed at reducing Covid-19 infections and easing pressure on the healthcare system. The decision to ease lockdown regulations comes amid a drop in Covid-19 cases, test positivity rates, and hospitalisations, which according to the News24, the average number…

Nile Breweries eases COVID-19 burden on Uganda’s health system, donates 300 oxygen cylinders

Jul 22, 2021Jul 23, 2021 Editor

UGANDA – Nile Breweries Limited (NBL), the Ugandan subsidiary of AB InBev, has donated 300 oxygen cylinders worth Ush 333 million (US$93,800) to major referral hospitals, spread across 17 districts in the country. The donation is timely as over the past few weeks, Uganda has registered a rise in COVID-19 infections which has tested the capacity of its healthcare system. Handing over the donations at the Office of the Prime Minister, Nile Breweries Legal & Corporate Affairs Director Onapito Ekomoloit said, “As Nile Breweries, Uganda’s beer market leader, we believe…

UK retail chains, pubs mull shutting some stores due to staff shortages amid rising Covid-19 cases

Jul 19, 2021Jul 21, 2021 Editor

UK – The rising number of cases in the UK is presenting a new challenge to business operators as many employees have had to self-isolate themselves following contact with people who have tested positive. Recent figures showed more than 500,000 people in England and Wales were “pinged” by the NHS Covid app in the week to 7 July and required to self-isolate for 10 days for coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. According to a BBC report, the rising number of people who are being forced into self-isolation is having profound consequences for the economy…

South African wine industry raises alarm over inability to stay afloat with continued domestic sale bans

Jul 9, 2021Jul 9, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s wine body, Vinpro, has raised red flags pertaining to the continued restrictions imposed on domestic wine sales, which is deemed to potentially cripple most businesses within the sector. According to the non-profit organization representing 2 600 businesses, the South African wine industry is at a tipping point as many businesses, particularly small companies and those under black ownership, face potential closure in the next three to 12 months. This is according to the Impact of Covid-19 on the Wine Value-Chain Survey that Vinpro conducted early…

India’s recovery from Covid-19 pushes June FMCG sales up nearly 40%

Jul 5, 2021Jul 5, 2021 Editor

INDIA – India’s recovery from its worst wave of the covid-19 pandemic is being felt by the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market where sales have recovered, more than surpassing sales recorded in the previous month. According to a report by ET Retail, FMCG sales expanded nearly 40% in June from a month earlier, overcompensating for a sharp decline in May when the segment fell by a third, helped by several states easing restrictions. Speaking to ET Retail, Krishnarao Buddha, senior category head at leading biscuits maker Parle Products, said: “Since April, there has been a…

Serengeti Breweries unveils fund to help bars fight against communicable diseases in Tanzania

Jun 30, 2021Jul 2, 2021 Editor

TANZANIA – Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL), subsidiary of the Diageo company through the East Africa Breweries Limited, has launched a programme worth over Tsh 2.3 billion (US$992,000), aimed to support bars and eateries in Dar es Salaam and other major towns. This initiative dubbed “Raise the Bar”, is part of a global Diageo programme geared towards helping outlets, and bars recover from COVID-19 and support jobs and communities around the world. The fund will roll out over the next two years benefitting over 2,000 outlets and will include practical equipment…

AfDB promotes food security, COVID-19 recovery in Zambia with US$1.4m grant

Jun 18, 2021Jun 18, 2021 Editor

ZAMBIA – Zambia has received a US$1.4 million grant from African Development Bank’s Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, to fund the Mitigating Impacts of Covid-19 on Household Food Security Project in the country. The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program was established as a response to the 2008/09 world food price crisis, following a commitment by the Group of 8 nations (G8) in September 2009 to mobilize up to US$20 billion for agricultural development and food security. The World Bank supervises about half of the project portfolio of the…

Nestlé India rolls out financial & medical support programs to cushion employees from pandemic

Jun 2, 2021Jun 2, 2021 Editor

INDIA – Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, has scaled up its financial and medical support programs in India to cushion its employees from the adverse effects of the covid-19 pandemic. The support comes at a time when India is recovering from a third wave which at its peak in May saw daily cases surpass the 400,000 mark. Recent data show that the cases have since significantly dropped thanks to a number of efforts implemented by both the federal and state governments. Employees benefit from enhanced covid-19 support As the…

Endress+Hauser opens new vaccination center to bolster Germany’s fight against Covid-19

May 30, 2021May 30, 2021 Editor

GERMANY – Leading process instrumentation and automation supplier Endress+Hauser has opened a new vaccination center in Maulburg as part of efforts to support Germany’s fight against Covid-19. According to a statement from Endress+Hauser, the Maulburg vaccination center was opened as part of pilot project where company physicians are permitted to carry out Covid-19 vaccinations The project aims to a total of 12 facilities in different companies in Germany and is being spearheaded by the Baden-Wurttemberg Ministry for Social Services, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce. Endress+Hauser says the vaccination…

South Africa restricts off-site alcohol sale over Easter weekend, BaSa slams the decision

Apr 1, 2021Apr 1, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has announced a partial ban on the sale of alcohol over the long Easter weekend to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Addressing the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa said alcohol fuels reckless behaviour, and for this reason, the government has banned the sale of alcohol that is taken away from the point of sale to be consumed elsewhere. The ban will be in effect from Friday, 2 April until Monday, 5 April, which is the duration of the Easter holiday. “The sale of alcohol for…