AFRICA'S NO.1 FOOD, BEVERAGE & MILLING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE

SA retailer Pick n Pay, Standard Bank unveil cashless, easy paying mode for customers

Oct 7, 2021Oct 7, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South African retailer Pick n Pay has partnered with Standard Bank to foster easy, faster and convenient mode for customers to pay for groceries at the supermarket outlet. The commercial bank has launched Standard Bank’s EasyScan, a new service that will enable customers to pay for their shopping using the Standard Bank Mobile Banking app. Standard Bank customers registered on the Banking App can scan the QR code at a Pick n Pay till point and pay via the Banking App. “Anyone with a Standard Bank account…

South Africa’s alcohol sale inches closer to normalcy following relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions

Oct 1, 2021Oct 1, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa alcohol industry is elated following the recent move of the country to Level 1 lockdown, permitting sale of alcohol for both offsite and onsite consumption, to resume under normal licence provisions and business operating hours. The decision to ease lockdown regulations comes amid a drop in Covid-19 cases, test positivity rates, and hospitalisations, reports Fin 24. Under the new directive, sale of alcoholic drinks has once again been permitted not only on weekdays but also weekends. However, no alcohol may be sold after 11pm. This…

Pick n Pay brings South Africa’s most-loved traditional local dishes closer to shoppers

Sep 23, 2021Sep 23, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – The recent pandemic has brought copious amounts of stress, worry and uncertainty to consumers due to change in lifestyle. This has left consumers looking for ways to alleviate that stress by turning to traditional and nostalgic foods, which offer something soothing and familiar during times of uncertainty. Leveraging on this fast-growing trend, South African supermarket chain Pick n Pay, has launched a traditional Mzansi-inspired range of products reflecting the country’s best in look and flavour. Dubbed Africa Rise, it comprises of five signature local flavours, Chakalaka, Chicken…

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

Aug 3, 2021Aug 3, 2021 Editor

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…

South African retailers soar above riot disruptions, commence rebuilding, restocking

Jul 19, 2021Jul 19, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South African retailers are working round the clock to replenish shelves with groceries, food and other essential supplies in hundreds of stores which were looted in one of the country’s worst unrest in years. Supermarket owners have indicated that they are racing to keep stores unaffected by the violence stocked, as some shoppers were stripping shelves with panic buying, though blocked roads and disruptions to supply chains were hampering their efforts. In the affected areas i.e., KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, retailers are gearing up to rebuild the affected…

Carrefour Kenya plans to enter lakeside market with a bang, set for twin openings

Jul 12, 2021Jul 12, 2021 Editor

KENYA – Carrefour Kenya, operated by Dubai-based conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim, is set to open two branches in Kenya’s third largest city, Kisumu, in pursuit to get a piece of the lakeside’s growing middle-class shoppers. The two stores will be located at United Mall and Market MEGA, adopting the hypermarket and supermarket models respectively. They are set to open doors in July and August, offering customers an assortment of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) at affordable prices, reports Star News. “Kisumu is the third city we are investing in after Nairobi…

Pick n Pay fosters healthy competition in SA’s retail market, scraps off exclusivity lease agreements

Jun 15, 2021Jun 15, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South African retail chain, Pick n Pay, has heed to the call of the Competition Commission of South Africa to cease use of exclusive lease agreements in all shopping centres where it has set base. The Competition Tribunal, the body which has the final say on anti-competition matters in the country, has confirmed that the retailer has signed an agreement with the Competition Commission to end the use of such restrictive terms. Under the agreement, supermarkets that are privately-owned and controlled by historically disadvantaged persons (HDP) can…

Pick n Pay partners with Fortress to establish inland distribution site in South Africa

Jun 3, 2021Jun 3, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South African retail chain, Pick n Pay, has entered into an agreement with real estate investment company, Fortress, to establish one of the massive logistics centres in the country. The project will be undertaken at Fortress’s flagship premium-grade Eastport Logistics Park, close to ORT Airport in Gauteng, to cover 36 hectares of state-of-the art infrastructure. Pieter Boon, CEO of Pick N Pay indicated that the investment in the new inland distribution centre will give the company a competitive advantage. “Fortress’s Eastport facility will help us deliver key…

SA retailer Pick n Pay reports 21.4% decline in annual earnings weighed down trade restrictions

Apr 23, 2021Apr 23, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South African retail chain, Pick n Pay reported an increase in group turnover by 4.3% to R93.1 billion (US$6.5 billion) for the full year ended February 2021, compared to R89.3 billion (US$6.2 billion) attained in the previous corresponding period. The gains were however offset by trading restrictions on non-essential goods and services for parts of the year, which resulted in an estimated R4 billion (US$279.5 million) in lost sales, and R200 million (US$13.9 million) in additional costs related to the group’s operational response to the Covid-19 pandemic.…

Pick n Pay CEO Richard Brasher to retire in April, his shoes to be filled by former Metro AG COO

Jan 15, 2021Jan 15, 2021 Editor

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s supermarket chain Pick n Pay has announced the retirement of Richard Brasher, as its Chief Executive officer with effect from April 21 after eight years at the helm. Basher will be succeeded by Netherlands-born Pieter Boone, former Chief Operating Officer of German retailer Metro AG. According to reports by Business Day, Brasher had initially intended to depart in 2020, but delayed the move to help guide the retail business through the COVID-19 pandemic and find a suitable replacement. During his tenure as indicated by company…