Wal-Mart in talks to buy South Africa's Massmart

billv — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:35:47 +0000

Guardian 27 September 2010

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is planning a major move into the fast-expanding African market, announcing today that it is in talks to buy South Africa's third-largest retailer, Massmart.

PICK N PAY enters Zambia, pushes foreign growth

billv — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:03:50 +0000

Planet Retail 29 Jul 2010

South African retailer Pick n Pay has opened its first store in Zambia, in the capital city Lusaka, as it enters a new phase of aggressively accelerated international expansion. The retailer is planning to grow its Zambian network to seven company-owned outlets during the next five years.

Pick n Pay plans Africa expansion

billv — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:42:28 +0000

Times Live (Zambia) Jul 4, 2010

Pick n Pay should use the proceeds from the sale of its struggling Australian operations to compete more effectively in South Africa and expand its footprint in the region.

WAL-MART looking at South Africa

billv — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:52:53 +0000

Planet Retail 22 Oct 2009

Bloomberg, citing local retailer Pick n Pay, reports that Wal-Mart may be looking at entering the South African market in the next five years and has been "sniffing around" for opportunities in Africa's largest economy.

Shoprite considers retail opportunities in Zimbabwe

billv — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:52:45 +0000

ISI Intellinews, Oct 05, 2009

Shoprite Holdings Ltd, South Africa 's biggest food retailer, will consider retail opportunities in Zimbabwe as long as economic conditions are conducive to its expansion, Marketing director, Brian Weyers, told Bloomberg.

Study finds group does not promote local economic development

billv — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:36:48 +0000

Business Day, 15 April 2009

FOOD and furniture retailer the Shoprite Group has been rapped on the knuckles by nongovernmental organisation Bench Marks Foundation for running outlets that do not give back to the local economy.

In the countries surveyed, particularly in Zambia, local farmers and producers complained about Shoprite, and said they were losing out to big supermarket chains. The farmers alleged that this was because either they did not meet Shoprite supply standards or they could not compete with Shoprite imports.

PICK 'N PAY calls suppliers to meeting to discuss food prices

billv — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:01:41 +0000

Planet Retail 29 Jan 2009

As reported by local media, South Africa-based Pick ‘n Pay has summoned its suppliers to a meeting to discuss the issue of "high and rising food prices", which have continued to increase despite the recent sharp fall in global fuel and food commodity prices. Pick ‘n Pay is asking its suppliers to exercise "serious restraint" with their price hikes.

Call for proposals: Small Grant Applications from Community Based Groups and Small Scale Farmers to Support Innovative Practices

billv — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:00:01 +0000

Small Grant Applications from Community Based Groups and Small Scale Farmers to Support Innovative Practices in Agricultural Food Production in Southern Africa

The Southern Africa Trust invites submissions of innovative concept notes from eligible community groups and small scale farmers in southern Africa for work aimed at overcoming hunger and poverty by increasing the production of and access to food in both rural and urban areas.

SHOPRITE pushes pan-African expansion; big plans for Nigeria

billv — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:39:28 +0000

Planet Retail 5 Sep 2008

South African market leader Shoprite has announced that it will push ahead with its African expansion scheme, with CEO Whitey Basson saying that the retailer was planning to spend ZAR400 million (USD50.3 million) on expansion across the continent. Basson said the company was likely to open 50 new stores in Nigeria by 2013 to tap on the increased spending power there.

PICK ‘N PAY converts Score stores to franchises for emerging markets

billv — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:17:52 +0000

Planet Retail 23 Jun 2008

South African group Pick ‘n Pay has announced plans to extend its presence in underdeveloped areas, primarily through converting Score stores to Pick ‘n Pay franchises. The group aims to fill gaps on its footprint map and open supermarkets in areas where it does not have a presence and where there is sufficient demand for a store. The emerging market is incredibly important to Pick ‘n Pay, according to MD of Group Enterprises Adrian Naude. One route into these areas is converting underperforming Score outlets into Pick ‘n Pay Family franchises, which the group aims to sell to black entrepreneurs. The retailer's emerging market division, which was set up to identify and train black franchisees in SA, Botswana and Swaziland, will assist with this conversion.