USA: Napster's choice of a headphone-wearing cat for its logo has turned out to be quite appropriate. The grand-tabby of all digital music services enters its second decade apparently intent on using up every one of a feline's nine lives, with the latest reincarnation coming Monday in the form of a new business model. 20 May 2009
With its rolling green fields, fat dairy cows and state-of-the-art milking enclosure, the Fort Hare Dairy Trust outside the Eastern Cape university town of Alice could easily be a shining symbol of how successful land reform could be in SA. 19 May 2009
Vandalism, the weather and illegal handsets are just some of the apparent causes of South Africa's recent cellphone coverage problems, according to cellphone companies. 19 May 2009
Food group Tiger Brands on Tuesday reported a 16% decline in diluted headline earnings per share of 624.5 cents for the six months ended March 2009 from 739.5 cents a year ago. 19 May 2009
While businesses in the renewable energies sector may be struggling to take off, more existing business owners in the manufacturing and services sector are realising the potential in marketing greener solutions to clients. 19 May 2009
Furniture retailer Lewis Group on Monday, 18 May 2009, reported diluted headline earnings per share of 634.1 cents for the year ended March from 688.1 cents a year ago. A final cash dividend of 179 cents per share was declared. 19 May 2009
CWG bursary winners, Sacha Claassen and Tamsyn Jeftha.
The Cape Winemakers Guild has awarded bursaries for the first time to final year Viticulture and Oenology students who have been earmarked for the Guild's Protégé Programme once they have completed their studies. 19 May 2009
While thousands of vehicles are being sold online by vehicle auctioneers in the United Kingdom and Europe, a leading local car auctioneer believes that the South African market will not follow suit in the near future. 19 May 2009
South Africans have until 2 June 2009 to submit their comments in relation to Eskom's proposed 34% tariff increase, according to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). 18 May 2009
Point-of-sale solutions provider DigiPoS has extended the portfolio of products on which it draws for the creation of high performance retail solutions with the announcement of a new partnership with international printer manufacturer Star Micronics. 18 May 2009
Growthpoint Properties Limited today, 18 May 2009, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Australia's Orchard Industrial Property Fund (OIF). 18 May 2009
Clothing and textile manufacturer Seardel on Friday, 15 May 2009, reported that its diluted headline loss per share for the nine-month period ended 31 March 2009 was at 45.6 cents, compared with a loss of 110.8 cents per share reported for the year ended 30 June 2008. 18 May 2009
Global brewing giant SABMiller held its dividend in the year to March at US$0.58 despite global input cost pressures and foreign exchange movements. 18 May 2009
Shopping excursions in the future will be simpler and faster, with cellphones doubling as wallets and the price of goods on the shelf changing by the hour. 18 May 2009
TOKYO: Japan's Panasonic Corp. announced on Friday, 15 May 2009, its first annual loss in six years and warned its bottom line would remain in the red this year because of weak sales of televisions, cameras and other goods. 18 May 2009
Little wonder that the retail cost of potatoes, cabbages, lettuces, onions, tomatoes and sweetcorn has rocketed. Between July 2007 and November 2008, the cost of fertilising a field increased from R5713/ha to R19312/ha. Since then the cost of fertiliser has decreased by 70%, but fresh-produce costs have been slow in coming down. 18 May 2009
Vodacom will list on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange this morning, 18 May 2009, after Cosatu and the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) lost an 11th-hour court battle to halt the move. 18 May 2009
A recent survey of brand owners conducted by EskoArtwork, Adobe, and the International Packaging Institute (IPI) revealed a number of important trends in packaging design, many of which are driven by changes in materials, computer technologies, and consumer expectations. 18 May 2009
USA: At the SPC's annual spring meeting last month, it was evident that the discussion of sustainable packaging has expanded its focus to the post-consumer side of the supply chain. The first day of the meeting focused on end-of-life issues, reflecting the coalition's evolution from an emphasis on packaging design toward a greater recognition that the current US recycling system and lack of sorting technology is a barrier to the effective recovery of many types of packaging materials and to developing more sustainable packaging systems. 18 May 2009
Figures from consumer and retail market research firm NPD Group show sales declined year over year in all categories - hardware, software, games and game accessories. 18 May 2009
