The success of the plastic bag regulations could be measured by the significant reduction in the number of flat carrier bags used by consumers since 2003, Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said Monday, 22 June 2009. 23 Jun 2009
Junk Mail, ostensibly South Africa's leading classified publication, is moving with the times in light of the recent global economic downturn. For the past 12 years, Junk Mail has been exclusively offered as a paid service to its subscribers, but is now implementing a 'no more subscriptions, no more payments' initiative. 23 Jun 2009
Failing businesses in East London's shopping malls have raised concerns about the viability of retailers in the city. 23 Jun 2009
Retail-focused Hyprop Investments has announced the appointment of Mike Rodel as CEO with effect from August, to oversee the completion of the company's R663m expansion programme launched last year. 23 Jun 2009
Three promising winemakers have been selected as the recipients of this year's Patrick Grubb Bursary. The successful candidates, Nico Fischer of Simonsig, Andrew Williams of Steenberg and M'Daan Pieterse of Overgaauw will be given the opportunity to complete their tenures in the vineyards of some of the world's finest wine regions. 23 Jun 2009
A beer battle is brewing at the annual Kirkwood Wildlife Festival, which takes place in the Eastern Cape town from 26 - 28 June 2009. 23 Jun 2009
Sovereign Food Holdings said on Monday, 22 June 2009, that it has had a very significant recovery in the first quarter of the year as a result of improved volume throughput and improved poultry prices. 23 Jun 2009
Economists predict the South African Reserve Bank (SARB)'s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is likely to announce a 50 basis point cut in the repo rate, when it meets this week. 23 Jun 2009
When US fast-food icon McDonald's opened for business in South Africa 14 years ago, there was excitement among consumers — but local operators responded by sharpening their own operations. 22 Jun 2009
South African fast-food icon Nando's has ended months of speculation that it might be sold to international food group Yum Brands, the US owner of KFC and Pizza Hut. 22 Jun 2009
Owners of franchise businesses who fail to comply with the Consumer Protection Act could end up facing fines of up to R1-million when the act becomes active in October next year, Simone Monty, a director of Routledge Modise in association with Eversheds, said in Johannesburg last week. 22 Jun 2009
It looks like consumers are getting ripped off on food prices, said a leading economist. 22 Jun 2009
In response to a recent report, Heineken has released a statement that it won't in fact be building a malting plant at its new brewery in Sedibeng, Gauteng. 22 Jun 2009
On the face of it Rainbow Chicken's annual results were horrid. While revenue increased 14.4% to R6,8bn, pretax profit dropped 45% to R441m and headline earnings declined 40% to R318,8m. 22 Jun 2009
Every time you swipe your credit card and wait for the transaction to be approved, sensitive data including your name and account number are ferried from store to bank through computer networks, each step a potential opening for hackers. 22 Jun 2009
Using Software as a Service (SaaS) or cloud computing to outsource otherwise costly infrastructure - such as human resources, call centres and automated payroll - has allowed many savvy small businesses to improve efficiencies, grow profits and maintain their business focus by buying services on demand. The benefits of the on-demand model, such as low- or no-cost resources on demand, and paying only for services used are now being applied to previously cloudless business practices. 22 Jun 2009
Lifestyle wine brand Arniston Bay is the official wine sponsor of the Pick 'n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival. 19 Jun 2009
LONDON: Increasing economic pressures affecting the retail industry means companies in Western Europe and North America will increasingly look to outsource technology and business processes in a bid to cut costs, and focus on core skills. This is according to a new report by independent market analyst firm, Datamonitor. The report, “Retailing in a Recession: The Opportunities for Outsourcing”, looks at the business processes retailers are outsourcing, and why. 19 Jun 2009
BORDEAUX, FRANCE: Vinexpo, the world's biggest wine and spirits fair, opens Sunday, 21 June 2009, as 40,000 professionals from around the globe gather to ply their beverages in markets made fiercely competitive by the economic crisis. 19 Jun 2009
East London's new mega mall next to Hemingway's Casino is rapidly taking shape, with one retail store already nearing completion. 19 Jun 2009