LONDON, UK: British retailer Marks and Spencer on Wednesday, 30 September 2009, said that sales improved in its second quarter, driven by revamped food, clothing and homeware products, but it remained cautious about the outlook. 1 Oct 2009
Standard Bank South Africa has awarded MTN Business, a wholly owned division of MTN, the contract to rollout the African network infrastructure footprint. The bank, which under Stanbic has a presence in 17 countries across the continent, required the successful provider to ensure maximum uptime and low latency and guarantee data delivery back to South Africa without interruption to business operations. 1 Oct 2009
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: US food manufacturer Kraft on Tuesday, 29 September 2009, denied it was a publicity stunt to name a new creamier version of the iconic spread Vegemite 'iSnack 2.0', but suggested it might yet ditch the unpopular moniker. 30 Sep 2009
Customers may be paying more on dispensing and administration fees at independent pharmacies than at their in-store corporate counterparts. 30 Sep 2009
Cosatu in the Western Cape is threatening to bring the province to a standstill in support of the clothing workers who have been on strike to press a wage claim. 30 Sep 2009
PARIS, FRANCE: Christian Lacroix, whose show was always one of the hottest tickets in Paris fashion week, will be conspicuous by his absence from the round of ready-to-wear collections for next summer starting today, Wednesday 30 September 2009. 30 Sep 2009
Johannesburg's mixed-use precinct Melrose Arch is likely to give Sandton and Rosebank a run for their money by turning itself into a retail attraction. 30 Sep 2009
“The National Credit Act has had a significant affect on businesses like ours. We recognised the need to upgrade our current system, as it is no longer meeting our needs, especially in terms of compliance with the NCA,” states Michael Swanich, credit manager at Capri Linen. 30 Sep 2009
New York-based wine importer Cape Classics has defended South African wine in the face of a critical article published in Time Magazine, which claimed the country only exports “crud”. 30 Sep 2009
The Sustainable Supply Chain Management Conference 2009, being held at the Reserve Bank Conference Centre Pretoria on 17-18 November 2009, will bring leading South African experts, policy makers and analysts together to share the latest best practice and thought leadership around sustainable supply chain management. 30 Sep 2009
The search is on for the Joy Star Model SA - a new kind of modeling competition - with casting taking place countrywide in October. 30 Sep 2009
The second Annual International Conference on Entrepreneurship will be held at Wits Business School (WBS) on 8-9 October 2009. In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), Wits Business School's Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) will present 22 entrepreneurial experts discussing how traditional entrepreneurial practices are undergoing a major transformation in response to the new demands of the global market economy. 30 Sep 2009
Mars Africa, the wholly owned division of Mars Inc a family owned business established in 1911 producing some of the world's leading confectionery, was named as one of the five best companies to work for in South Africa. This was according to the Deloitte Best Company to Work for Survey released yesterday, 29 September 2009. 30 Sep 2009
Nestlé Zimbabwe yesterday, 28 Septemeber 2009, defended its decision to buy milk from Gushungo Dairy Estate, a formerly white-owned farm taken over by Grace Mugabe, wife of President Robert Mugabe. 29 Sep 2009
NAIROBI, KENYA: The Tea Board of Kenya on Monday, 28 Septemeber 2009, said the country's tea production fell 11.6% in the six months to August owing to the ongoing drought. 29 Sep 2009
Since its inception five years ago, the Soweto Festival has created business opportunities and encouraged business owners to take part in the mainstream of the local economy, says a Soweto entrepreneur. 29 Sep 2009
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS: Anglo-Dutch food and cosmetics giant Unilever said it had made a binding offer of €1.28 billion (US$1.83 billion) for the personal care operations of US giant Sara Lee Corp. 29 Sep 2009
Wine magazine, in partnership with Nedbank, is launching the inaugural Nedbank Organic Wine Awards to recognise and encourage environmentally friendly wine production. The competition aims to reward producers with the best environmental practices and the best wine made from certified organically grown grapes. 29 Sep 2009
Those attending The Times and Sowetan 2009 Retail Awards will discover which retailers have made the grade and came out tops as South Africa's favourite places to shop. 29 Sep 2009
Robert Riedel, a veteran of the liquor trade, joined Swartland Winery in September 2009 as the new marketing manager. He is known for the successes of Oude Meester brandy and Amarula Cream, and their rise in the global market, during his time at the KWV and early years in Bergkelder. 29 Sep 2009