Coca-Cola's juice brands in revamp : 12/14/2009
Coca-Cola has unveiled a fresh visual identity for its global juice portfolio.
 

Have a break – have an ethical Kit Kat : 12/14/2009
estlé are to convert the cocoa supply for its iconic bar to fairtrade producers
 

SAB falls flat in premium market : 12/10/2009
After just five years, Heineken and Namibian Breweries have managed to secure a leading position in the hugely attractive premium segment of the South African beer market. The latest available figures, which are for the period to end September, reveal that Brandhouse's share of the premium beer segment by volume is 55 percent.
 

Retailers face profit meltdown : 12/9/2009
South Africa's major retailers are not only heading for a bleak Christmas, but their profits could also come under severe pressure if the country's retail sales decline does not improve.
 

Bloemfontein dairy makes history : 11/30/2009
The 25th of November 2009 marked the official opening of Bloemfontein based Homsek Dairy’s UHT milk factory - the first dairy plant in South Africa and Africa to pack long life milk in plastic bottles.
 

SABMiller gives new meaning to home-brewing in Africa : 9/30/2009
SABMiller's African division is planning to increase the number of farmers contracted to supply it with raw material inputs from 20 000 to 45 000 by 2012.
 

To be the toast of Tanzania : 8/31/2009
Alcohol producer and distributor Distell is spearheading a viticultural initiative in Tanzania expected to enable wine farmers in the Dodoma highlands to double their crops within three to five years — and may yet be developing a feasible model for rolling out vineyard productions across sub-Saharan Africa.
 

Retail confidence at 8 year low : 8/31/2009
Results from the latest Bureau for Economic Research (BER) Retail Survey reveal that retailer confidence declined sharply during the third quarter of 2009, falling from 47 to an eight-year low of 35 index points.
 

Housebrands on the rise in SA in recession : 8/31/2009
When the economy turns down, retailers typically experience an increase in the uptake of housebrands.
 

Retail chains sharpen focus amid recession : 8/31/2009
A recession can show which retailers have the correct strategy, and those giving value for money are now the victors.
 

New shoppers harder to woo : 8/31/2009
Retailers have needed to show great initiative since the economic downturn scuttled the spending boom.
 

'Consumer loyalty to quality private labels' : 8/31/2009
Continued better-than-market results from Shoprite indicate that shoppers might also be increasing their purchases of its housebrand offerings. Shoprite Holdings reported that its sales in its year to end-June rose 24.5%, helping it win market share against Pick n Pay and Woolworths (though it said growth had slowed in its second half).
 

SABMiller invests $125m in future growth (Angola) : 7/30/2009
SABMiller recently announced it will open a new $125m brewery and sparkling soft drinks (SSD) plant in Luanda
 

Quenching a thirst for alternative options - Alternative Beverages : 7/30/2009
The Alternative Beverage Corp - as its name suggests - is an alternative to the stereotype of the SA beverage industry as being the preserve of near-monopoly companies with huge marketing budgets and vast production and distribution infrastructures.
 

What’s Next After the US’s Fed’s Rebuke of : 7/30/2009
Food companies and retailers are casting a wary eye at federal regulators now after the Obama administration has slapped the wrists of the nation’s two largest ready-to-eat cereal brands over their use of health claims on packaging and in marketing and advertising activities, including in-store displays and signage.
 

Herbal tea sales take buzz out of coffee : 7/30/2009
Tea sales are rising after decades of decline as people abandon pricey cappuccinos and buy more green and herbal teas for their alleged health benefits.
 

Discovery Vitality's HealthyFood benefit proves a hit : 7/30/2009
The Discovery Vitality HealthyFood, benefit in partnership with Pick n Pay, has attracted over 100 000 people in its first three months. Discovery Vitality members that have registered for this benefit, launched 24 February 2009, have already purchased healthy food items to the value of over R30 million at Pick n Pay.
 

It’s Bud vs Castle in 2010 battle of the brands : 7/30/2009
Brewing storm: Budweiser is hoping to be king of SABMiller’s Castle during the World Cup
 

Africa tastes for the World Cup : 7/30/2009
The 2010 World Cup will put the global spotlight on African tastes and flavours.
 

Nando’s has not put up the ‘for sale’ sign : 6/30/2009
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.
 

Unilever's Flora global campaign aims to get 100m people to take a 'heart age' test : 6/30/2009
Unilever is refocusing the global marketing strategy for its Flora brand based on the goal of getting 100m people to take a 'heart age' test by 2020.
 

New drinks review: developing beverages that boost the mood : 6/30/2009
There is a range of energy products that focus on boosting various physical and mental features.
 

KFC trials 'healthier' griddled chicken : 6/30/2009
KFC is responding to growing consumer demand for healthy foods by launching its first griddled chicken product in the UK market.
 

Heineken brews R7bn growth : 6/30/2009
Company to build barley-malting plant in South Africa
 

Generation X - a new style of cool : 6/30/2009
Survey results are out! The coolest brands have been revealed!
 

Bargain hunting at new levels : 5/29/2009
Data released in mid April suggests South Africa is sliding deeper into an economic slowdown, evidence is emerging that financially distressed South Africans are eating less and buying cheaper food.
 

Woolworths opens in new shopping concourse : 5/29/2009
With the opening of a store in the new shopping concourse at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International on 16 April 2009, Woolworths has become the first food and fashion retailer to open in a South African airport terminal
 

Cheaper beer for Africa : 5/29/2009
Brewing company SABMiller says growth in lager volumes may slow in Africa
 

International Nestle cereal brands in South Africa : 5/29/2009
Nestlé has introduced two of its international cereal brands to the South African market.
 

Suppliers are key resource for new shopper-centric model : 5/29/2009
Retailers can use some help when transforming their organization from traditional category management to a process driven by shopper insights.
 

IMF expects global economy to shrink for the first time since war : 5/30/2009
The global economy is likely to shrink this year for the first time since the Second World War, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
 

New SAB boss plans to bring "brand to life" : 4/18/2009
SOUTH African Breweries’ (SAB’s) new head aims to breathe new life into the brewers’ 16 brands as Heineken turns up the heat in the sector with its new brewery.
 

New streamlined process puts focus on shoppers : 4/18/2009
The next wave of best practices for category management will incorporate such timely concepts as shopper marketing, in-store execution and loyalty marketing.
 

Drink up : 4/18/2009
The first comprehensive and peer-reviewed energy analysis of a bottle of water confirms what many environmentalists have charged.
 

Shopper centric model to emerge as new process : 4/18/2009
The challenge in category management today is transforming a retail organization skewed heavily toward the traditional process to one that is driven more by skills and capabilities in shopper insights.
 

If you're broke, have a chocolate : 4/18/2009
As news of tough economic times continues to bombard people, so consumers are turning to chocolate for consolation.
 

Milk in a guise boosts exports : 3/18/2009
With South Africa experiencing its largest milk surplus in more than a decade last year, shrewd South African dairy companies have begun exploring new product lines and markets.
 

What are the benefits of store-level planograms? :
Store-level planograms have been spoken about since the 1980s. But truth be told, the job has just seemed too daunting to do in the past because of technology, limited data and the perception that the amount of time, labour and investment needed to create and execute store level planograms would outweigh the benefits.
 

SAB water measures help global reduction targets : 4/18/2009
The South African Breweries (SAB) Ltd has set itself a target to reduce water consumption by at least 10% in the coming few years.
 

SABMiller brews up scheme to beat competition : 4/18/2009
Brewing giant SABMiller is to cut costs sharply in its most profitable market of South Africa to boost marketing ahead of the opening of a rival brewery this year just south of Johannesburg.
 

Joint venture How to boost brands for by optimizing centre store : 3/26/2009
Much of the pizzazz in supermarkets for many years has come from the sights and smells of such departments as floral, produce and bakery.
 

More flavours for water - options are swelling : 2/27/2009
Beverage assortments in grocery stores are bursting with water. They are not just bottled waters made popular during the last decade. Their assortments have increased to include a new subset of the water category. The new products come packed with vitamins and herbs that aim to provide hydration as well as improve one’s health and well-being.
 

Changing shopper habits in 2009 : 2/27/2009
JWT South Africa, and its global network of trend spotters in more than 200 countries, foresees that the economy, technology and social marketing will recur as major themes throughout 2009. More consumer-coping strategies to deal with the downturn. People are increasingly savouring brand and life experiences, rather than just blindly buying and spending. Many will also evaluate their career decisions, as increasing numbers of jobs are in peril or already lost.
 

The power of packaging : 2/27/2009
Packaging forms a product's image in the eyes of the consumer; it constitutes that all-important first impression of a brand. Attracting the consumer to buy and crucially meet their needs is the one fundamental factor for success.
 

Pepsi, Coke - battle over slogan : 2/27/2009
Happiness Becomes Front for Warring Cola Giants in a Dismal Economy The latest in the cola wars: the battle of the upbeat. Pepsi now boasts a series of smiling logos, and a new tagline, "Every generation refreshes the world," which was supposed to be launched. Coca-Cola, meanwhile, is poised to launch a campaign, "Open happiness," that will replace its "Coke side of life" -- which is, naturally, the bright side.
 

SAB retains its position on the top : 2/27/2009
South African Breweries (SAB) dominated launches in the local beer and flavoured alcoholic beverage market last year after it launched four new products aimed at the premium segment. SAB still has dominant market share and is confident about long term projects.
 

Dannon Expands Dairy space with mobile display cooler : 1/27/2009
Dannon USA has been doing such a good job of expanding the yogurt category with its DanActive and Activia brands that it created a new challenge: finding shelf space for retailers to sell the fast-selling products. To look for solutions, the company recently formed what it calls a “Shelf Obsession Team” that came up with a mobile cooler that organizes and promotes the health benefits of yogurt products.The Proactive Health kiosk has already been rolled out to more than 2,500 participating stores.A team of marketing and sales people have developed a very specific mission for themselves: grow and physically expand the yogurt shelf by about four feet. To date they’ve already accomplished the task while organizing to help improve the shopping experience in these stores.
 

Top trends affecting products : 2/27/2009
What are the top product trends for 2009? What categories will be hot and produce new and exciting products?
 

Half a dozen consumer trends for 2009 : 1/27/2009
What are the key consumer trends for 2009? Despite the doom and gloom brought on by the global economic situation, there are still plenty of trends out there begging to be applied profitably.
 

Is Market Research an Expense or an Investment? : 7/1/2008
Niel Victor, MD of Research and Planning Intelligence (RPI) answers the question on most marketers’ minds: Is market research an expense or an investment?
 

Fast Moving Consumer Goods: Snack Market Set for Billion-Dollar Growth : 7/1/2008
The global snack market will be worth almost $300bn (€197.8bn) by 2010, as manufacturers move towards healthier products as well as developing markets, a new report predicts
 

Dairy Taken to a New Level of Functionality : 7/1/2008
Dairy beverages capitalised on popular brands, as well as taking advantage of the energy drink craze. Functional milk products targeted at children show innovation and health benefits
 

Smirnoff Introduces New White Grape and Passion Fruit Flavoured Vodkas : 3/1/2008
Ultra-smooth and highly aromatic, Smirnoff Passion Fruit and White Grape flavoured vodkas are prepared using the same triple distillation and proprietary filtration process that has made Smirnoff the world's leading vodka brand
 

Pepsi Goes Raw : 3/1/2008
Pepsi is the latest brand to launch a new "healthy" option
 

2008 New Products Annual: Beverages - Delivering Drinks : 3/1/2008
Bottle water consumption is growing at a rapid rate, along with hot, adult and functional energy beverages
 

Ocean Spray Creates New Healthy Beverages : 3/1/2008
Cranergy, one of the most ambitious products that Ocean Spray has introduced, aims to create a whole new segment of healthful, juice-based beverages that will dent the nutritionally-vacant energy drink market
 

SAB Launches New Brand - Skelter's Straight : 3/1/2008
The South African Breweries (SAB) announced it would introduce a new brand, Skelter's Straight