With less than one month to go, the countdown is on to Hostex 2026, taking place from 8–10 March at the Sandton Convention Centre, where Africa’s food, drink and hospitality community will come together for three days of business, ideas and connection.

Roots Butchery has taken a major step forward in modernising its retail operations through the adoption of Glory’s advanced, end‑to‑end cash automation technology. Designed to eliminate manual cash‑handling challenges, the new system has streamlined cash processes from checkout to bank deposit, boosting security, efficiency and accuracy across the Kwa‑Guqa store.

Health and safety in supermarkets reach far beyond wet floors and ‘caution’ signs. South African retailers must manage manual handling, slips and trips, chemical exposure, refrigeration risks, electrical hazards, crime, and loadshedding, all under the eye of regulators.

First Choice High Protein, a high-protein ready-to-drink, milk-based beverage from Woodlands Dairy, has expanded its range with two new offerings designed to meet a broader spectrum of wellness, active lifestyle and performance needs.

Early bird discount – Register now : https://conference.sapics.org/

aQuellé’s New STILL Flavoured Range. From the first bottle grabbed on the way to work, to the last sip between errands, aQuellé’s new 750 ml STILL Flavoured range makes everyday hydration refreshingly effortless. Designed for real, everyday moments, it gives consumers a lighter, better-for-you option to stay refreshed throughout the day.

From a single hall at NASREC in 1986 to one of South Africa’s longest-running trade shows, Hostex 2026 marks a major milestone: 40 years of connecting professionals in food, drink, and hospitality.

Nova Chocolate is proud to introduce its latest innovation, The Little 5 Space Balls Range.  A new panning collection that proves indulgence and healthier snacking can happily coexist in the same chocolate-coated universe.

As 2026 gets underway, it’s clear that supply chain uncertainty is not going anywhere this year. But while there has been no respite from geopolitical tensions and shifting trade dynamics, the supply chain conversation is changing tone, says leading Southern African supply chain industry body SAPICS.