Milk matters Balancing value & innovation in South Africa’s dairy aisle As South Africa prepares to mark World Milk Day on 1 June, the country’s dairy aisle is reflecting far more than a staple category. Milk has evolved into a dynamic retail space shaped by affordability, nutrition, convenience, innovation and changing consumer lifestyles. Despite ongoing economic pressure, milk remains one of the most resilient products in the FMCG basket. It continues to be a high-frequency purchase consumed across multiple occasions – from breakfast tables and lunchboxes to cooking, baking and...

From the ground up How FMCG retailers and wholesalers can build the foundations of their businesses Picture a small independent grocery store in Diepsloot. Until fairly recently, the owner, who has been trading for over a decade, could not access a single rand of formal business credit. He employs eight people and turns over a solid revenue every month but he has no conventional credit score, no fixed property to offer as collateral and no bank manager who knows his name. He is not a bad credit risk; he is simply invisible to the traditional financial system. This scenario is common across...

Electronic shelf labels & automation There are compelling reasons for uptake and growth in the adoption of Electronic shelf labels (ESL), after the original slow start. ITWeb points out that a few South African retailers ventured into ESL as early as 2006, at a time when the cost was hard to justify. Fast forward to 2026 and it’s clear that ESL is increasingly finding mainstream support among South African retailers.

How higher education is driving retail success Skills development and ongoing training in the FMCG sector is crucially important. Leading local retailers, including Woolworths, Shoprite, SPAR, Food Lover’s Market and Pick n Pay offer a variety of higher learning and skills development programmes to their employees, while also championing learning in the wider community. Recognising the value of developing a skilled and capable workforce, these local brands are helping to build a better South Africa. Operational efficiency also benefits from skills development as it ensures that employees...

Unfinished business drives us crazy It’s a familiar feeling. You’re watching a movie or a series on TV. You are tired and way past bedtime, but … you just can’t seem to quit. The talented writer creates a series of awe-inspiring cliff hangers that keep you hooked in, and then you simply have to watch some more. Here’s another example: What happens when you are driving down the road and you see some traffic lights in the distance? If you are like most of us – particularly if you are a man – you probably accelerate to make sure that you make it before it goes red. Is it the cleverest thing...

The new reality of retail distribution Few of us think about it while pushing a trolley down a supermarket aisle, but every product on every shelf has already completed a complex journey – one that is becoming harder, more expensive and far less predictable by the day. Retail distribution is no longer just a back-end logistics function. It has become a competitive battleground where cost, speed and service are constantly being traded off against one another.

How staples are driving retail growth South African shoppers are buying fewer FMCG products than before, but pantry staples continue to hold their ground. In a time of economic pressure, boxed, canned, frozen and shelf-stable foods remain the backbone of the grocery basket. For some households, stocking up on these essentials has become easier, especially for those with the means to buy in bulk. For others, affordability still dictates choice. Many consumers continue to rely on the cheaper and familiar products that stretch meals further and keep households fed. Healthy-for-you options are...

Navigating packaging, labelling & barcoding in South Africa In the high-stakes world of South African retail, the difference between a profitable SKU and a logistical failure often comes down to three things: the box it sits in, the label that describes it, and the code that tracks it. While shoppers only see a product on a shelf, retail professionals know that packaging, labelling, and barcoding are the invisible infrastructure of the entire supply chain. In South Africa, this infrastructure is uniquely complex.

Always-on connectivity is powering South Africa’s AI-driven retail automation revolution Picture this: a bustling supermarket at peak trading hours. It could be Norwood Pick n Pay on payday, or Checkers at the Point in Cape Town’s seam-bursting Sea Point on any given Friday, or any of thousands of busy stores.