Talk of a looming global recession continues to impact emerging markets. And, as South Africa continues its longest downward cycle in many decades, local business owners are actively looking for ways to shore up ahead of future uncertainty.

Judging from the recent flood of food product launches – particularly new flavours or new version of existing staples - either South Africans get bored really easily, or producers are getting desperate to part consumers from their rands.

The Competition Commission is investigating the removal of certain brands of locally-produced cigarettes from the shelves of Spar, according to the Sunday Times.

You’re on your way home, but need to stop by at least one of two stores. One is more convenient to get to, but the other has a loyalty programme that allows you to accumulate points that will add up to some kind of discount.

As South Africans contend with higher fuel and electricity prices from April, the reality of tighter budgets is hitting home in shopping baskets across the country.

The latest customer satisfaction index finds that tough times, the new context of retail and changing consumer lifestyles present complex challenges to the big supermarket brands

A July 2018 Eighty20 report found that the average South African consumer is subscribed to as many as nine different rewards programmes, covering retail, petrol, and banking, among other sectors.

For the most part, it has been a dismal year for South African retailers; elevated household debt, higher fuel prices and an increase in value-added tax squeezed consumer spending. However, Ackermans, South Africa’s longest standing value retailer, performed well over 2018 reporting growth of just over 10% which is three times more than the industry benchmark.

Consulta has released its latest South African Customer Satisfaction Index (SAcsi) for supermarkets, looking at the overall level of customer satisfaction at South Africa’s big five supermarket brands – Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Spar, Checkers and Shoprite.

Nielsen has launched its 2019 Changing Consumer Prosperity Report which highlights how global consumers think and feel about their financial situation and reveals that when it comes to feeling prosperous, mindset matters more than income.

Following a complaint to the advertising watchdog, Checkers admitted that the water in the food range that Ramsay and his eldest daughter Matilda developed for children did not contain protein - despite packaging stating it did.

The South African Meat Processors Association (SAMPA) has donated R1 million towards the activities of Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Food Safety. The funding will support ongoing endeavours related to food safety research at Stellenbosch University. The Centre aims to support the local food industry as a whole and was established in November 2018.