The Fresh Connections: Southern Africa Conference hosted annually by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) will take place on 18-20 August 2020 as a virtual conference with free registration.

Pick n Pay chairman Gareth Ackerman says that the government’s decision to ban the sale of alcohol and tobacco in South Africa has done far more harm than good.

Africa's largest food retailer Shoprite said on Monday it had increased total sale of merchandise for the 52 weeks to June by 6.4 percent to about R156.9 billion (US$9.14 billion) despite difficult circumstances.

Pick n Pay is preparing to report a 50 percent fall in earnings for the 26 weeks to August 2020 due to lockdown restrictions, the increased cost as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, and the one-off costs of the voluntary severance programme (VSP), the company said today.

"Nigeria is a largely informal market and there are a lot of businesses that have gone there and thought it is a good opportunity to consolidate and introduce some formalisation because that has worked in SA, but that does not work in countries outside of SA."

Sixty60, a grocery delivery app run by Shoprite's segment, Checkers, has cemented its position in less than a year, with confirmation from the group that it is now operational from 87 stores.

More than 1 400 staff members at Pick n Pay have taken voluntary severance packages since March, the retailer has said in a trading update.

Pick n Pay Clothing today launched its online shop and customers can now view the full clothing range online and shop their favourite items for delivery straight to their doorstep nationwide.

Shoprite is once again throwing its weight behind small businesses with the launch of the 2020 Hustle competition.

Government is currently considering a proposal by the Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA) to lift the country’s ban on the sale of alcohol and evening curfew.