Which way will food prices go in 2012?**
Food price inflation is a fickle and difficult to track; it’s
influenced by a complex web of interdependent factors that are
subject to varying degrees of volatility, which rarely benefits
consumers.
At best, prices remain constant for a while before a spark of
activity causes a malicious alignment that conspires to drive
prices upward, with aggression. This sums up the irregular pattern
of food prices – they’re very quick to rise but,
slow to retreat.
While most consumers believe that food prices keep escalating
by about 35%, we know that’s not true.
South Africa’s two biggest FMCG retailers reported food
price inflation of between 0% and 1.3% in their 2011 annual
reports. Pick n Pay, for the six months to August believe that
figure to be close to 3%. Low food price inflation is a major
contributor toward keeping the overall CPI rate lower than anticipated,
and may well help to stimulate an interest rate cut.
Retailers like inflation to be mild and consistent, the moment
prices start bouncing around or shooting for the sky, consumers
react and trading becomes difficult. Shoprite has proven that
keeping prices down quickly attracts new customers. When there
is price deflation, trading becomes even more difficult and
a lean supply chain becomes critical.
What we do know is that consumers are strained at the moment
and any sharp upward movement of prices will have them reacting
quite aggressively.
For various reasons 2012 will be a tough year for most South
African retailers. One can only hope that they will be aided
by a moderate and stable inflation of food prices.
Craig Ballantyne
Please feel free to make comments or raise new issues by emailing
the editor |
|
|
What's
happening at fastmoving.co.za?
new
products · brand activity
· liqour · jobs
· events |
Update
your brand catalogue
We’re busy updating catalogues for all our listed
brands. If your brand has a catalogue on fastmoving.co.za
and you want to find out more about updating it, please
email our editor here).
Do you blog?
We’ve recently launched blogs on our portal
and we’re inviting anybody interested to blog
about their area of expertise in the retail and FMCG
industry. We already have blogs from the likes of
Jason
Kempen of Fountainhead design and Melody
Maker of Acceleration. If you would like to join
them and blog on fastmoving, please contact us to
find
out more.
Jobs in FMCG and retail
Are you looking to advertise a job in retail or a
position in an FMCG company? If you’re currently
a client of fastmoving (i.e. your service page or
brand catalogue is currently listed on our portal),
we have the facility to list retail and FMCG job ads.
If you’re not currently a client, but are interested
in listing a job, please contact us here.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Products
|
A
new addition to Aquartz flavoured water range
Aquartz is also introducing a sparkling new addition
to its flavoured water range. This new mango variant
compliments the existing Aquartz flavoured water range
and is available in a 500 ml bottle
|
|
Nestle’s
new easy-peel ice-cream is a first in South Africa
Nestlé is excited to introduce the Krazy Monkey
as the first ice-cream that can be peeled in South Africa.
This banana-shaped treat, which is the newest addition
to the Nestlé Impulse range, is covered in an
edible grape-flavoured jelly, which consumers can peel
away to enjoy the soft vanilla ice-cream filling inside.
|
|
Living
made easy with Pasta Grande
Building on the success of our Pasta Grande range of
pastas, we continue to expand the range with the introduction
of 4 more bulk variants and 3 new exciting 500g shapes.
These new additions to the range will stimulate interest
and further growth in the pasta market.
|
|
Hygiene
Toothbrushes
A.J. North, the only toothbrush manufacturer in South
Africa has launched a completely new range of Oral Hygiene
toothbrushes - 100% designed and proudly made in South
Africa - right down to the last bristle! |
|
Big
news from Aquartz
Aquartz is going big on flavuor and refreshment. Three
of Aquartz delicious variants are now available in 1.5-litre
bottles. The variants available in 1.5-litre bottles
are Cranberry Rasberry, Lemon Lime and Peach Passion
and compliment the pure still and sparkling waters already
available in 1.5-litre packs.
|
|
Ceres’
new mystical flavour bursts with goodness
Ceres fruit juice brings you a new, rich flavour, Full
Moon Harvest, part of the 100% juice range. Full Moon
Harvest - the classic superior quality of Ceres and
the mystical flavour of the valley from which it springs.
|
|
I&J
Beefers in 2 New Variants - Sweet Chilli and Mild Curry
I&J Beefers are now available in two new variants,
Sweet Chilli and Mild Curry. Available in the frozen
food aisle of your favourite retail outlet, in 800g
packs.
|
|
Blink
Mints
Blink Mints, delivering a high quality mint product,
sugar free, low in calories, healthy and superbly flavoured.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brand Activity
|
Clorets
breathes fresh breath through Billads
Clorets’ new Cherry Menthol chewing gum achieved
a 73% brand recall rate during its consumer engaging
Billads sampling campaign, which was organised in restaurants
and bistros by Nine Mile Media targeting a potential
1 450 000 consumers over a two month period. |
|
South
Africa’s positioning in the world olive oil market
(Vezuvio)
The South African olive industry is mainly concentrated
in the Western Cape. South Africa's consumption of olive
oil per capita is approximately 80ml per annum whereas
major olive oil countries (Greece, Spain, and Italy)
range between 12-24L per individual. So why is it that
South Africans are so far behind some of the global
trends when the country is producing some of the best
Olive oil in the World? |
|
|
|
|
|
Featured Brands
|
 |
Westfalia
Avocado Oils
Westfalia Avocado Oil is made only from choice quality,
locally grown Hass avocados. Westfalia’s range
of Plain (both regular and organic), avocado oil, as
well as natural Garlic, Lemon, Chilli, Basil and Mediterranean
(herbs) infused avocado oils, offers a healthy and delicious
option for everyday food preparation. |
 |
Willow
Creek
Here at Willow Creek Olive Estate we celebrate all that
is ‘olive’, reveling in our quest to produce
world class delicacies from this multi-faceted fruit. |
|
|
|
|
|
Featured Retail
Services
|
Accsys
Accsys is an award winning South African software company
specialising in people management solutions and offers
a 100% integrated people management system comprising
payroll, human resources, time and attendance, access
control, employee self service and state of the art
biometric devices. |
 |
Digipos
store solutions
DigiPoS Store Solutions is the first choice for many
retailers across the globe. Operating across 16 divisions,
DigiPoS delivers innovative technology to retailers
and point of service businesses. We develop award winning
hardware, software and professional services
|
 |
|
|
|
Retail Services
News
|
Thirsty
Thoughts: Buttermilk and Maas
Buttermilk and maas are quantified collectively as part
of BMI’s annual research into the dairy industry.
BMI Research has detailed volume, value and trend information
on the category after more than a decade’s worth
of analysis of the industry. |
|
First
South African Fairtrade week encourages consumers to
taste the change - On 14 - 20 November 2011
In just a few short weeks Fairtrade Label South Africa
(FLSA) will be celebrating our very first Fairtrade
Week in South Africa, a campaign aimed at raising awareness
about Fairtrade among the local public. Fairtrade Weeks
slogan, ‘Taste the Change’ |
|
Whose
Responsibility is it?*
FMCG companies spend vast amounts of money publishing
and promoting their customer care toll free numbers.
Furthermore consumers become disillusioned when they
call certain call centres and are shunted from one agent
to another, when agents cannot assist the client with
their product queries. Consumers often get frustrated
with brands try and do ‘cool things’, but
can't handle a basic enquiry. |
|
|
|
|
FMCG Jobs
|
Responsible
Pharmacists (Needed for Kwazulu Natal, Port Elizabeth
and Cape Town)
This role requires a qualified pharmacist who has an
understanding of the MCC requirements for scheduled
medicines (schedule 1,2 and 3). this position would
possibly suit a junior pharmacist with some retail experience
alternatively possibly a retired person who still wants
to make a contribution |
Costing
Manager (Senior Level) Gauteng
A leading international company, is offering an opportunity
to join a highly successful team tasked with the strategic
and operational management of 14 countries within the
African continent. We are looking to appoint a seasoned
Costing Manager who will be called a Pricing and Business
Intelligence Manager. To be considered for this role
you must have experience in a service related field
such as logistics, courier, car rental etc and be a
commercially astute costing expert. |
Operations
Director : FMCG Distribution
A large FMCG multinational, expanding at a rapid rate
and servicing the West African emerging commodity market,
is looking for an experienced Operations Director. This
is a newly created position. The incumbent will be responsible
for the strategic distribution strategy across 3 business
units. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Events
|
|
SOCAP
SA 2011 Conference
When: 3 Nov 2011 – 4 Nov 2011 |
New
dairy experience come to the Cape
When: 4 Nov 2011 – 5 Nov 2011
Venue: Sandringham (next to the N1 between Cape Town
and Paarl) |
Food
Safety Conference
When: 21 Nov 2011– 24 Nov 2011
Venue: The Crowne Plaza, Johannesburg |
Global
Sources: China Sourcing Fairs
When: 30 Nov 2011 – 2 Dec 2011
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Johannesburg
· Global
Sources, Baby & Children's Products China Sourcing
Fair
· Global
Sources, Hardware & Building Materials China Sourcing
Fair
· Global
Sources, Garments and Textiles China Sourcing Fair
· Global
Sources, Gifts & Premiums China Sourcing Fair
· Global
Sources, Home Products China Sourcing Fair
· Global
Sources, Solar & Energy Saving Products China Sourcing
Fair
· Global
Sources, Electronics China Sourcing Sourcing Fair
· Global
Sources, Fashion Accessories China Sourcing Fair |
Networking
expo for the logistics and supply chain management industry
When: 22 Mar 2012 – 23 March 2012
Venue: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Johannesburg
|
Cards
& Payments Solutions - even bigger and better for
2012
When: 13 Mar 2011 – 14 Oct 2011
Venue: Earls Court, South Hall, London
|
|
| |
|
|
Featured Client
|
|
|
|
Active Clients
|
|
|
|
