SUPPLIER NEWS NEWS ON FASTMOVING

World food prices rose slightly last month‚ following some stability in the preceding two months‚ according to the latest United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report.  read more

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote on Thursday sold 63 percent of Dangote Flour to South African consumer goods firm Tiger Brands in a deal worth $188 million, brokers said.  read more

Johannesburg - SA's producer inflation, which represents domestic output, was slower at 5.1% year-on-year in August compared with 5.4% in July, Statistics SA data showed on Thursday.  read more

Tiger Brands Limited (“Tiger Brands”) and Dangote Industries Limited (“Dangote”) are pleased to announce they have executed a share sale and purchase agreement which will result in Tiger Brands acquiring a 63.35% shareholding in Dangote Flour Mills Plc (“Dangote Flour Mills”) for approximately R1.5 billion from Dangote. The transaction is expected to be effected during the first week of October 2012. read more

Medicines Control Council agrees to allow Adcock Ingram to market and distribute painkillers containing dextropropoxyphene (DPP) read more

The number of commercial farmers in SA would decline sharply from the current 40000 to 15000 in the next 15 to 20 years due to unfriendly agriculture policies and curbs on land ownership unless the government rethought the strategic importance of the sector, Absa warned yesterday. read more

Taiga Uranaka and Noriyuki Hirata Tokyo Olympus head Tsuyoshi Kikukawa resigned yesterday after a scandal over hefty advisory fees wiped out half of the 92-year-old firm’s market value, but his successor stuck with the company’s line that it had done nothing wrong. read more

Heineken NV, the world’s third- biggest brewer by volume, reported revenue growth that beat estimates as sales in western Europe fell less than expected. read more

German consumer morale unexpectedly rises going into November as a strong labour market bolstered income expectations despite a darkening economic outlook, the GfK market research group said on Tuesday. read more

Pick n Pay founder Raymond Ackerman yesterday received the CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards’ (AABLA) Lifetime Achievement award for having achieved phenomenal success as a businessman and for highlighting the importance of philanthropy in business. read more

SABMiller official confirms delay saying the process was awaiting approval of some documents by parties including Tanzania’s capital markets regulator read more

Johannesburg - Oceana Group [JSE:OCE] advised Monday that its headline earnings per share for the year ended September 2011 are expected to be between 3% and 8% higher than the comparative figure for the year ended September 2010. read more

Johannesburg - The Competition Tribunal has dismissed a case against Ross Poultry Breeders. read more

Global worries about food price inflation should be receding as wheat supplies are plentiful. Warehouse stocks are at their highest in years, producers have been reporting bumper crops and prices are falling sharply. read more

Pretoria - Walmart’s success resides in the management of its supply chain. South Africa’s problem is that its manufacturing sector cannot grow quickly enough to react to changing market conditions.  read more

International Coffee Organization (ICO) has revealed in its report that world coffee production in 2010-11 coffee year has increased by nearly 8% to 133.6 million bags of 60 kg each, compared to 124.2 million bags in 2009-10 coffee year (October-September).  read more

Global food processing and packaging company Tetra Pak has introduced a new beverage carton, Tetra Brik Aseptic 1000 Edge. The new carton is designed to deliver consumer convenience, reduced cost and strong environmental performance. read more

The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Egypt has plans to launch its new 100% made in Egypt juice product, Cappy juice, this summer and has invested more than EGP100m ($16.7m) for production.  read more

Official statistics of civil cases for debt for August, released by Stats SA this morning, show that while households continue to benefit from the accommodative interest rate environment, there are mixed signals for business sector balance sheet debt distress.  read more

Johannesburg - Retail group Clicks Group [JSE:CLS] on Thursday reported a 18.1% rise in diluted headline earnings per share (Heps) to 249.7 cents for the year ended August 2011. Diluted earnings per share were up 19.4% to 248.0c. read more

World demand for labels is expected to rise by over five percent per year to 51.6 billion square meters in 2015, valued at 110 billion dollars, according to a new study from Cleveland-based industry research firm, The Freedonia Group. ‘World Labels’ presents the following trends:  read more

Infini, Nampak’s innovative new lightweighted design of the plastic milk bottle, has been listed as a finalist in the International Dairy Federation (IDF) Dairy Innovation Awards 2011. The judging panel for this year’s awards selected finalists and winners in 14 categories from over 100 entries from 25 different countries.  read more

Nestle SA (NESN), the world’s biggest food company, raised its 2011 sales forecast after nine-month revenue rose at the fastest pace in three years, helped by higher prices for Nescafe soluble coffee and increased volume in Asia. read more

The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) have joined forces in a programme designed to boost sustainable cocoa production in West Africa.  read more

Kraft Foods has unveiled a five-year programme designed to improve the sustainability of its cocoa supply chain. read more

If the adage of admitting one's mistakes is the first step to improving, then embattled retailer Pick n Pay could well be on the road to recovery, despite being far behind the curve with a 40% decline in first-half profits.  read more

SABMiller, one of the world's largest brewers with interests and distribution agreements across six continents, on Wednesday noted flat lager volumes in its native market South Africa in the first half of its 2012 financial year, impacted by weaker consumer demand. Overall however, the group said it sold 3% more beer in the first half.  read more

Reserve Bank set to keep rates steady in spite of inflation edging closer to the top of its official 3%-6% target range read more

Johannesburg - An appeal by the government for a review of the Massmart Holdings [JSE:MSM] Walmart merger is expected to be heard on Thursday.  read more

Grain prices are near their lowest in a year and global stockpiles are on the rise - so meat, dairy and pasta prices are poised for a fall, right? read more

Personal care specialist Potter & Moore has opted for Rieke’s Airless Dispenser for its new Groomed SP15 Moisturiser. read more

Coca-Cola Co. (KO), the world’s largest soft-drink maker, posted an 8.1 percent increase in third- quarter profit after boosting global sales volumes and raising retail pricing in North America. read more

At a time when the world is facing its biggest sugar glut in at least four years, trade barriers mean the European Union is contending with a second consecutive annual shortage. read more

The increase in South Africa's consumer price index (CPI), which is used by the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) for its inflation target, was 5.7% year on year (y/y) in September, from 5.3% y/y in August, Statistics SA (Stats SA) said on Wednesday. read more

International brewer SABMiller and Anadolu Efes on Wednesday unveiled plans to form a strategic alliance that would create an entity that would hold the number two market position, in value terms, in the Russian beer market. read more

Trade relations between SA, India and Brazil have improved significantly despite the global economic recession, according to Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, at a business forum on Tuesday.  read more

Johannesburg - Pick n Pay Stores [JSE:PIK], South Africa's second-biggest grocery retailer, reported a 40% decline in first-half profit on Wednesday, hit by the start-up costs for its newly launched shopper reward programme and investments in its distribution system. read more

Johannesburg - Massmart Holdings [JSE:MSM] the local retailer majority owned by Walmart Stores, said on Monday first-quarter sales rose nearly 15% and forecast a solid year ahead.  read more

Minute Maid, a fruit juice brand owned by Coca-Cola, will launch its new Minute Maid Pure Squeezed line that comes in four varieties including three 100% orange juices and a light orange juice beverage.  read more

Kimberly-Clark Corporation has begun manufacturing tissue products that meet the sustainable sourcing requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). read more

UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's has announced plans to invest £1bn in a sustainability plan to reduce waste and carbon footprint in its own stores and in its supply chain in what it describes as one of the most ambitious programmes announced in the industry.  read more

Danone, the owner of the Evian and Volvic bottled-water brands, is in talks to sell water assets to Japan’s Suntory Holdings Ltd., three people familiar with the matter said.  read more

China's rapid economic growth eased in the latest quarter to a still-robust 9.1 percent amid government efforts to prevent overheating. read more

Distribution is the biggest challenge for companies trying to do business in Africa, says global management consulting company Accenture. read more

Mactac Printing Products has unveiled its new removable label products offering with the addition of MR840, an ultra-removable, acrylic emulsion adhesive that removes cleanly from most substrates. MR840 is said to be suitable for applications where easy removability is critical. MR840 is suitable for application temperatures above 25 deg F. read more

A strike at The Spar Group’s warehouse in KwaZulu-Natal enters its fourth week tomorrow, and although deliveries to stores have not been significantly disrupted, the group has apparently incurred hefty costs to keep deliveries on track. read more

Profit falls 85% on higher restructuring and raw material costs as company embarks on 800 million euro cost cutting scheme read more

SA has the ability to balance the needs of both commercial and subsistence farmers without sacrificing food security objectives, Deputy Agriculture Minister Pieter Mulder said at the Agri SA congress on Friday. read more

Johannesburg - South African farmers are yet to realise what the Walmart/Massmart Holdings [JSE:MSM] deal is doing to do to them, according to Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson read more

Johannesburg,- The Competition Tribunal has prohibited the merger between the US multinational Pioneer Hi-Bred International, and SA's Pannar Seed. read more

Japan Tobacco Inc. (2914), the world’s third-biggest publicly traded cigarette maker, may raise its dividend payout target to trim gaps with rivals including Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) and British American Tobacco Plc. (BATS) read more

Johannesburg - High-end South African supermarket chain Woolworths Holdings [JSE:WHL] is to open three stores in Nigeria in December, its first foray into Africa’s most populous nation as it counters a move into the poorest continent by the world’s biggest retailer, Walmart. read more

Fairtrade is the most widely recognised ethical label in the world, according to new research by consultancy GlobeScan. read more

The world has become more vulnerable to outbreaks of disease caused by contaminated food because of growing global trade, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. read more

Sony yesterday recalled 1,6-million Bravia flat-panel TVs sold worldwide since 2007 because a faulty component may cause them to melt or catch fire, and said it had suspended more than 90000 accounts because of a new hacking attack. read more

Manufacturing output surged unexpectedly in August after a sharp fall in July, but the rebound was not seen as a sign of a significant turnaround in the sector. read more

Recruitment and research company Adcorp yesterday reported modest profit for the six months to August in spite of companies' reluctance to hire this year as the possibility of an economic slowdown rears its head.  read more

Blackberry users should seek recourse from the National Consumer Commission after the failure of the data service in the past three days, commissioner Mamodupi Mohlala said yesterday. read more

Johannesburg - The Reserve Bank struck a dovish note about the economy on Wednesday due to global weakness, suggesting there is still a chance of a rate cut despite a stronger-than-expected performance by the manufacturing sector in August. read more

Wal-Mart backed Massmart on Tuesday signed an agreement with the South African Bureau of Standards that will ultimately boost the competitiveness of small, medium and micro enterprises in SA.  read more

Wool prices took another dip at this week's sale as the turbulence in commodity markets and market uncertainty continued and the Cape Wools market indicator dropped 5.5% to close the day at R86.61/kg (clean). read more

A number of factors will keep the local manufacturing sector under continued pressure going forward, Stewart Jennings, chairman of the Manufacturing Circle and PG Group CEO said in an interview with BusinessLIVE.  read more

Johannesburg - Current trade conditions as reflected by the trade activity index (Tai) deteriorated to a seasonally adjusted 45 in September from 48 in August, indicating business perceives trade conditions to be under pressure. read more

After two years of what analysts had called phenomenal growth, Verimark Holdings announced yesterday that it was undergoing a "consolidation phase" as profit before tax fell 23,4% in the six months to August.  read more

Cape Town - The SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has named its preferred bidder for the N1/N2 Winelands highway toll project, despite a legal challenge by Cape Town city over the project. read more

Pick n Pay has announced that it will transform its seafood operations by 2015. read more

Some of the label industry’s leading companies and individuals were recognized for their outstanding contribution to the sector as the winners of this year’s Label Industry Global Awards were unveiled. Held during Labelexpo Europe at the Event Lounge in Brussels before an audience of 550, the awards celebrate and honour those who promote best practice in the label industry.  read more

The Carbon Trust has announced the launch of a new international standard for measuring and reporting on carbon footprints. Meanwhile, the non-profit organisation has also released a new tool to help businesses identify and combat 'carbon hotspots'. read more

U.S. retail sales increased in September at the fastest pace in six months, providing a sign of optimism for some merchants heading into the holiday shopping season, economists said before a report this week. read more

Cape Town - The City of Cape Town has applied to the Cape High Court to declare whether there is a dispute with the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) over the introduction of a toll road. read more

Johannesburg - Walmart and Massmart Holdings [JSE:MSM] should increase their planned fund to support South African suppliers to at least R500m from R100m, the country’s largest service industry union said on Monday.  read more

SA has an important role to play in the global food system, and never before in history has the country been so well-positioned to advance in food safety, according to the Wal-Mart's Vice President of Food Safety. read more

Sappi rose the most in 11 months in JSE trading after saying it would cut local jobs amid falling demand for its products. read more

World’s second-largest software maker aims to curtail big acquisitions and growth from within, relying on hardware sales and cloud-computing.  read more

EE Publishers said on Friday before Woolworths announced its recall company had demonstrated "contempt for the safety of customers" read more

Cape Town clothing manufacturer to increase its workforce by 25% — the first significant employment growth in any metropolitan area in years read more

Cape Town - US retail giant Walmart is warming up to small Cape Town manufacturer Econo-Heat as it is proving that growth in volumes help to reduce labour costs and to beat Chinese rivals. read more

Cape Town - Your pot plant can chirp if it needs water, the couch declare your weight, online purchases become ever easier – and the online product offering keeps expanding.  read more

Massmart CEO says his company does not disagree with the three government departments opposing its merger with Walmart read more

A legal battle is brewing between wine and spirits group KWV and some of its minority shareholders, led by activist Chris Logan, following moves by the minority shareholders to present a resolution to shareholders at the company’s upcoming annual general meeting (AGM). read more

Windows of opportunity are opening up for Africa, according to Standard Bank researcher Simon Freemantle. At a presentation in Johannesburg yesterday, he said South African companies, which had already invested $15 billion (R124.3bn) in the rest of the continent, stood to gain if their corporate strategies were aligned to the major trends. read more

Clover putting out marketing message "Way Better" to replace the "All You Need" line used previously in advertising campaigns. read more

SABMiller "unlikely" to be bought by AB InBev because of the potential cost of exiting joint ventures, and the price of a takeover according to London analyst. read more

Transnet unit participating in a tender to supply as many as 740 wagons for Mauritania’s state rail authority.  read more

Pick n Pay shares tumbled as much as 4% yesterday morning to R35,04, their lowest in more than two years, following an announcement after the market closed on Tuesday that earnings would drop as much as 50% due to spending on business renewal.  read more

Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT), the foodmaker splitting into two companies at the end of next year, hired Heidrick & Struggles International Inc. (HSII) to find external candidates to lead its North American grocery spinoff, said two people with direct knowledge of the matter. read more

Steve Jobs, Apple Inc's co-founder and former CEO who died Wednesday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, created a series of seminal electronics products, reinvented several industries, and built Apple into a $350 billion juggernaut.  read more

Johannesburg - Foschini [JSE:FOS] on Tuesday said it has bought luxury menswear brand Fabiani for an undisclosed amount, giving it entry into the high wealth customer segment that only a few of its brands currently tap into. read more

Discount retailer The Crazy Store, plans to expand its footprint and cash-in on Africa's burgeoning middle class.  read more

UK-based design agency Pearlfisher has created a new brand identity for Westons Cider’s Wyld Wood Premium Organic cider. read more

UK-based brand and packaging design agency Slice Design has created a new look for Kraft Foods' Cadbury’s range of Christmas confectionery.  read more

The South African counterfeit industry is estimated at approximately R362 billion and is viewed as one of the world's fastest growing industries, with seizures of fake goods up 46% annually according to a counterfeiting expert at attorneys Adams & Adams. read more

With the iconic Table Mountain as its backdrop, the V&A Waterfront is located around the historic Victoria and Alfred basins that formed Cape Town's original harbour. read more

Pretoria - Turkish Prime Tayyip Erdogan visited South Africa on Tuesday, the latest stop in a diplomatic drive into the resource-rich continent whose attention is increasingly fixed on emerging market relationships rather than old commercial ties to Europe. read more

Used by Castel for the application of labels in its two bottling centers of Castel Languedoc Roussillon and Blanquefort Bordeaux, the UPM Raflatac ProLiner PP30 release liner has allowed the French wine company to improve its productivity and environmental performance.  read more

Bangladesh is set to overtake China as a major apparel producer by 2016 as sourcing costs in the leading Asian economy sky rocket.  read more

Consumer goods giant Unilever is in talks to resume business with Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology, the Indonesian palm oil firm said on Wednesday.Sinar Mas, the palm oil supplier that was the focus of many headlines last year after it was given a mixed score card last year in an independent environmental audit after Greenpeace accused the firm of clearing peat land and forests that sheltered endangered species. read more

(Reuters) - To get an idea how emerging markets are reshaping global consumption patterns, look no further than the cocoa bean. read more

Diageo Plc (DGE), the world’s largest distiller, agreed to buy Ethiopia’s state-owned Meta Abo Brewery for $225 million after outbidding SABMiller Plc (SAB) and Heineken NV. (HEIA) read more

Eastman Kodak Co. (EK), the unprofitable 131-year-old camera company, climbed the most since at least 1974 after saying it doesn’t plan to seek bankruptcy protection. read more