Pick n Pay does not often grace these pages at the moment, for all the right reasons. The Big Blue, it seems, is just quietly getting on with the business – and part of that is launching new “next-generation” stores, like the 4,300m² one it has just opened at the Mall of Africa. Like others of its kind, it places an emphasis on fresh – a third of the store is dedicated to fresh produce and perishables. Other mod cons include specialist counters punting sushi, cheese and biltong, and in-store liquor and clothing departments. Next-generation stores also offer expanded private label ranges and improved money counters for event and travel ticketing, Lotto, gift cards and financial services. Equally important is the stuff you can’t see, like the dedicated store Wi-Fi and mobile smart devices which enable staff to determine the quantity and location of stock on hand, order directly to the shop floor, and print shelf-edge labels. And then there are the wide aisles and the massive gondola ends, we could go on.

Comment: Head on down. You know you want to.

There was a time when Shoprite was bestriding the continent like a colossus, while Pick n Pay was carving out its own little chunk in Zambia. No more: Shoprite has well and truly muscled in on the Zambia action, with the opening of its 37th store there this week, in Lusaka’s East Park Mall, just two kays down the drag from the hungry students of the University of Zambia. They’re offering more convenience meals and a wider range of healthier food products, as well as extended opening hours, from 8am to 8pm. And as is their wont, they’re going large on local procurement: 92% of dairy comes from local suppliers and 85% of fresh comes from small-scale local farmers. And they’re also talking up job creation: since first breaking ground in the country, they’ve provided Zambians with 4,600 jobs; this store adds another 200 to the total. Finally, they’re doing their bit for the community too: their Mobile Soup Kitchens serve meals at the Zambian Open Community Schools, where they’re also establishing food gardens.

Comment: A model that is working for them at home.

In the UK, Tesco are promising that the cucumbers will be as crisp and the bread as white come hell, high water, or Brexit. Their punters, they say, have no interest in GMOs or chlorine washed chicken from the United States, and are prepared to pay for quality, and thus it will ever be. Aldi are making a perhaps bolder promise: to open a supermarket every week until the Thames runs clean again. They’re currently trading from 840 locations in the UK, and are expected to hit 1,200 shops by 2025, don’t embarrass us by doing the math. Experts reckon the great recession of 2008 gave Aldi the leg up they needed: bargain hunting went from a shameful thing to savvy and cool faster than you could say “subprime mortgage”. Over in the USA meanwhile, Walmart has announced that it will stop selling e-cigarettes after the outbreak of a mysterious lung disease that has sickened 530 people and killed eight so far. They’ve also said they’ll stop selling all guns and ammo except those specifically used for hunting, after various outbreaks of mystery disease that has left tens of thousands of American full of holes. The decision will reduce their share of the of the US ammunition market from 20% to between 6% and 9%.

Comment: A landmark decision from the big feller, and commendable.

Quantum Food, as you know, is South Africa’s largest egg producer. Only natural, then, that as goes the price of eggs, so to go the fortunes of the company. And this week they’re telling us that the price of eggs has taken something of a dive of late, and that their earnings will be hit to the tune of at least 42% for the year through September. This as egg production rebounds after the Avian flu outbreak of 2017. On the upside, the business reports improved profitability in its feeds division, and in its farming wing, which has achieved improved production efficiencies. Egg prices are likely to remain under pressure for the next year, say Quantum. This may position the business to acquire a couple of the struggling smaller producers as things shake out.

Comment: You could almost say it’s a scramble for market share. Sometimes we crack ourselves up.

Last week, our colleagues in the business press reported that Clover stands to lose over 650 jobs if the planned merger with Israeli outfit Milco SA is given the nod by the Competition Commission. Not true say Clover. There are job losses, but they are related to the catchily-named Project Sencillo, which and we quote “involves the rationalisation of production platforms and consolidation of distribution operations in order to improve the utilisation and efficiencies of assets, including factories, manufacturing lines, warehouses and transportation.” Sencillo is ongoing, having completed Phase 1 in 2017. Phase 2 will likely take two to five years to roll out, and will proceed whether the merger goes ahead or not. Last week, our colleagues in the business press reported that Clover stands to lose over 650 jobs if the planned merger with Israeli outfit Milco SA is given the nod by the Competition Commission. Not true say Clover. There are job losses, but they are related to the catchily-named Project Sencillo, which and we quote “involves the rationalisation of production platforms and consolidation of distribution operations in order to improve the utilisation and efficiencies of assets, including factories, manufacturing lines, warehouses and transportation.” Sencillo is ongoing, having completed Phase 1 in 2017. Phase 2 will likely take two to five years to roll out, and will proceed whether the merger goes ahead or not.

Comment: It does sound like a bit of a recipe for inevitable job losses to be honest. Hopefully those affected will be properly recompensed.

Turning now to the hoary sages over at StatsSA. What say you, worthy gentlemen, and indeed ladies? Growth in retail sales down you say? Dire tidings! OK backing out of this “Game of Thrones” corner into which we have inexplicably got ourselves, July’s figure was in fact 2.0%, down from 2.4% year on year for the month of June. All categories made a positive contribution to the total, excect for the tardy category of hardware, paint and glass, which continued to slide in what we assume to be a depressed housing and DIY market. And what of this great sector we call home? “Food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores” were up a disappointing 0.8% year on year sadly, outpaced somewhat by “pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries” at 3.7%, and totally owned by “all other” retailers at 7.9%.

Comment: State of the industry. Although puzzling that grocery retail is outpaced by more discretionary categories.