NielsenIQ’s State of the Retail Nation report for the first half of 2025 reveals a mixed retail landscape in South Africa. While consumer spending in the FMCG sector reached R324.4 billion—reflecting a 7.4% year-over-year growth—there are signs of cautious spending, driven by high food prices and unemployment. Traditional trade outlets are surging in popularity, outpacing modern trade growth. Notably, private label sales slowed, while independent brands bounced back. The Tech & Durables (T&D) market remained sluggish, particularly in the smartphone segment, with a decline in sales value and units. However, growth was seen in small appliances and IT hardware. As consumers focus on value-driven purchases, brands must target promotions and adapt to the changing spending priorities of South African households.
Tag: Retail
The complexity of the invisible 130 milliseconds customers spent at a point of sale
Rory Bosman, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Ecentric Payment Systems, explores the complexities behind the 130 milliseconds it takes for a payment to be processed. He breaks down the technical layers and why a seamless transaction is crucial for customer satisfaction.
AI-fuelled retail media opens new frontier in performance marketing for South African brands
AI-driven retail media is transforming performance marketing for South African brands. As ecommerce platforms like Takealot, Checkers Sixty60, Makro, and Woolworths invest in retail media, brands gain powerful opportunities to reach high-intent shoppers with personalised, measurable, and data-driven campaigns. AI enhances targeting, product recommendations, and closed-loop reporting, making retail media the next big growth frontier.
GENIUS Act Could Spark Wave of Stablecoin Launches, Says D24 Fintech Group
The GENIUS Act, recently approved by the US Senate, could pave the way for a major shift in the global digital payments ecosystem. The legislation aims to create a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins, fostering institutional trust and adoption across sectors like banking, retail, and fintech. Stablecoins, fully backed by liquid assets, could become integral to cross-border payments, global payroll, and retail. As market leaders like PayPal, Stripe, and Walmart position themselves for stablecoin adoption, analysts predict significant growth opportunities for stablecoins in global markets. With the GENIUS Act, digital money could enter a regulated era, unlocking mainstream adoption and bridging traditional finance with crypto.
South Africa’s Commerce Media Moment has Arrived: The Experts Weigh In
At Converge Africa 2025, Flow hosted a panel of industry leaders from Woolworths, Coty, eComplete, and TrafficBrand to explore the rise of commerce media in South Africa. With insights on local strengths like brand-retailer collaboration, first-party data activation, and omnichannel engagement, the session highlighted how South African retailers can monetise digital audiences without needing full-scale media networks. The consensus: commerce media isn’t coming — it’s already here, reshaping retail through strategy, trust, and data-driven growth.
Smart brands adopt an always-on audience strategy. Here’s why
This article explores why forward-thinking brands are shifting from traditional, short-term digital campaigns to an always-on audience strategy driven by first-party data. Theo Visser from Flow and Rayhaan Williams from eComplete highlight the benefits of building long-term, dynamic audience segments that evolve over time, enabling brands to improve targeting precision, increase ROI, and gain valuable consumer insights. Through platforms like Flow’s data marketplace, advertisers can access high-intent audience segments and continuously refine their strategies. The piece advocates for a mindset shift toward sustained engagement and smarter, data-driven marketing in the age of commerce media and AI-driven personalization.
How to drop-kick dropshipping risks and build a sustainable business
Dropshipping has emerged as a popular ecommerce model thanks to its low startup costs and logistical simplicity. In this article, Grant Lapping, Digital Executive at midnight, explores how entrepreneurs can overcome the inherent risks of dropshipping to build a sustainable and profitable online business. From finding reliable suppliers and choosing the right platforms (like Shopify or Amazon), to brand building and market differentiation, the article offers actionable strategies for success. With the market projected to reach $3.47 trillion by 2033, dropshipping offers massive potential—but only for those willing to commit to long-term value creation over short-term gains.
Inside South Africa’s Retail Shake-Up
South Africa’s retail sector is undergoing a major transformation driven by changing consumer behavior, strategic realignment by major retailers, and rapid adoption of omnichannel technologies. With growing consumer confidence and renewed investor interest, the market is shifting from broad expansion to precise, tech-enabled strategies. Leading players like Shoprite and Pick n Pay are responding with operational innovation and focused store formats, while infrastructure upgrades in payments and logistics are redefining competitiveness. This article explores the structural shifts, digital trends, and strategic plays shaping the future of South African retail.
South Africa high on the list for Global HFT Firms
High-frequency trading (HFT) firms are increasingly eyeing South Africa as a prime destination for their algorithmic trading operations. Driven by the country’s highly liquid markets, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and strategic position as a gateway to Africa, South Africa presents compelling advantages for HFT players. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has significantly evolved, with key enhancements like the Millennium IT platform and colocation services, offering ultra-low-latency access for traders. Coupled with an uptick in retail trading and competitive exchanges like A2X, South Africa’s capital markets are becoming more sophisticated, presenting a dynamic environment for both local and global HFT firms. This shift is contributing to the modernization of the market and furthering innovation in Africa’s financial landscape.
NIQ State of Retail: South African consumers shift to value as economic pressures persist
Despite moderate growth in South Africa’s retail sector, consumers are focusing on value, with private label brands outperforming. The Technology & Durables market faces challenges due to smartphone saturation.