#OnShelf: Have you got game?

by Louise Burgers. Our rugby star Siya Kolisi has a mobile game courtesy of Red Bull; and shiny pretty things make a comeback – from mixers to fashion – as some brands try inject beauty and fun.

Join Siya’s Squad with Red Bull

Red Bull has given rugby legend Siya Kolisi his own limited-edition Red Bull Energy Drink can, as well as his own mobile game. Fellow Red Bull athlete and paraglider, Veselin Ovcharov, glided through the air before landing and presenting the can to  him at Hamilton’s Rugby Club. South African rugby fans can now see if they’ve got what it takes to join the hero on the field by playing ‘Siya’s Squad’, a mobile game brought to South African audiences by Red Bull. The game challenges fans to step into Kolisi’s boots and take to the field where they must side-step tackle shields, hand-off opponents, and avoid agility hurdles with perfectly-timed slides and leaps – all while collecting as many points as possible. The score at the end of the game will determine where players will appear on the leaderboard. Fans who collect the most points by the end of April 2021, will stand the chance to win a once-in-lifetime experience with Kolisi on the training field. The prize includes an all-expenses paid trip to attend a full day rugby workshop, where the SA rugby captain will host the winners in a full day of rugby related activities. Visit: www.redbull.co.za/siyasquad.

Truman & Orange distributes Fever-Tree mixers

Fever-Tree, the world’s leading producer of premium tonics and mixers, will be distributed in South Africa by Truman & Orange from March 2021. The Fever-Tree range is designed to complement and enhance a wide array of premium spirits with its naturally sourced ingredients. Fever-Tree aims to become the leading premium mixer in South Africa. “Every now and again a brand comes along that you’d cut your arm off to work with – Fever-Tree is one of those brands.  These guys pioneered premium mixers, and we’re delighted at the opportunity to work with them and the strong fit the brand will have with our premium Gins and other spirits,” said Truman & Orange founder, Rowan Leibbrandt. Fever-Tree procures the world’s finest ingredients from natural sources, including quinine from the Democratic Republic of Congo, ginger from Ivory Coast, India and Nigeria, and lemons from Sicily. It has been awarded, Best Selling & Top Trending Tonic Water for seven consecutive years by Drinks International’s surveys of the World’s Best Bars. Truman & Orange’s growth strategy for Fever-Tree will be supported by an investment plan and new product launches to broaden the range and lay the foundation for accelerated growth in South Africa. Fever-Tree CEO, Tim Warrillow said, “Despite the challenges that COVID-19 has posed, the outlook for premium spirits and most notably gin remains very exciting, with an abundance of new craft and local gin brands complementing the growth of larger international brands. This trend aligns perfectly with the opportunity for premium mixers especially with the increasing interest from consumers to mix drinks at home.”

New collections from H&M

I miss my clothes. I miss having somewhere to go in actual clothes. All I’ve bought in the last year has been winter men’s pjs (more comfy and plain). I think I’m too feral now to be allowed out in public, though, as the first time I went out anywhere in a long time where there were people IRL, was first day of school a couple of weeks ago and I mistakenly wore my dress inside out. So, it’s nice to see that H&M and Simone Rocha have launched the lookbook for the Simone Rocha x H&M collaboration; a special collection of womenswear, menswear and childrenswear. The collection “is an amalgamation of a decade of design – a cross-pollination of Rocha’s sensibilities and signatures. A tribute to Ireland, Hong Kong, texture, shape, tactility, history, family, intimacy and joy”. H&M has also announced ‘Edition’ by Héctor Bellerín, a collection made in close collaboration with one of the world’s most inspiring footballers. This collection will be entirely made from sustainably sourced materials. Bellerín has been involved in every stage of the design process, from the choice of sustainable fabrics to the directional take on this season’s style. Not sure where y’all going to wear the pretty clothes, but we can dream. Right now, all I’m planning on buying is more masks and flip flops for the beach.

Siya Kolisi Image credit: Craig Kolesky/Red Bull Content Pool.

Louise Burgers is the Publisher and Editor and Co-Founder of RetailingAfrica.com. She has spent over 20 years writing about the FMCG retailing, marketing, media and advertising industry in South Africa and on the African continent. She has specialised in local and Africa consumer trends and is a passionate Afro-optimist who believes it is Africa’s time to rise again and that the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) will be a global gamechanger in the next decade.

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