#OnShelf: Battle of the bunnies

by Louise Burgers. Finally, retailers have a lockdown-free holiday to celebrate after two years, and are bouncing into Easter with massive promotions, challenges and prizes.

Game sweetens Easter for customers

Game is sharpening its sweet tooth this Easter, and egging on other retailers to beat its prices for its fluffy mallow eggs; and running in store promotions with giant pink piñatas in the shape of Easter eggs. Spend R500 or more in any Game store and you could be one of three lucky customers to take a swing at the Game Easter Piñata, containing a R20 000 Game voucher. Three finalists per region will be randomly selected to attend the ‘smash day’ happening on the April 16 at Mall of Africa in Gauteng, Canal Walk in Cape Town and Gateway in Kwazulu Natal. This Easter, Game is determined to keep the prices of the popular mallow eggs the lowest in the market and is retailing its Beacon Box of 36 chocolate mallow eggs for R62 a box. “Marshmallow eggs are incredibly popular with the South African consumer – iconic even,” says Katherine Madley, vice president of marketing, Game. “Our team of buyers have worked hard for the last 12 months to ensure we are offering the lowest prices in the market on these eggs, despite price increases.” Game’s Price Beat Promise ensures that if customers find these eggs cheaper anywhere else (in-store or online), they can pay the cheaper price at Game and receive 10% back on the difference.

Stoli emphasises Latvian roots

The Stoli Group’s global marketing teams have been working overtime to distance the Stolichnaya Vodka brand from Russia, with a rebrand to Stoli Vodka and campaign emphasising that it is made in Latvia, and stands with the people of Ukraine and the majority of the world in opposing the war. Stoli Vodka’s production facilities are located in Latvia where blending, charcoal column filtration, bottling, packaging and distribution are handled. The Stoli brand is part of SPI Group of companies, a global organisation with a significant portfolio of spirits and wine brands from around the world, with Stoli’s European Global HQ based in Luxembourg. The Stoli Group has announced an immediate financial commitment to World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit organisation that is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to climate, humanitarian, and community crises. The support will go directly to relief in Ukraine. “The reality and uncertainty of this war is immense and we are identifying immediate ways we can support Ukrainians,” commented Damian McKinney, Global CEO, Stoli Group. The rebranding is expected to roll out in South Africa in 2023.

South Africa’s best butcheries

Despite the numerous obstacles faced over the past 24 months by the red meat industry, and indeed the entire South African agricultural sector, this year’s Cleaver Awards have proven that not only does this industry remain robust, but that our butchery standards are still amongst the best in the world. The Cleaver Awards, a Red Meat Industry Forum initiative, are held annually to recognise the country’s best butcheries based on quality, service, hygiene, and value for money. The awards have become well-respected by consumers countrywide as a seal of approval. Awards given are based on customer votes. All butcheries that receive over 100 votes are then anonymously audited by The South African Meat Industry Company (SAMIC) against an extensive 212-point checklist. “With lockdowns, changes in demand and shifts in consumer behaviour, our butcheries have had to become increasingly agile, in some instances transforming their approaches and accommodating new ways of business. And even though many were hit hard due to the pandemic, these Cleaver Awards confirm that our butcheries are still very much worth their beef,” says Dewald Olivier, executive officer of The South African Feedlot Association (SAFA). Several common attributes amongst the winning butcheries have been reinforced, including training and upliftment of staff, a passion for the business, and above all else, customer-centricity, being core to any successful butchery.

NATIONAL WINNERS

4 and more tills
1.        Kings Meat Deli, Castle Walk, Erasmuskloof – Platinum
2.        Impala Vleis, Brits – Gold
Up to 3 tills
1.        Franks Meat Mall, Middelburg – Platinum
2.        West End Vleismark, Kimberley – Gold
Meat Markets
1.        Bluff Meat Supply Beach Road, Durban – Platinum
2.        Saveway Superspar, Witbank – Gold
For all the regional winners, click here.

CAMPAIGN: Bull Brand launches The State of the Strong Podcast

Bull Brand has launched an audio-visual podcast series to show inspiring stories of South Africa as told through the voices of strength from SA’s vibrant youth. The series recently launched and features 10 bi-weekly episodes, hosted by YouTube superstar Sibu Mpanza, and Nickelodeon’s face of Africa presenter, Lerai Rakoditsoe. It’s available via streaming platforms YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music for the next six months. Built off the brand’s proposition of, Stand Strong, Stand Proud, the series will feature an array of young guests who will each share their unique story of strength, which will serve to inspire fellow South Africans to discover the potential of their inner strength. “South Africa has no shortage of inspiring stories of youth overcoming adversity to achieve their dreams. The aim of this podcast series is to give SA’s vibrant youth a platform to tell their stories as well as for the listeners to be inspired by them,” says Wendy Roman, brand manager at RFG Foods. “For sixty-five years this iconic brand still occupies the number one spot as the market leader in the Canned Meats and Meals Category, but as with all legacy brands, the time has come for Bull Brand to evolve with its consumers. The brand continues to resonate with a younger market as we have seen with the Sunday Times GenNext surveys over the past couple of years, where Bull Brand appears as one of the coolest brands.”

 

 

Main image credit: Supplied by Game.

 

 

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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