#OnShelf: New products and campaigns

by Louise Burgers. Shoprite continues to roll out innovative retail brand extensions; Robertson Winery turns 80 and celebrates with a new blend; new international eyewear brands from SDM Eyewear; and Reebok SA gives back.

Shoprite takes pet brand online, includes home deliveries 

The Shoprite Group is expanding its ecommerce presence by taking its Petshop Science brand online. This comes as the pet economy continues to grow in South Africa – in just one year, the Shoprite pet brand has opened 22 physical stores around the country. Petshop Science Online offers a broad selection of more than 2,000 pet-related products. These include food, treats, toys, and more, from premium brands like Hills, Montego, Dog’s Life, Eukanuba, Ultra Dog, Royal Canin, Rogz and Nandoe. With the pet sector in South Africa now worth over R7 billion, Shoprite continues to expand its pet-related offerings. It launched pet insurance in 2020 and became the first local retailer to open standalone Petshop Science stores. “We’ve been working hard to deliver superior service, range, and value to local pet parents. With the launch of Petshop Science Online, we’re adding another way for South Africans to access all of this – but without leaving their homes,” says Mark Cotton, head of eCommerce at the Group. Petshop Science customers can now also create online profiles for their pets, which include their pet’s name, birth date, type and breed. Customers can access these profiles in store, and it enables the brand to serve loyal shoppers with special offers tailored to their pets’ needs. Delivery is FREE for orders over R450. A R75 delivery fee will apply to orders less than this.

The Blend by Robertson Winery

In celebration of their 80^th birthday, Robertson Winery introduces The Blend. In the English language, ‘blend’ means to mix so thoroughly that things become inseparable: “The Blend from Robertson Winery is an intimate combination of sumptuous blackberry fruits from Cabernet Sauvignon united with the spice of Shiraz.” Robertson Winery head of marketing, Ankia Niemann, adds that it’s a year of celebrations for RW and this is just the start of the innovations that the company will be bringing to market. “Robertson Winery has walked a long road in South Africa and thrived through the many ups and downs that our country has faced. Through all of this, we’ve focused on best representing the heart and soul of the town of Robertson and all the people that constitute it, and we believe that this is evident in this new wine.”

SDM Eyewear increases collection with two international brands

SDM Eyewear, part of the FrontierCo stable, has announced the addition of two top international brands in Cape Town – Revo and Scotch&Soda – to their collection of popular eyewear brands. The glitzy launch took place at the Old Biscuit Mill last month and on August 3, the brands launched in KZN at The Bond Shed. SDM Eyewear, part of the FrontierCo stable, stocks some of the world’s most desired eyewear brands including, GUESS, Tom Ford, Max&Co., Timberland and Swarovski. These collections will be available in all South Africa stores from September.

CAMPAIGN: Old sneakers repurposed for Mandela Day with Reebok

As part of Mandela Day, 18 July 2022, to honour of the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, Reebok South Africa is assisting Mduduzi Mnisi, a young entrepreneur from Soweto. Mnisi’s sneaker-cleaning business, MDU, burnt to the ground in a load-shedding accident. The goal was to raise R20,000 for MDU to get back to business and redistribute 300 plus pairs of sneakers to communities in need. “Mduduzi and his passion to uplift his community embodies both the ubuntu spirit of Nelson Mandela and the Reebok mindset that ‘Life Is Not A Spectator Sport’,” says Steffi Jones, brand & omni lead at Reebok SA. “We applaud his tenacity and want to assist him in getting MDU up-and-running again. What better way to do it than by bringing together Mzansi’s love for sneakers and togetherness?” Old sneakers were donated at Reebok stores and then cleaned by MDU for R67 each, before being donated to charities of Mnisi’s choice in Soweto, by Picup, a local logistics delivery company. Plus, for every pair donated, donors will receive an entry to win a limited edition, bespoke, Mandela-inspired Reebok Classic Leather sneaker, customised by local illustrator Ryan Carolisen (@illsketch).

Main image credit: Supplied.

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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