Packaging companies in for the taking

Nampak appears to have turned the corner under the leadership of Andrew Marshall, CEO since 2008. Plastic bags, shrink wrap and cardboard packaging are not the things that make for a glamour stock. But for packaging manufacturer Transpaco they are key parts of a product line-up that has driven its exceptional profit growth in recent years. Read more >>

WalMart warms up to small Cape manufacturer

[Paul Vecchiatto] US retail giant WalMart is warming up to small Cape Town manufacturer Econo-Heat as it is proving that growth in volumes help to reduce labour costs and to beat Chinese rivals. Read more >>

IDZs should be reconfigured and redefined: experts

Three specialists, who were approached about the current efficiency and future role of industrial development zones (IDZs) in South Africa, recommended that IDZs should be reconstructed, remodeled and reconceptualised while creating free trade zones in the country and relaxing labour laws. Read more >>

Newcastle Chinese factories shutdown

Protesting against raids on 12 Chinese clothing manufacturers in the Newcastle area last week, about 40 angry clothing and textile employers have closed their factories and locked out about 7 000 workers. The raids aimed to enforce compliance with labour laws and bargaining council agreements. Read more >>

Resurgence in PMI has hollow ring

According to Abdul Davids, the head of research at Kagiso Asset Management, even though the seasonally adjusted Kagiso Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) recorded a second consecutive monthly increase, this was largely due to the absence of strike activity in September rather than an underlying recovery. Read more >>

PMP's new facility to increase capacity by 150%

Pretoria Metal Pressings (PMP) - a South African ammunition and explosives manufacturer that is part of state-owned Denel Defence Industrial Group - opened a new, R10-million, commercial primary explosives facility at its Pretoria West complex recently. The new facility aims to meet rapidly increasing demand from the mining and chemical sectors in South Africa for primary explosives. Read more >>

Fabian joins The Foschini Group

Leading retailer group TFG (The Foschini Group) has bought niche luxury menswear brand Fabiani, effective from 1 October 2011. Established in 1978 by Arie Fabian and renowned for the exceptional cut of its suits, highest quality fabric and powerful design details, it expanded its offer to include casual clothing, shoes and fashion accessories and is considered one of the leaders in the luxury menswear market. Fabian will join the group as the brand director. Read more >>

Mixed bag competing for SA Car of the Year

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] A mixed bag of 10 French, Italian, German and Korean vehicles have made it through to the finals for the 2012 South African Car of the Year competition. The finalists were determined in a vote by the full members and a jury made up of 30 selected members of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ). Read more >>

Marketing lessons from Steve Jobs

[Chris Moerdyk: @chrismoerdyk] Look closely at the marketing strategies used by Steve Jobs and other visionaries and the first thing that comes to mind is the realisation that marketing is not a democratic process and that those who are really successful at it are, yes, visionaries. Read more >>

Bok tragedy!

[Corné Krige] I am only 36 years old, but one of the many valuable lessons I have learned is that life isn't fair. Sometimes you get things when you don't deserve them and other times when you absolutely deserve it then you don't get it. This was the case on Sunday morning when the Springboks played Australia in Wellington, New Zealand. Read more >>