Open Room - News

Africa’s Top Retailers sign up for Retail Technology Forum (12-13 September 2011, Cape Town)

Support is gathering pace for the 2011 Retail Technology Forum which takes place in Cape Town in September.  Spanning the length and breadth of sub-Saharan Africa, and clocking up nearly 10,000 retail outlets between them, confirmed retailing groups represent the entire retail sector, covering convenience & petroleum, clothing & footwear, grocery, electrical & homeware, building materials & textiles, financials, pharmacy & beauty.  The impressive list of confirmed and interested retailers at this stage should cement the event as a key feature in the African retail market’s calendar.

Included in the line-up is Nirvani Dhevcharran, head of technology and services for Woolworths.  With stores throughout South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique and Ghana, the group has plans to open new markets in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.  And their net is cast even wider by their collaboration with oil company Engen, and their groundbreaking format to sell Woolworths fresh foods on Engen’s forecourts.   Also gearing up for expansion is Pick ‘n’ Pay which will be represented at the Forum by Angelo Clayton.  With the convenience store format in South Africa growing by approximately 14% annually, making it the fastest growth segment in the market, they are poised to take advantage of that, and with their new loyalty program gathering over two million shoppers within weeks of its launch, retail technology is clearly at the forefront of their expansion campaign.

The petroleum and convenience retail market will be well represented at the Forum with delegates from BP (SA), Chevron (SA), Engen, Essar (East Africa), Forte Oil (Nigeria), MRS (Nigeria), NOCK, Petromoc (Mozambique), Puma Energy (SA), Sasol (SA, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique), and Trafigura Services (Namibia).

Other retail groups at the forum include Mr Price Group, Cape Union Mart, Daily Needs (India), Lewis Group, Massbuild, The Crazy Store, Uchumi Supermarkets and Truworths.

The Retail Technology Forum brings together CIOs from all the major retailers alongside providers of retail solutions and technology for two days of pre-matched appointments, conference sessions and informal networking.  In association with South African business partner EMS, it is organised by OpenRoom Events Ltd, a pioneer in one-to-one meetings programs – and takes place in the hub of South African retail – Cape Town – at the stunning Vineyard Hotel and Spa on September 12th-13th.

Hongyang Group takes gold at PetroForum Dubai

Face-to-face networking triumphs at PetroForum Africa

C-Store Forum attendees team up

Retailers at C-Store Forum set their 2013 New Year resolutions

Big Guns converge on PetroForum Africa

Engen strikes massive supply deal in Kenya

Two powerful Technology events for Africa next year

As the industry Booms the Biggest and Best meet in Cannes.

Petrotec sponsorship rounds up their 30th year celebration

Retail Technology UK to launch in Berlin