Point of sale technology

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Café Culture’s new convenient pack size

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The Latest Trends in Confectionery

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Primedia Face2Face – Brand Building Specialists

Worldwide, technology has emerged as one of the conspicuous winners in the economic crisis. Against the backdrop of tight consumer spend and vigorous competition, retailers have been compelled to revise their IT budgets and to employ staff more efficiently without jeopardising customer satisfaction.

In a groundbreaking move, Spar (UK) is set to roll out contactless payment technology across its 2 600-strong national store network. Based on the combination of an embedded RFID chip and the normal EMV chip on payment cards, the technology enables shoppers to make purchases of £15 or less by simply waving their card over a reader at the POS. The secure transaction uses the tried and trusted Chip and PIN technology to automatically add the purchase to the customer's credit card bill or debit it from their current account. The roll-out follows a four-store trial in London.

Developed in conjunction with IT partner BCP (Business Computer Projects), the contactless system integrates with the existing till system. Its incorporation into Spar’s POS store solution has been claimed as a first c-store sector feat. Citing the benefits of the contactless technology – faster transaction times, lower transaction fees, reduced training requirement, and a robust audit trail – Spar believes it will also satisfy the customer’s always high priority need for swift supermarket passage.

But Spar is not the only one on the look-out for a good thing. Having finalised its partnership with Barclaycard, UK high-street food retailer the Co-operative Food Stores intends a national roll-out of the revolutionary payment method in time for the 2012 Olympics. The roll-out will follow a pilot across 100 Co-operative food stores, to be initiated next year.

Contactless payment made landfall in the UK in 2007. There are now over nine million contactless enabled cards in circulation.

OBIKWA SA’s Best Value Shiraz at 2010 Global Trader Shiraz Challenge OBIKWA Shiraz 2009 has been hailed South Africa’s Best Value Shiraz at Wine Magazine’s 2010 Global Trader Shiraz Challenge. In addition to clinching the Best Value award in terms of best quality versus price, the OBIKWA Shiraz was awarded a 3-star rating by the judges, outshining countless higher priced wines entered in the competition. read more
Swartland Winery brings people together in a great Spring competition In an exclusive competition with all Pick ‘n Pay stores, Swartland Winery brings people together to enjoy a Braai for four people. Not only do their wines bring people together but the thought of our favourite outdoor pastime brings spring and the promise of long, languid summer days a little closer. read more
Café Culture introduces new convenient pack size Café Culture, the deliciously sociable Pinotage from KWV is set to release an innovative packaging of this ever popular wine. This controversial up-beat wine was launched with the 2007 vintage and has become an icon of socialites alike. read more
Sweet news for Nederburg from France Nederburg has emerged as the top performer in this year’s Muscats du Monde held in Frontignan-la-Peyrade in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France and involving 55 international judges. read more
Simonsig adds soul with Red wine & Blues(R&B) at Cuvée, Friday 30th July Feed your soul with red wines and the blues – a night to remember with Gerald Clark and Schalk Joubert. read more
International gold for Monis Muscadel Monis, the oldest producer of fortified wines in the country, has been awarded a gold medal for its 2004 Muscadel at the Muscats du Monde held recently in France. This follows the recent platinum award earned at South Africa’s 2010 Muscadel Association Awards achieving gold for both the product itself, as well as its unique packaging. read more