New household goods review: hygienic audio wipes sound like a good idea

This month's roundup of new product launches features some innovative cleaning devices, from an MP3 headphone cleaner, to an unusually shaped household cleaner. With consumers demanding products that help them clean their homes more quickly and effectively, manufacturers are responding with these types of stand-out goods.

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New personal care products review: addressing embarrassing problems

The global incontinence product market is growing as consumers become more comfortable with purchasing such items. Although it was once seen as an embarrassing problem, manufacturers such as Kimberly-Clark are attempting to remove the stigma associated with the issue of incontinence through new product launches and related marketing.

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Pick 'n Pay: a change at the top

After 33 years service - 11 of them as CEO - Sean Summers is to step down from Pick 'n Pay and will be replaced by Nick Badminton, currently retail managing director. While Pick 'n Pay has made solid progress in recent years, its profitability remains weak in comparison to rival Woolworths.

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PLA Innovation of the Week: a novel new sorbet dessert that looks like sushi

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SAB/Miller: it's finally happened

After months of speculation over its role in global beer market consolidation, SAB has bought Philip Morris' US brewer Miller. The new company is the world's second largest brewer, producing nearly 12 billion liters of beer per annum. But whether SAB can reverse Miller's lackluster performance is another question.

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SAB: rugby defeat no barrier to rebranding

The loss of the rugby sponsorship comes just days after South African Breweries unveiled a major corporate rebranding exercise. The brewer is keen to stress its South African heritage, and will be sponsoring the 'Great South Africans' television program to reinforce this message. It should prove a shrewd move, compensating effectively for its rugby defeat.

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SAB: treading carefully on the dragon's tail

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SAB: unbottling Pilsner Urquell's potential

SAB hopes its new advertising campaign will push its Czech beer Pilsner Urquell into the top 10 best selling beers on the planet. This just might work: Pilsner Urquell has substantial brand strength in Europe, alongside a potent heritage. However, SAB's global plans for Pilsner Urquell would be more achievable if it acquired US brewer Miller.

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SABMiller: still standing strong

SABMiller has reported that its global beer sales grew by a lower-than-expected 1.8% in the third quarter. Nevertheless, the Anglo-South African brewer's far-reaching global business remains fundamentally sound as it retains a strong competitive advantage in developing markets.

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Woolworths Holdings: South African success lies ahead

A day after rival Pick 'n Pay, Woolworths Holdings has reported robust figures. The retailer has introduced a number of initiatives to strengthen its core grocery lines alongside a move to more low cost sourcing in clothing and homewares - initiatives which should enable the retailer to benefit in the long term.

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