ABF is back in fashion
In 1935, Garfield Weston sought to expand his family’s already successful Canadian baking business by acquiring seven bakeries in the UK. This proved to be just the beginning of a bigger journey, culminating in the global food processing and retailing group known today as Associated British Foods (ABF), operating in 53 countries. The Weston family […]
Altron`s enormous value unlocking
The Allied Electronics Corporation (Altron) has been significantly reconfigured over the past five years, initially focussing on a reset of cost structures and the disposal of manufacturing-intensive businesses. The strategic focus was then shifted to information and communication technology (ICT) related businesses. The recent unbundling of their UK ICT-services company, Bytes Technology Group (Bytes UK), […]
Pepkor: convenience is king
Pepkor is a South African retail investment holding company whose most valuable assets are PEP and Ackermans, two of the country’s most successful clothing retailers. We take a deep dive into the operations of these retailers, unpacking the techniques employed to steadily expand their businesses and deliver value to customers. Pepkor at a glance Pepkor […]
Equites: enabling modern logistics
Equites Property Fund is the only specialist logistics Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) listed on the JSE Securities Exchange, with a healthy track record of owning, developing and operating world-class properties in South Africa and the UK. We unpack Equites’ promising prospects, focusing on evolving supply chains and the impact of global e-commerce developments. Superior […]
A fertile future for potash
Potash is the name for the group of minerals that provide potassium to plants for stimulating growth. Essentially a potassium-rich salt, potash is used as a fertiliser. It is extracted from deep underground deposits that formed millions of years ago as the sea evaporated from inland seabeds, leaving layers of common salts behind. It plays […]
Afrox: geared for expansion
African Oxygen Limited, better known as Afrox, is a leading supplier of atmospheric gasses, liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and gas equipment in South Africa. It is currently controlled by the global industrial gases and engineering company, The Linde Group, who provide Afrox with technological, research and developmental support. Following a change of management in 2015, […]
Yellow Africa: more reasons to connect
Mobile telecommunication firms (telcos) across sub-Saharan Africa are likely to play a more significant role in consumers’ adoption of digital financial and other services in the future. This will be more the case than in developed markets because of their relationships with large groups of subscribers and established cash- collection operations. We discuss why MTN, […]
Sekisui strives for sustainable growth
Sekisui was founded in Japan, in 1947, as a general plastics business. Their development of an ‘unbreakable telephone’ using thermoplastics marked the start of their success as a pioneer of plastic products. The group’s growth since inception is rooted in creative technological advancements that have enabled product diversification and a deep commitment to societal enrichment. […]
Nokian treads confidently
In countries with colder climates it is commonplace, and often compulsory, for vehicle owners to change their car tyres seasonally. Higher natural rubber content, wider tread blocks, deep grooves and studs are some of the characteristics of winter tyres that enable better performance in challenging conditions. Since splitting from the Nokia Corporation in the 1980s, […]
Kinder Morgans resilience
The recent weakness and volatility in oil prices has materially impacted the global economy as worldwide lockdowns and other containment measures – in response to the Covid-19 pandemic – caused a sudden, substantial decline in oil demand. Consequently, the share prices of most oil companies collapsed as oil prices dropped sharply. Kinder Morgan, one of […]
