As an independent family-owned business the Kit Kat Group has seen great evolution over the past 50 years and even more in the most recent decade.  Founded in 1953 by members of the Gani family, this independent wholesaler and retailer started off as the Kit Kat Café and Restaurant. Over the years, the well-established business grew in success as the café was converted into a self-service supermarket in 1973 and is still currently growing from strength to strength. Kit Kat has been able to successfully expand their store footprint around Gauteng Allowing for the expansion of their brand and stores into Limpopo through their Kit Kat Express model at the end of 2021.  Kit Kat is amongst the very few independent wholesalers to have an effective and functioning fully operating online store that caters to all shoppers.  An interesting development resulted in Kit Kat partnering with Food Lovers Market to drive growth and success with the Fresh division of their business. With its focus on partnerships, building strong relationships with suppliers and customers as well as its investment in ecommerce, data and technology, The Kit Kat Group is well positioned to continue with its growth path for the foreseeable future.

The Pick n Pay Group is a leading South African retail business in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. Founded in 1967, Pick n Pay has built a strong legacy of serving customers with quality, affordability, and service excellence. Headquartered in Cape Town and listed on the JSE, the Group operates through two core brands: Pick n Pay - a multi-format retail brand serving middle to higher-income customers; and Boxer a limited-range, discount supermarket chain focused on the lower income market, in which the Group holds a 65.6% majority stake. With over 2,000 stores across South Africa and several other southern African countries, the Group’s retail formats include 

hypermarkets, supermarkets, clothing stores, liquor outlets, a growing online platform, and Pick n Pay asap! its on-demand delivery service. Through its customer-first strategy, strong private label offering, and continued investment in price and innovation, the Pick n Pay Group is committed to delivering unbeatable value, improving access to essential goods, and supporting economic inclusion 

across the region.

 

Abraham Nelson is the Executive head of the Consumer Goods Crime Risk Initiative (CGCRI)at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA). He is a long serving member of the South African Police Service where he worked for a period of 30 years until 2016. He held the rank of Brigadier at Crime Intelligence Head Office and was the Section Head: Multi- Dimensional Organised Crime. During his tenure at SAPS, he managed and participated in National and trans- national investigations and operations in collaboration with relevant local and foreign law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The core of the investigations and operations were focused on organized crime. As the Section Head he also travelled abroad extensively representing the SAPS on various Interpol forums. His current role at the CGCSA is based on pro-actively preventing the occurrence of crime threats within the industry. This is achieved by doing the following: Crime incident Information management and analysis, Lobbying and facilitating cooperation with law enforcement and all other relevant stakeholders, Cross industry engagements and the developments of SOPs and sharing of best practices for the entire retail value chain.

Dr Alastair Tempest is the CEO of Ecommerce Forum Africa (EFA) since 2020 and CEO of the Ecommerce Forum South Africa (EFSA) since 2016. Previously, he has served as the President of the South African Institute of Interactive Marketing and COO of the Direct Marketing Association of South Africa. And in Europe, he was the Director-General of the European Advertising Tripartite, a Director at Reader’s Digest, and Director-General of Federation of European Direct & Interactive Marketing in Brussels, Belgium. He chaired the Self-Regulatory and Consumer Protection working party of the Global Dialogue on Ecommerce and was a member of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Marketing and Telecoms commissions for over 30 years. As CEO of the EFSA he sits as Business Unity SA’s digital trade expert on the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac)’s committee on Logistics and Trade. He wrote four Opinion Papers for the South African Institute of International Affairs in 2020-21, on ecommerce as a driving force for the AfCFTA; the digital disruption and the AfCFTA; Regional Value Chains and the AfCFTA; and Driving digital inclusion within the AfCFTA. These papers are available on the SAIIA website (https://saiia.org.za/). The three latest were co-authored. He contributed to E-Commerce in South Africa (2023, www.Juta.co.za ). He has a BA (Hons) from the University of York, the UK, an MA from the College of Europe, Bruges and read for his PhD at the University of Ghent.

Dr Phillip Oosthuizen obtained his BSc Animal Science and Agricultural Economics degree from the University of the Free State and furthered his studies in Agricultural Economics to receive his Honours, Master and Doctoral degrees. His MSc title, ‘’The profit-maximising feeding period for different beef breeds,’’ and PhD title, ‘’The effect of growth promoters on beef profitability, quality, and consumer preferences: a value chain approach’’. Dr Phillip Oosthuizen started his career as an Agriculture Business Banker with Nedbank, whereafter he headed the Sernick Group’s Research and Innovation division. His work focused on the Red Meat value chain, including primary cattle production (stud & commercial), Phase-C cattle testing, feedlot, feed factory, abattoir, retail, exports, technology development, emerging farmer development, and public relation. He has a unique combination of scientific knowledge and practical experience throughout the red meat value chain through his exposure within the diversified Sernick value chain, feedlot and meat quality research and implementation and being a farmer himself.

Mosibudi Makgato is the co-owner of Yamama Gemmer, a South African crafted traditional ginger beer. She holds a degree in Marketing Communications from the University of Johannesburg and has experience across diverse industries, including financial and government sectors. Driven by a desire to contribute more to the communities that have shaped her, she led community-based projects during her tenure in the corporate sphere. Currently, Mosibudi is a social entrepreneur, artisan, and crafter. Along with a business partner, she has succeeded in catering to the nostalgic demand for traditional drinks. Achievements under Yamama Gemmer: Participated in various international food shows, including: Homemade Contemporary Fair 2016, Johannesburg. DSTV International Food and Music Festival (2016 - ongoing), Johannesburg. Good Food and Wine 2017, Cape Town & Johannesburg. Japan Foodex 2018, Tokyo, Japan. Paris SIAL 2018, Paris, France. Miami Food and Wine Show 2018, Miami, USA. New York Food and Wine Show 2019, New York, USA. Nigerian Food & Beverage Festival 2019, Nigeria. Yamama Gemmer was one of the four women-owned companies chosen to participate in the 2019 Women in Beverages, SAB Lerumo program. Mosibudi was recognized as the Woman in Beverage for 2019. Additionally, Yamama Gemmer was mentioned in Forbes Africa 2019 and several other national publications. In 2023, Yamama Gemmer was listed with Food Lover’s Market after securing 3rd position at the FLM Seed of Change Supplier Development Programme.

An experienced Research & Strategic Planning Specialist with over 12 years of experience in skills development, policy research, and innovation. Currently serving as Senior Manager: Research and Strategic Planning at W&RSETA, leading research initiatives that support sector transformation, digital disruption, and workforce development. Holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from UNISA and is a PhD Candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on Management and Public Governance in the digital age. Passionate about integrating research insights into actionable strategies to enhance employability, entrepreneurship, and sector transformation. Expertise includes strategic planning, policy formulation, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making to address emerging skills needs in the wholesale and retail sector. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxolisi-maphakela-mpa-0b2bb371/

Neo is a dynamic and accomplished Corporate Affairs, Communications, Legal & Regulatory Affairs Specialist with over 25 years’ experience in the public and private sectors, having worked for highly regulated South African-based multinational and national corporations in the Healthcare, Information Technology, Broadcasting, Print Media, Retail and Manufacturing, and Government sectors. She has held various senior positions in these diverse industries and is currently employed to champion for the sustainability and viability of the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry through strong networks and relationships with multi-stakeholders requiring negotiation, collaboration, influencing and facilitation, for positive results. A major achievement was her appointment to lead the communications team that was responsible for planning and executing the funeral of President Nelson Mandela. Neo holds a LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and a Post Graduate Diploma (MAP) in Management and Leadership from Wits Business School.

Roberto Olivares is a Senior Project Manager at Woolworths Group, responsible for leading projects that create value for the business. He is currently driving the implementation and enablement of 2D Barcodes in collaboration with Brand Owners, Solution Providers and Industry to advance the use of this technology in Australia and New Zealand retail. Prior to this he led introduction of DataBars in Loose Produce in Australia. Roberto focuses on simplicity, digital capabilities, and industry standards to redefine processes and gain a competitive edge in evolving markets. He actively explores digitisation trends to mitigate stock loss and initiatives to enhance traceability and sustainability for business solutions. He has been at Woolworths Group for 17 years delivering a range of projects from Supply Chain to Supermarkets Operations. Roberto has an engineering background in warehousing and distribution, manufacturing and technical support.

Yaeesh Moosa is the Head of Marketplace at takealot.com, South Africa's leading online retailer. With a foundational background in engineering and industrial process design, Yaeesh has specialized in eCommerce, particularly in marketplace dynamics, for the past 5 years. His focus on developing exceptional seller experiences has been pivotal in enhancing the platform's user engagement and satisfaction. Yaeesh's unique blend of technical expertise and digital commerce acumen makes him a valuable contributor to discussions on the evolution of online marketplaces.

Zinhle Tyikwe is the Chief Executive Officer of GS1 South Africa | The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA). Prior to her appointment as CEO, Zinhle was the Executive in charge of Human Resources and Communications and has been with the GS1 SA | CGCSA since 2013. She holds two honours degrees in Human Resources Development and Industrial Psychology and Organisational Development, all from UNISA, as well as an MBA from the University of South Wales. Zinhle has more than 20 years of human resources and strategic management experience. She also currently serves on the boards of the Wholesale and Retail SETA, Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Drinks Federation of SA. She’s a mom to Wongalamasengwa and Zimkitha. She’s passionate about family, unearthing potential and development and seeing growth in people.

TracePack, a division of Mitas Corporation, leads the industry in marking, identification, traceability, automation, and authentication systems. Specialising in FMCG, packaging, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors, we offer a range of solutions, including inkjet and laser coding, large-character printing, and print-and-apply labelling. Our advanced rejection and quality control systems, such as x-ray inspection, metal detectors, and checkweighers, are designed for efficiency, low maintenance, and seamless integration into production lines. Additionally, our in-house automation expertise allows us to manufacture custom conveyors and integrate marking, coding, and labelling systems with ease.

 

With a strong focus on quality and innovation, TracePack partners with global leaders in labelling, laser, and printing technology provide state-of-the-art solutions. Our machine vision inspection systems enhance quality control, ensuring accurate identification and improved production efficiency. We also offer cloud-based production monitoring solutions to optimise processes and provide real-time insights. Whether you need to mark, code, label, track, or verify, TracePack delivers tailored, high-performance solutions to enhance efficiency, ensure compliance, and safeguard your brand.