Food Retail: Realities, futures and fictions

Food retail is evolving dramatically and is one of the fastest growing segments in retail in South Africa. The accelerating changes have been influenced by the changing character and preferences of consumers, but greater forces of pandemic, lockdown, fear and uncertainty have taken hold. Business models are being upended, disrupted, reimagined. Home deliveries. Online purchasing. Outdoor markets. Local sourcing. Hygiene protocols. Change has been profound and unprecedented in speed. What is the state of food retail? What should retailers do? How can they contribute towards ensuring a sustainable food system while staying in business themselves? What can consumers do during and after the pandemic?

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