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IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Usave launches advanced loss prevention system to combat rising energy prices
The system, developed in conjunction with Azoteq, a home-grown South African technology firm, harnesses SmartSense™ technology to effectively monitor and manage power consumption within its stores. Image: Supplied. In a strategic move responding to escalating energy prices, Usave, the Shoprite Group's discount supermarket chain, rolled out an advanced loss prevention system. This technology not only aims to reduce operational costs but also assures the brand can continue providing low prices for its customers. The system, developed in conjunction with Azoteq, a home-grown South African technology firm, harnesses SmartSense™ technology to effectively monitor and manage power consumption within its stores. The group said that it is especially critical for Usave's rural and peri-urban stores, where electricity supply is often erratic and extended outages are a regular challenge. 'This pioneering work showcases how our real-time, proactive use of innovative, locally developed technology, combined with a strong focus on operational excellence and cost savings, helps us prevent unnecessary waste and reduce shrinkage-related costs - efficiencies that allow us to pass even more value and savings directly to our customers,' Dewaldo Diedericks, General Manager of Usave said. The system monitors temperatures in critical areas, like cold storage, freezer rooms and the salesfloor, and issues alerts when predetermined thresholds are surpassed, thereby preventing spoilage and optimising energy consumption of equipment in these areas. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The system, developed in conjunction with Azoteq, a home-grown South African technology firm, harnesses SmartSense™ technology to effectively monitor and manage power consumption within its stores. Image: Supplied. Data is delivered through a user-friendly dashboard that equips management with real-time insights to enhance decision-making, ensure improved food quality and prevent costly equipment failures. Generator runtime and fuel levels are also tracked, enabling the business to follow more efficient servicing and refueling schedules. "In this way Usave avoids unnecessary maintenance, further reduces costs and minimises the likelihood of unexpected outages in instances where a switchover to generator is necessitated. To generate additional savings, Usave supermarkets also regularly simulate power outages at supermarkets on time-of-use (ToU) tariff structures, switching over to battery during peak times when electricity is more costly, and charging the batteries during off-peak times," the company said. 'We have been able to respond and prevent freezer failures as they occur, achieving a 0% rate of stock loss across all stores where this system has been implemented to date. In addition, the seamless, automated transition from generator power to hybrid inverter and battery power during outages, has saved the business more than 80 000 hours' worth of costly services and fossil fuel consumption,' Diedericks added. Already running at 202 locations, Usave said it plans to equip all its stores with SmartSense technology, gradually replacing older uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. As part of its sustainability efforts, the discount retailer is also gradually incorporating solar energy into its operational strategy at its already compatible hybrid system stores. BUSINESS REPORT Visit:
The South African
22-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Major SA retail group introduces fully RECYCLABLE potato bags
These eco-friendly potato bags are available at over 1 400 Shoprite, Checkers, and Usave stores across the country, marking a significant step toward reducing packaging waste. Traditional potato bags have long posed a recycling challenge. Although they resemble paper, they contain a moisture-resistant inner lining that couldn't be processed by South Africa's recycling facilities. As a result, an estimated 18 600 tonnes of potato bags ended up in landfills in 2023 alone. Worse yet, according to studies by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the cost to build a recycling plant specifically for this type of material was estimated at R30 million. The turning point came from an in-house leadership development programme run by the Shoprite Group in collaboration with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). Through and Action Learning Project, five employees took on the challenge of finding a sustainable alternative. 'What appeared to be a straightforward task quickly revealed deep supply chain complexity,' the Shoprite Group said. 'Potato bags require an inner wet-strength layer to absorb any moisture – a specification set by industry body, Potato SA – which made them incompatible with standard recycling processes.' Over six months, the team mapped the entire production and recycling chain, engaging with stakeholders across the board – including packaging manufacturers, recyclers, and even waste pickers. After evaluating numerous alternatives, including international options and even potential reuse in construction, the team found none were viable for the local market. The breakthrough came when Billerud, a Swedish paper supplier and one of the country's top three providers of potato bag material, learned of the project. The company developed a new semi-wet-strength paper that is fully recyclable using South Africa's existing infrastructure. Although the first attempt failed, a revised version met all technical and recyclability requirements. This new recyclable potato bag has also passed shelf-life tests. As a result of this innovation, the Shoprite Group's recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging on the whole will increase from 88.9% to 90%. 'Beyond environmental benefits, the change also creates economic opportunity,' the Group added. 'If adopted industry-wide, the new bag could unlock more than R22 million in potential income for South Africa's informal waste pickers.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Zawya
05-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Shoprite and Checkers offer purified water at just $0.054 per litre
South Africa faces ongoing water shortages driven by shifting weather patterns, infrastructure challenges, and persistent droughts. In response, Shoprite and Checkers have stepped up to support customers by offering purified water at just R1 per litre in the majority of its supermarkets. 'We are aware that our customers and communities face tremendous difficulties during water supply outages, so we have equipped our stores to make water available at the lowest prices,' says Sanjeev Raghubir, chief sustainability officer at the Shoprite Group. To ensure sustained trade and service to customers, most stores have installed large backup water tanks that can typically provide water for three to six days should normal water supply be disrupted. When necessary, water is purchased in bulk to replenish supplies. Water is purified through a reverse osmosis process and regularly tested onsite, as well as subjected to independent laboratory analysis, to ensure its safety for consumption. Other water security efforts A percentage of proceeds from the sale of 500ml and 1.5L Eastern Highlands bottled water sold in all Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets nationally is donated to the Act for Change Water Fund to assist with water relief efforts in communities where it is needed most. In addition, the retailer is increasing the availability of clean drinking water in rural communities by providing PlayPumps – merry-go-rounds that pump drinking water as children play on the equipment – to 53 sites across South Africa, which benefits more than 18,000 people. The Shoprite Group has a long history of reaching out and assisting local communities that have been left without water, including transporting water to drought-stricken KwaZulu-Natal towns such as Ulundi, Vryheid, Harding and iXopo in 2016, providing relief during the Johannesburg hospital water crisis in 2021, and donating thousands of litres of bottled water to various Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in 2024. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
