Cheryl Hunter (shelflife at marklives.com)’s weekly pick of all things new — product, packaging, design, insight, food, décor and more!
- Zari grape juice fills a market gap
- Milk alternatives made easy with Almond Breeze
- Lotto looks local for new games
A new direction for African Equations
Zari Sparkling Grape Juice has opened up a new market for two Western Cape women, who wanted to create a premier brand for adults seeking a great tasting, ethical, healthy and alcohol-free drink.
Explains Silvana Dantu of African Equations, “The choices have been limited if you are entertaining a guest or business partner who does not drink alcohol. We know that the number of tourists who come from Muslim countries has increased hugely. I’ve been embarrassed to see potential investors into our country being offered water or a sweet, fizzy drink if they don’t drink wine.”
Dantu and her business partner, Shareen Parker, decided “enough was enough” and have spent the past four years developing a sophisticated alternative to wine. The decision represents a change in direction for the women who established African Equations, an event, marketing and media strategy brand.
Dantu say, “We had to get a good understanding of the traditionally white, male-dominated grape industry, and we had to make use of all our negotiating and strategic skills to make this work.” The hard work is beginning to pay off. One of the biggest coups for the team has been a distribution deal with the Lulu Hypermarket group in Dubai: “The terrior and the grape varietals that make our wines world-class also have the potential to provide us with a very superior grape juice.”
Dantu has a producers’ agreement with the Van Loveren Wine Estate: “Zari is made from 100% muscat grape juice, undiluted and without colourants or added sugar. For us, that is more than just a sales pitch — it is about providing a product that respects both the Western Cape’s grape heritage, our local high-end market and the new wave of visitors to our shores.”
Almonds add options
Almond Breeze, an all-natural alternative to milk made from almonds, has been launched in South Africa as a low-calorie, lactose-free alternative to dairy, to be used in cereals, smoothies, coffee, baking or on its own.
Brendan Binder, global director of Almond Breeze, says, “Almond Breeze has been the leading almond milk in the US for over a decade, offering a high quality and healthy alternative to milk. Over the past few years, we have successfully launched in a number of markets around the world and we are addressing the increasing demand for an alternative to dairy in this country.”
Available in two varieties, Original and Unsweetened, Almond Breeze combines the superfood health benefits of almonds with taste: “It is packed with calcium, as well as vitamin D and E, to support strong bones and healthy skin, making it easier to manage a healthy lifestyle. Almond Breeze is proudly produced and distributed locally by Good Hope International Beverages and is GMO free, with no additives, MSG or preservatives.
“People are definitely paying more attention to their health and, whatever the reason you are looking for an alternative to dairy, Almond Breeze promises great taste with great health benefits,” he adds.
www.almondbreeze.co.za • Twitter • Facebook
Lotto launches with a local flavour
The South African National Lottery operator, ITHUBA, has launched a pilot project across 1000 Gauteng retailers for its new instant-win game portfolio EAZiWIN, modeled on local games that have been played for decades in the informal sector.
Players choose their favourite game — Morabaraba, Fafi Fortune, 4 Siya Wina or Popa Feela. — and take the play card to the retailer to be scanned on the Lottery terminal, which prints out a receipt. Players match the symbols or numbers on the receipt with those on their Play Cards and, according to the number of combinations matched, they stand a chance to win.
Gauteng has been selected as the ideal region to test the concept because its diversity most closely replicates national demographics.
The locally designed games have a variety of price points and games to suit all pockets, starting at R3 for Popa Feela. They will be rolled out across SA in 2016.
ithubalottery.co.za • Twitter • Facebook
Shelf Life is MarkLives.com’s weekly column covering all things new. Notify us of yours at shelflife at marklives dot com. Want to sponsor Shelf Life? Contact us here.
Cheryl Hunter (@cherylhunter) has written for the South African media, marketing and advertising industries for more than 15 years. A former editor of M&M in Independent Newspapers and contributor to Bizcommunity, AdFocus, AdReview and the Ad Annual, she has also produced for various television networks and currently consults on communication strategy and media liaison.
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