Although several previous studies have ascertained that smallholder farmers prefer informal markets, a few vertically integrated retail chains increasingly dominate South Africa’s agro-food supply chain. The onset of this trend has led to the demise of a large number of general dealers in...

A few vertically integrated retail chains increasingly dominate South Africas agro-food supply chain. M+M Planet Retail (2004) placed the market concentration among retailers to be as high as 96% for the top four chains leaving only 4% to the small competitors. The onset of this trend has led to...

Urbanisation and a growing middle class with changing consumption patterns provide an ideal setting for supermarkets to prosper. With South Africa's urban population approaching 60 per cent, supermarket retail chains are now important players in the agro-food sector. Over the last two decades...