required report public distribution date 12 4 2003 gain number sf3043 south africa republic of retail food sector approved by scott reynolds us embassy prepared margaret ntloedibe highlights s economic situation and strength the rand have improved in some opportunities exist for products continues to expand supermarkets convenience stores forecourts are rapidly becoming dominant outlets a boom franchise which good venues imported provide better access consumers best prospects include wheat animal fats inexpensive frozen protein further processed grocery includes psd changes no trade matrix annual pretoria sf1 sf usda foreign agricultural service global agriculture information network template version 2 08 page 11 unclassified i market summary with population around 44 million people possesses modern infrastructure supporting an efficient goods major urban centers throughout southern well developed financial legal communications energy
