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What of loyalty in the age of COVID? Let’s ask Clicks, who write the book on that subject. They’ve extended the expiry on their cashback items, held the prices on hygiene items before it was mandated by the government, added 200 points and 35 walk-in clinics for flu shots, and increased their online ordering capacity six fold. Admittedly, not all of those apply strictly to ClubCard customers, but seeing as cardholders comprise 70% of the total, they also kind of do. Rival Dis-Chem, in the meantime, has been charged by the Competition Commission for allegedly inflating the prices of face masks. Dis-Chem are examining the charges, which they deny and to which they will respond in due course. Freshstop at Caltex are partnering with Mr D in a snacks and food delivery service, starting from 40 stores nationally. Pick n Pay have reached a total of R2.6m in donations from shoppers in their ‘Feed the Nation’ campaign in just 10 days, bolstering the R5m which came directly from the retailer’s own coffers. Food Lover’s Market have launched a timely and moving ‘Our Farmers, Our Heroes’ campaign to honour their network of 400 farmers and 80 smallholder growers. And Woolies have announced the commitment of over R34m in funds for various initiatives to meet the challenges of COVID-19.

Comment: We’re scratching the surface here. But at a time like this it’s all about backing up the messaging with actions, which some retailers are getting more right than others.

Interim results out from Clicks last week, in some blessedly non-COVID news. Turnover was up +9.9% to R16.9bn for the six months through March, with headline earnings, a sound measure of profitability, up +13.1% to R851.2m. Store numbers were up by 17 to a pleasing haul of 721. Health and beauty sales were up +9.6%, while wholesale outfit UPD grew sales +12.3%, buoyed no doubt by Clicks’ continued advance into pharmacy – they added another 27 for the period, for a total of 572, bumping its market share of the retail pharmacy market up a touch to 24.6%. “Competitive pricing, differentiated product ranges, the Clicks ClubCard and new stores were the main drivers of growth,” said CEO Mr Ramsunder, quietly getting on with the business of business. Like other businesses before it, Clicks have said they’ll be holding onto the dividend until things settle a bit, and anticipate tougher trading conditions post-lockdown. For our snappy summary, click here.

Comment: What’s the limit for Clicks, stores-wise? They’ve got their eye on 900.

Quick roundup of some innovations introduced by UK retailers during this “strange and unsettling time”™, courtesy of our friends at Supermarket & Retailer. Kicking off, Asda has extended its scan and go mobile offering to all of its 581 stores for that zipless retail experience you’ve always wanted, but which at the time of a pandemic really could be something of a lifesaver. Sainsbury’s has introduced a volunteer shopping card, which can be loaded up by the vulnerable or immobile and sent directly to the friend or family member or neighbour shopping on their behalf. Morrison’s have put together a Ramadan box to add to their existing delivery box offering. They’ve also extended their opening hours, and have included a dedicated hour for NHS staff from 6am to 7am every day.

Comment: The speed and creativity with which our great sector has adapted, both here and abroad, has been an inspiration.

News from the north this week as Nestlé sign an agreement with NGO IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative to support 25,000 farmers and 50 SMEs in West Africa, and to open up new markets for them in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. The idea is that by sourcing from these suppliers, it will bring the proportion of responsibly and regionally-produced raw materials used in the local production of its Maggi, Milo and Cerelac brands from 60% to 70% by 2022, as part of the Grown Sustainably in Africa (GSA) programme. Under the programme, IDH partners with retailers, brands and buyers to form long-term partnerships to commercialise and improve business operations of suppliers to these companies – an approach that meshes nicely with Nestlé’s Creating Shared Value philosophy.

Comment: A great initiative of the sort that will be increasingly important as the population of Africa grows and urbanises in the years and decades to come.

Not content with trashing entire economies, the ratings agencies also go after individual businesses. And so it is with Standard & Poor’s this week, downgrading supply chain outfit Super Group as an investment on the expectation that its revenue is likely to be -20% down this year as a result of the present unpleasantness. As you know, almost 60% of the revenue of Super Group's African logistics business comes from the consumer goods, paper and pulp, packaging products, health care products and commodity products (primarily coal), which are classified as essential products in South Africa. But vehicle sales are likely to be down, and the business is likely to be impacted by both restrictions and reduced economic demand over the crisis and beyond.

Comment: At this point, we were hoping to say something smart about S&P’s own share price. Sadly, it seems to be on the way up.

A small glimmer of hope for some may be found in the bursting tanks of the world’s petroleum storage facilities. As demand has dropped (by 60% here in the Beloved Country) and as the price war between the oligopolies has taken its toll, punters can expect a cut in the price of fuel come May 6, to the tune of around R1.70 per litre, with more perhaps to come. Not only will this provide SA’s cash-strapped households with a little more in the Bank, it should put the kibosh on inflation, and strengthen the dear old Reserve Bank’s arm when it comes to cutting the interest rate next cycle. All of this as the shutdown eases from level 5 to level 4, which should usher in an uptick in consumer activity in the weeks ahead.

Comment: Schadenfreude, the delight in the misfortunes of others, is not an admirable emotion. But it’s hard to resist in the case of Big Oil, which should have started doing its bit to transition us to renewables decades ago.