South Africa Voice of Grocery Suppliers: Retailer Ranking Results 2022

As a team we are in a privileged position working at the intersect of suppliers and retailers as an independent and unbiased 3rd party. Our objective perspective is informed by analysis of competitive benchmark ratings and scores provided from over 600 individuals across 60+ suppliers and 120 one-on-one interviews in South Africa. It also includes perspectives framed from multiple internal Retailer and Supplier results presentation and discussion sessions.  

Unbiased and anonymous feedback is a gift, and we are privileged to be conducting this 360degree process where retailers provide feedback to suppliers, and suppliers to retailers.

Understanding if your organization can work together more effectively with suppliers, to develop better shared productivity, improved mutual commercial outcomes and closer connection is a game changing insight.

There are risk indicators in a number of Retailer results. The inconsistent trend and increased level of negative sentiment in Trust, is driven from uncertainty from suppliers when thinking about investing for the future, dedicating resources, and engaging with Retailer teams from Executive to Execution level.

There is a clear disconnect and misalignment in strategic and competitive direction, compounded with concerns about delivering on commitments, frustration in operational execution with navigating complex structures and systems, the declining perceptions of agility and innovation, increased perceived cost to serve, and relatively lower levels of proactivity and empowered people across the business. These incrementally add up to erode overall business value and partnership investment, while increasing risk in sustainable growth and total retail excellence ambitions.

The concern with a scenario of declining Trust as a metric is that it risks turning to Apathy. Suggesting that critical supplier stakeholders don’t feel invested in a future growth path or shared success, and/or aren’t acknowledged broadly for their role in your retail business. This is often indicative of a clear gap in expectations and perceptions.

Apathy becomes real, when, despite your importance or scale, Suppliers are willing to accept the outcome of a lesser relationship with you and spend time and resource elsewhere with other Retailers, directly impacting your strategic outcomes with your customers.

Manufacturers / Suppliers have rated Retailers across 26 Metrics in multiple categories in Grocery, Liquor, General Merchandise, Ecommerce, Private Label, and performance feedback is inclusive of Commercial and Buying / Planning teams, Category, Logistics / Supply Chain, and marketing.

Here is a snapshot of overall performance scores in FMCG Retailers rank set (inclusive of small and large players)

Congratulations to #1 Shoprite #2 Woolworths and #3 Spar (of the large national retailers)

To find out more about our detailed data and supplier feedback you can contact me via email at [email protected]

Here are the high-level metrics Retailers are rated on:

How do you think suppliers rate you vs how they actually rate you, and does this change across categories and across the 26 metrics?