Break The Shelf

Why are food brands entering the fashion industry and launching designer-inspired handbags?From McDonald's McCafé handbag in Australia and Betty Crocker's cake-shaped bags to Chipotle's fashion accessories and KFC Netherlands' latest handbag filled with actual pickles and pickle juice, major food brands are finding unusual ways to market themselves.But what's the marketing strategy behind these collaborations?In this video, I break down why established food brands are entering the fashion space, how they're using limited-edition merchandise to generate publicity, and why reaching younger consumers and staying culturally relevant have become increasingly important.We also explore how these campaigns generate organic media exposure, create exclusivity and extend brand engagement beyond traditional food products.And more importantly, do these marketing campaigns actually translate into increased food sales, or are brands simply investing in awareness and visibility?A closer look at the branding, consumer behaviour and marketing strategies behind some of the most unusual food and fashion collaborations.

Could El Niño make your favourite chocolate more expensive?

A powerful El Niño weather event could have major consequences for global cocoa production, particularly in West Africa, where countries like Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana account for a significant share of the world's cocoa supply.

In this video, I explain what El Niño is, how it affects global weather patterns, and why changes in rainfall and temperature could disrupt cocoa production and influence chocolate prices around the world.

We'll also look at what's happening in the global cocoa market, why cocoa prices have experienced such dramatic fluctuations in recent years, and how chocolate manufacturers may respond to rising production costs through price increases, smaller packaging, or changes to their products.

From climate patterns and agricultural production to commodity markets and supermarket shelves, this is a look at how global events can influence the everyday products we buy.

Subscribe for more insights into global products, FMCG, food innovation, retail trends, and the business strategies behind the brands we know.

#ElNino #ChocolatePrices #CocoaPrices #FoodIndustry #FMCG #GlobalEconomy

Welcome to Episode 13 of Break the Shelf – your front-row seat to the boldest product launches, retail tech innovations, and brand collaborations reshaping the FMCG landscape.

This week is loaded with flavour, innovation, and a retail giant making waves:

🥔 Lay’s New Flavours – Lay’s is spicing up the snack aisle with three bold new limited-edition flavours, designed to tap into SA’s love for adventurous taste and global snacking trends.

🥗 Heinz Salad Dressing Mixes – Heinz enters the convenient-meals space with a new range of salad dressing mixes, giving home cooks the power to shake up fresh, customised dressings in seconds—perfect for a health-conscious, on-the-go market.

🥤 Rhodes Powered Smoothie – Rhodes is breaking into the functional beverage category with its Powered Smoothie range, blending fruit with added nutritional boosts. It’s a play into energy, wellness, and value-added convenience.

🏬 Walmart in South Africa – Beyond product news, the retail landscape is shifting. Walmart is officially deepening its presence in South Africa, signalling bold moves in price competition, private-label expansion, and supply chain transformation that could reshape the market.

Whether you’re tracking flavour innovation, functional beverage trends, or the biggest shifts in global retail, this episode unpacks what’s next for brands and consumers.

🎥 Follow me on IG & TikTok: @hamzeh.majiet
📩 Contact: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 12 of Break the Shelf – your front-row seat to the boldest product launches, retail tech innovations, and brand collaborations reshaping the FMCG landscape.

This week is packed with nostalgic drops, creamy delights, and game-changing retail shifts:

🍫 Cadbury LunchBar Caramilk – South Africa’s iconic LunchBar turns 60 with a limited-edition Caramilk variant, layering its classic crispy wafer, peanuts, and chocolate with smooth caramelised white chocolate for a nostalgic yet indulgent twist.

🍫 Lindt Extra Creamy Chocolate – Lindt continues to woo chocolate lovers with its Excellence Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate bar, delivering ultra-smooth texture and rich notes of caramel, vanilla, and honey—crafted by Master Chocolatiers for a truly indulgent experience.

🇿🇦 On the retail tech frontier:

• Checkers Xpress Trolley (Express Trolley) – Checkers is piloting SA’s first smart shopping trolley at two Western Cape stores. Shoppers can now scan and bag items as they shop, monitor a live running total, access product information and personalised offers, and pay directly from the trolley without queuing at a till point. This innovation promises faster, queue-free checkout and empowers shoppers with more control—shaping the future of in-store retail.

• Jamie Oliver x Checkers Simple Truth – International chef and healthy-food advocate Jamie Oliver has returned to South Africa to front a light-hearted campaign for Checkers’ Simple Truth private-label wellness range. He’s joined by a cast of local icons—including Springbok stars Pieter-Steph du Toit and Trevor Nyakane, and comedian Marc Lottering—in a playful “polygraph” style challenge to uncover their “simple truths” about healthy eating. The Simple Truth line now spans 287 items across 49 categories, from organic staples to plant-based options—tapping into growing demand for better-for-you products.

Whether you're launching new NPD, strategising retail entry, or tracking FMCG innovation, this episode brings you the freshest insights to keep ahead.

🎥 Follow me on IG & TikTok: @hamzeh.majiet
📩 Contact: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 11 of Break the Shelf – your front-row seat to the boldest product launches, viral brand collabs, and insider retail strategies shaping the FMCG space.

This week is packed with global drops, local moves, and future-shaping investments:

🍫 Oreo x Reese team up for a peanut butter-packed cookie mashup
🍩 Krispy Kreme x Harry Potter brings a magical donut collection to fans worldwide
🥤 Heinz x Smoothie King shocks the market with a ketchup smoothie collab
🍦 Cornetto Max launches indulgent new flavors: Hazelnut Chocolate & Mango Vanilla
🍟 McCain drops spiced-up Masala Fries in Canada

🇿🇦 On the home front:
🥤 Coca-Cola partners with the South African Springboks—rolling out limited-edition Fan Cans and a Powerade Springboks edition as part of a major campaign push.

💸 Plus, we dive into the big question: Bill Gates’ investment in Savor—a startup turning CO₂ into butter. Will this moonshot in food innovation actually succeed, or is it just hype?

🎯 Whether you're building new products, eyeing retail shelves, or tracking the biggest FMCG moves, this episode gives you the insights you need to stay ahead.

🎥 Follow Hamzeh on IG & TikTok: @hamzeh.majiet
📩 Contact: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 10 of Break the Shelf - your insider pass to the boldest product launches, brand-building wins, and retail strategies that move the needle in the FMCG world.This week, I sit down with Aziz Davids, founder of Orbits Intergalactic Donuts, to unpack how he took his unique mini donut concept from a local hit to landing on the shelves of SPAR retailers in South Africa.🍩 The real story behind Orbits - from market stall to retail-ready brand🛒 How Aziz navigated retail (and what surprised him)💡 Key lessons for food entrepreneurs looking to break into major retailers🚀 Insights on building a product that stands out in a crowded market🎯 Whether you’re in new product development, hustling for your first listing, or growing your brand footprint, this episode is full of practical takeaways you can apply right now.🎥 Follow Orbits:TikTok: @miniorbits (https://www.tiktok.com/@miniorbits)Instagram: @mini_orbits_mini_donuts (https://www.instagram.com/mini_orbits_mini_donuts/)🎥 Follow Hamzeh on IG & TikTok: @hamzeh.majiet📩 Contact: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 9 of Break the Shelf – your front-row seat to the boldest product launches, viral brand collabs, and insider retail strategies shaping the FMCG space.

This week, we cover a mix of hot new South African product drops and major industry moves that matter if you're building a brand:

🍿 Diddle Daddle x Tennis Biscuits drops a coconut caramel popcorn collab

🌶️ Jumping Jack brings the heat with Hot Honey popcorn

🥔 Flanagan’s goes bold with three new snack flavors🥜

Plus, we unpack why Yum Yum's parent company RCL is pushing for a 25% import tax on peanut butter—and what this could mean for margins, pricing, and competitive advantage.

💡 And to wrap up, I share some real advice on how to get your products listed into major retailers like Pick n Pay and Checkers—straight from the trenches.🎯 Whether you're in new product development, trying to grow into retail, or watching consumer trends—this episode is full of insights

you can use.🎥 Follow Hamzeh on IG & TikTok: @hamzeh.majiet📩 Contact: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 8 of Break the Shelf – your front-row seat to the boldest product launches, viral brand collabs, and winning marketing strategies shaping the FMCG industry.This week, we dive into three wild industry moves shaking up the global shelf:🍫 Ferrero is officially acquiring Kellogg’s iconic snack brands – including Pringles, Cheez-It, and Pop-Tarts – in a multi-billion-dollar deal that reshapes snacking dominance.🍿 Hershey has just bought LesserEvil, the clean-label popcorn darling known for its monk fruit and coconut oil blends. Why? To chase better-for-you snacking trends and take on SkinnyPop.🥤 And Donald Trump says he convinced Coca‑Cola to switch to real cane sugar in the U.S.—but the corn industry isn’t having it. We unpack the controversy, farmer backlash, and whether it's real health or just real hype.💡 Whether you’re in product development, brand strategy, or retail – this episode is packed with insight on how SA brands are testing, scaling, and winning at shelf.🎥 Follow Hamzeh on IG & TikTok: @hamzeh.majiet📩 Contact: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 7 of Break the Shelf – your front-row seat to the boldest product launches, viral brand collabs, and winning marketing strategies shaping the FMCG industry.

This week we deep-dive into some of South Africa's Dairy Suppliers!Uncover the manufacturers behind South Africa’s top private label dairy products at Woolworths, Checkers, and SPAR — including frozen yoghurt, ice cream, and dairy desserts. Explore which local suppliers are producing these popular supermarket favourites

All info is from the SA Dairy Championships: https://cheesesa.co.za/the-south-african-dairy-awards-2025/

Access the list on my website! : https://www.hamzehmajiet.com/blog/woolworths-south-africa-dairy-suppliers

💡 Whether you’re in product development, brand strategy, or retail – this episode is packed with insight on how SA brands are testing, scaling, and winning at shelf.

🔗 Follow the pod on IG: @breaktheshelf

🎥 Follow Hamzeh on IG & TikTok: @hamzeh.majiet

📩 Contact: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 6 of Break the Shelf – your front-row seat to the boldest product launches, viral brand collabs, and winning marketing strategies shaping the FMCG industry.The latest launches of the week: 🛒 Woolworths’ eco-friendly cleaning relaunch🥤 Steri Stumpie’s new Peachy Litchi twist🍫 Lindt ChocoFruit with Coconut This week, I unpack:🥖 Ouma Rusks’ bold new Hot Cross Buns flavour – why they launched in trial packs first and why it’s exclusive to Checkers & Shoprite.💡 Whether you’re in product development, brand strategy, or retail – this episode is packed with insight on how SA brands are testing, scaling, and winning at shelf.🔗 Follow the pod on IG: @breaktheshelf🎥 Follow Hamzeh on IG & TikTok: @hamzeh.majiet📩 Contact: [email protected]