News Digest | 19 June 2026 - Trendtype Africa and Middle East
South Africa, Tiger Brands constructs mega bakery. South Africa, Sir Fruit introduces wellness beverage. UAE, Shein launches Xcelerator programme. Kenya, Equity Afya opens first standalone pharmacy. UAE, Peekabox secures funding. Qatar, Gulf Warehousing Company launches logistics corridor.
South Africa: Tiger Brands constructs mega bakeryTiger Brands is constructing a new large-scale bakery on the East Rand to consolidate its inland production network. The facility will replace multiple smaller sites and is projected to produce 12,000 loaves per hour when completed in 2026. The investment is intended to reduce overheads and manufacturing costs. South Africa: Sir Fruit introduces wellness beverageSir Fruit has introduced the De-Flame Shot to its functional beverage portfolio. The new product contains cold-pressed fruit, mint, Devil’s claw, moringa leaf extract, zinc, and vitamins C and D. The beverage joins the brand’s winter wellness range, targeting consumer demand for immune support and anti-inflammatory products. UAE: Shein launches Xcelerator programmeShein has introduced its Xcelerator programme to the Middle East. The initiative provides local fashion brands with on-demand production, fulfilment, and sales platform access while allowing them to retain creative control. Dubai-based apparel brand SUMWON Studios is among the first regional partners to join the scheme. Kenya: Equity Afya opens first standalone pharmacyEquity Afya has opened its first standalone community pharmacy in Nairobi, expanding beyond its in-house clinic dispensaries. The retail outlet offers medicines, wellness guidance, and complimentary health screenings. The launch is part of a franchise model expansion aiming to establish 1,000 community pharmacies across the region. UAE: Peekabox secures fundingFood waste platform Peekabox has secured $1. 5 million in funding to expand its operations in the United Arab Emirates. The startup partners with food retailers to sell surplus food in discounted bundles to consumers. Within four weeks of its launch, the platform has registered 80,000 users and partnered with over 1,000 stores. Qatar: Gulf Warehousing Company launches logistics corridorGulf Warehousing Company has introduced an air-to-land logistics corridor from Doha using the TIR customs system. The service enables cargo arriving at Hamad International Airport to be transported by sealed trucks across Gulf Cooperation Council borders under a single customs document, providing a faster alternative to regional air freight. Libya: Geant achieves ISO certificationGeant has received the ISO 22000 international certification for Food Safety Management for its operations in Libya. The certification recognises the retailer’s compliance with global quality control and food safety standards across its supply chain and product offerings. Egypt: Linuo Pharmaceutical Packaging establishes manufacturing facilityLinuo Pharmaceutical Packaging has agreed to build a manufacturing facility in the TEDA Suez Economic Zone. The site will produce pharmaceutical packaging, heat-resistant glass, and specialty glass materials. The facility will utilise artificial intelligence quality inspection and digital twin systems to supply markets across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. South Africa: dmg events and Koelnmesse launch trade exhibitionExhibition organisers dmg events and Koelnmesse have launched Anuga Select South Africa, a new food and beverage trade platform. Replacing the Africa Food Show, the inaugural business-to-business exhibition is scheduled for June 2027 in Cape Town. The event will connect international suppliers with regional manufacturers, retailers, and hospitality buyers. Jordan: Valu partners with HyperPayValu has partnered with payment gateway HyperPay to expand its buy-now-pay-later services in Jordan. The agreement integrates HyperPay’s payment processing solutions into the Valu application. This allows merchants to offer flexible payment options to consumers, improving digital commerce accessibility across retail and service sectors. UAE: ADCAN Pharma signs manufacturing agreementADCAN Pharma has signed an agreement to locally produce and release selected medicines for Spanish pharmaceutical firm Galenicum. The manufacturing will take place at ADCAN’s facilities in Abu Dhabi. The partnership will focus on increasing the local supply of oncology and hormone products to improve patient access. Ghana: Ghana Plastic Manufacturers’ Association requests financial bailoutThe Ghana Plastic Manufacturers’ Association has requested a 1. 493 billion cedi financial bailout from the government ahead of a planned ban on polystyrene foam products. The ban, scheduled for January 2027, targets expanded polystyrene items including food packaging containers. The association warns the policy will result in significant job losses and stranded machinery assets. Egypt: Unipack reports profit decline for Q1 2026Packaging manufacturer Unipack has reported a 72. 4% year-on-year decrease in consolidated net profits to 2. 97 million Egyptian pounds for the first quarter of 2026. Consolidated net sales declined to 376. 1 million pounds. The financial results reflect reduced domestic demand and rising input costs amid currency devaluation in the packaging sector. South Africa: Yoco introduces business management softwareFinancial technology provider Yoco has introduced over 20 new software products for small businesses, including an artificial intelligence assistant and industry-specific management tools. The company also announced a 250 million rand annual reduction in merchant transaction fees as it expands its services beyond primary payment processing. Uganda: Boss Beverage Company ordered to repay bank loanThe High Court of Uganda has ordered beverage manufacturer Boss Beverage Company to pay 710 million shillings in outstanding loan obligations to Absa Bank Uganda. The commercial court dismissed the manufacturer’s claims of unlawful interest charges and authorised the bank to sell mortgaged property to recover the defaulted debt. Disclaimer:This content is provided for informational purposes only. View our fullDisclaimerfor details.