Sources: Lion Matches - your box of friends. 2005 The South African Magazine, July, 26-27; (and websites as per 1st assignment). Bakers - a brand icon. 2005. The South African Magazine, August, 28-29 (http://www.bakers.co.za/ accessed 23 April 2022); It's the SA in SAB that makes this company what it is. 2005. Sawubona, 48-49 (http://www.sab.co.za/ accessed 23 April 2022) Your box of friends - Lion Matches A candle-lit dinner in Sandton, a Sunday braai in Potchefstroom, a school hiking trip through the Drakensberg and a rural village in the heart of the Transkei, are all linked by a single iconic brand - that ubiquitous and instantly recognizable yellow box of Lion Matches. First manufactured in 1899, Lion Matches has maintained its position as a household name in South Africa through two World Wars, the Great Depression, and a multitude of foreign and local contenders, not least the onset of electrification. Continuous modernization and the introduction of new technology and equipment over the years have ensured that Lion Matches remains a reliable, cost-effective and quality brand. The first responsibility has always been to supply consumers with affordable, value- for-money products. The price of Lion Matches remained unchanged, at just 1 cent, for 27 years (from 1947 to 1974). The company has always remained true to its core of loyal supporters by running campaigns and promotions which speak to all South Africa's people, and celebrate a pride in a shared heritage. Today, the Lion Match Company is a focused global competitor, poised to take advantage of the many opportunities in markets worldwide. BAKERS - a brand icon With its rich heritage and time-winning formula of only the best quality and real ingredients, Bakers has for over 150 years instilled the magic of the Bakers man and offered consumers proudly South African, original, wholesome, real baked biscuits. Favourite Bakers biscuits, like Tennis, Eet-Sum-Mor, Red Label Lemon Creams, Blue Label Marie and Choice Assorted have become South African icons, and Bakers has come to be recognized as a market leader. Owned by FMCG Company National Brands Limited (NBL), two large biscuit factories in Isando, Gauteng and Westmead, Durban, have triple certification - important in establishing and maintaining quality standards. Bakers is regarded as one of NBL's flagship products and enjoys a reputation as a high-quality brand.

It's the South African in SAB that makes this company what it is

South African Breweries - or SAB, as it is most commonly known - is one of South Africa's true international success stories. Now part of SABMiller, one of the world's three largest brewers, this South African corporate giant emerged from the 1895 dirt and dust of Johannesburg's mining history to become a fierce competitor in the global brewing market. But it's in South Africa where the company makes its biggest impact. And it is South Africans who have developed the skills, courage and sheer determination to propel the company onto the world's business stage. About 150 South African executives are posted at SABMiller's operations abroad, bringing over a century of experience in brewing technique and quality and marketing and distribution know-how. Here at home, more than a million people are employed through SAB and the beer and soft drinks value chain. SAB's reputation for people-quality means it is regarded as a source of talent for many South African organizations. Illustrative of this is the fact that SAB introduced its first equity strategy in 1971. Small business and entrepreneurial development include: l SAB spent R1,48 billion with 4 104 empowerment suppliers in the 2006 financial year. l SAB's KickStart Programme has equipped more than 22 500 young adults with business skills and provided many of them with seed capital to set up their own businesses. Since 1995, more than R36 million has been invested in KickStart and more than 3 200 businesses have been launched. l 'Mahlasedi' - its taverner-training programme. l SAB's Owner-Driver programme was introduced in 1987 to enable company employees to become independent business people. Well over R2,5 billion has been invested in this broad-based empowerment project since inception. l One of SAB's key BEE projects is the development of emerging barley farmers in the Taung area, which now boasts 161 farmers. In the agricultural sector, SAB generated R5,4 billion of economic activity in 2005 alone.

l It has 53 distribution centres, including 41 SAB-owned depots, 10 independently owned distribution depots and two HoneyBee franchises. SAB also invests more than R120 million in community partnerships and sponsorships annually. For more information, visit www.sablimited.co.za Sources: Lion Matches - your box of friends. 2005 The South African Magazine, July, 26- 27; (and websites as per 1st assignment). Bakers - a brand icon. 2005. The South African Magazine, August, 28-29 (http://www.bakers.co.za/ accessed 23 April 2022); It's the SA in SAB that makes this company what it is. 2005. Sawubona, 48- 49 (http://www.sab.co.za/ accessed 23 April 2022)

QUESTIONS: The answer must be a narrative but address the following aspects: 1. Identify the uniqueness and focus of the Lion Matches, Bakers and SABMiller strategies. (Hint: Consider the strategy and strategic direction with due consideration of the stakeholders) 2. Explain how each of these organizations has sustained its competitive advantage over the years in South Africa. Visit the website of each organization for up-to-date information. (Hint: Consider the concept of the various strategic analysis within the environments e.g. macro, industry and internal) 3. In considering the strategies of each of these organizations, do you think there is something unique to developing countries? If so, please explain. (Hint: Consider business level strategy development and innovation)