Nordic House Cape Town

04/09/2026

A South African business story worth watching.

Bidcorp, the food distribution group that grew out of the Bidvest stable, generated R242.2 billion (EUR 13 billion) in revenue last year, supplying restaurants, canteens, hotels and caterers across more than 35 countries.

But perhaps the more interesting story is how it has grown, and what comes next.
Bidcorp has built its international footprint by acquiring strong local distributors, keeping local management and expertise in place, while creating efficiencies across areas such as finance, compliance, IT and HR.

Five acquisitions across five countries contributed just R2.7 billion of its R242.2 billion revenue last year. Now, after years of being known as a serial acquirer, Bidcorp says its focus is shifting towards organic growth, selling more to existing customers across the markets where it already operates.

For us at Nordic House, this offers an interesting lesson for any business looking beyond its home market. International growth does not always mean replacing what is local. Sometimes the opportunity lies in keeping local knowledge, relationships and entrepreneurship intact, while building the infrastructure around them to scale.

A fascinating South African example of local strength meeting global reach.

(Images courtesy of Bidcorp)

02/09/2026

Something interesting is brewing in South African retail!

Shoprite has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of Vida e Caffè, bringing one of Africa’s best-known coffee brands, with approximately 400 stores, into Africa’s largest retail group. The transaction is still subject to regulatory and other conditions.

At first glance, coffee and grocery retail might seem like an unusual combination. Strategically, it makes a lot of sense.

Shoprite has become exceptionally good at building an ecosystem around its customers, spanning grocery retail, Checkers Sixty60, Xtra Savings, financial services and more. Vida brings an established food and beverage brand, while Shoprite brings extraordinary scale.

The announcement also comes alongside Shoprite’s agreement to acquire a 51% stake in technology and payments business R&A Cellular.

Two very different acquisitions, but arguably the same strategy: meet customers more often, in more places, across more parts of their everyday lives.

The modern consumer relationship is increasingly spread across groceries, convenience, food, delivery, loyalty and financial services; Shoprite appears to be building for all of them.

For Nordic and international businesses looking at South Africa, moves like this are worth watching. They show a consumer market that continues to evolve, consolidate and create new opportunities for partnerships and growth.

Something interesting to watch :-)

Read more: https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/872984/shoprite-buys-major-coffee-brand-in-south-africa-with-400-stores-across-the-country

(Images courtesy of Shoprite Holdings and Vida e Caffè)

18/08/2026

A warm winter evening, a beautiful new setting, and a fantastic Nordic House crowd. 🇩🇰 🇫🇮 🇮🇸 🇳🇴 🇸🇪 🇿🇦

We loved hosting our first Nordic Second Thursdays at The Planet Bar at Mount Nelson, with drinks and conversation spilling out onto the terrace.

It was wonderful to see familiar faces alongside plenty of newcomers, including Cape Town’s very own rally driver, Max Smart, bringing a little extra speed to the evening!
Thank you to everyone who joined us, and we look forward to seeing you at the next Nordic Second Thursdays in September.

Reminder: Nordic Second Thursdays will now be permanently held at the Planet Bar. Find out more here: https://www.nordichouse.co.za/events

Tak! :-)

12/08/2026

Nordic Second Thursdays is back tomorrow, 13 August and we have a new permanent home!

Join us from 18:00 at The Planet Bar at Mount Nelson, our new venue for Nordic Second Thursdays.

Come along to reconnect, meet new people and grow your Nordic–South African network in a relaxed setting. There is no formal programme – just good conversation and a welcoming community.

📅 Thursday, 13 August
🕕 From 18:00
📍 The Planet Bar, Mount Nelson, 76 Orange Street, Cape Town
🎟 Free entry – simply pay for what you eat and drink

Members and guests are all welcome.

We look forward to seeing you at our new home tomorrow!

09/08/2026

06/08/2026

South Africa's plant-based food sector is evolving rapidly, presenting growing opportunities across retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and food innovation.

Some notable market insights:

- The market is now worth more than R10.5 billion and is growing at 10.5% annually.

- Vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian consumers now represent an estimated 10–12% of South Africa's consumer base.

- More than 80 plant-based milk products are available across mainstream retailers, making dairy alternatives the country's fastest-growing plant-based category.

- Convenience food consumption has increased by more than 33% since 2019, contributing to a 16.7% increase in plant-based main dishes on quick-service restaurant menus.

- Despite this momentum, only 31% of consumers are aware of the plant-based options available to them, highlighting a significant opportunity for stronger marketing and menu visibility.

At Nordic House, we are exploring how Nordic and South African businesses can collaborate to unlock opportunities in this fast-growing sector.

Contact us if you are curious to hear more: [email protected]

30/07/2026

Access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers facing many food and beverage SMMEs. That is exactly where Cape Town's Food & Beverage Growth Coalition is making a difference.

Convened by the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP) in partnership with the City of Cape Town and industry stakeholders, the coalition connects entrepreneurs with financiers, mentors, incubators and business support organisations, helping businesses become investment-ready and better positioned for sustainable growth.

By bringing together government, industry and the finance sector, initiatives like these are helping strengthen Cape Town's food and beverage ecosystem, create jobs and unlock opportunities for local businesses.

If you are building a food or beverage business, it is well worth exploring the support available through the Food & Beverage Growth Coalition.

Read more: https://www.investcapetown.com/en/news-articles/food-beverage-growth-coalition-connects-smmes-with-financiers/

29/07/2026

Happy National Day Faroe Islands 🇫🇴

28/07/2026

Europe and the Western Cape: a partnership that continues to create opportunities!
Wesgro's latest EU Regional Factsheet highlights the scale and strength of the relationship between Europe, South Africa and the Western Cape:

- The EU invested USD 19.9 billion across 448 projects in South Africa between 2015 and 2025, creating almost 40,000 jobs.

- More than 54% of that investment was directed towards renewable energy, reinforcing South Africa's role in the global energy transition.

- The Western Cape exported USD 2.41 billion worth of goods to the EU in 2024, a 14.7% increase on the previous year.

- The Netherlands remains the Western Cape's largest EU export market, while grapes, citrus and w**e continue to showcase the province's agricultural strength.

The Nordic region continues to play an important role in this relationship, particularly in renewable energy, sustainability, innovation and investment.

At Nordic House, we look forward to continuing to strengthen connections between Nordic and South African businesses, creating opportunities that benefit both regions.

If you are a Nordic company or investor considering South Africa, or simply curious about the opportunities available, we would be delighted to start the conversation.

Contact us at: [email protected]

Source: Wesgro, European Union Regional Factsheet (February 2026).

Read more here -https://www.wesgro.co.za/uploads/files/Wesgro-Research_European-Union-Regional-Factsheet-2025_2026.02.pdf

24/07/2026

South Africa has a way of surprising you!

The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and Tourism Marketing South Africa (TOMSA) have launched a great new campaign starring South African-born comedian and global television host Trevor Noah.

It is a great watch, and now there really is no question: book your trip and visit South Africa today!

Don’t say we didn’t tell you :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEvAWT2Hg9E

Remember when you asked about South Africa? It turns out the questi...