Worker BEEs
Redressing some of South AfricaÔÇÖs past inequalities can be rewarding both socially and economically, as Dan Bailey learns.
In just about a yearÔÇÖs time, the finest footballers on earth will take the attention of the world to South Africa. Each of the countryÔÇÖs principal cities is pouring huge amounts of effort and resources into new infrastructure in the hope that they can receive some of the kudos that came to China for its staging of the Olympics.

Plastic progress
Britain is often associated with manufacturing at the heavy end of the spectrum or at the cutting edge of technology, but as Dan Bailey learns, there are success stories at the lighter end, too.

Revving up
When the owner of this Swedish graphite brush manufacturer expressed his wish to retire, new leadership emerged to take it forward, as Alan Swaby learns.

A hive of activity
While the rest of the world has battened down the hatches, South Africa seems to be immune, as Alan Swaby learns when talking to one of the leading businesses.

Still a place for tradition
From a single coffee house to an international brand, oat biscuits have taken Gillebagaren a long way, as Alan Swaby learns.

Cape crusader
Bruce Bishop, owner and manager of South African maize-snack maker, Elzea Snacks, talks to Gay Sutton about the challenges of supplying into South AfricaÔÇÖs informal market, and the value of organising market research road shows.

Pulp facts
Cape Fruit Processors has had unique success in one of the worldÔÇÖs trickiest markets, proving to John OÔÇÖHanlon that itÔÇÖs no ÔÇ£me tooÔÇØ player in the South African juice and pulp industry.

On the ball
Chris Erasmus tells Gay Sutton how Basil Read is bucking the trend and going through a period of expansion, boosted by work for the 2010 World Cup and South AfricaÔÇÖs investment in infrastructure.

Playing to win
South African plastic packaging material manufacturer Astrapak is in the process of restructuring and preparing to take the leap from medium- to large-sized company. CEO Marco Baglione tells Gay Sutton how he plans to guide this transformation.

Play it cool
Hasan ├ûnder fits every definition of a real entrepreneur. A Turkish project engineer who likes to innovate, he anticipates growth in markets that he knows well. John OÔÇÖHanlon speaks to the general manager and founder of Airfel Isitma.