Rock solid
Investment in technology and marketing initiatives has helped SmartStone to become South AfricaÔÇÖs leading supplier of cast stone products. It is now looking to expand operations internationally, as Ruari McCallion learned from James Metcalf.
The early years of this decade saw a boom in the construction industry in South Africa. During this time SmartStone rode the wave to generate phenomenal growth for itself and its licensees. But itÔÇÖs a bit harder to grow turnover and to sustain performance when things turn down.

An act of alchemy
Even with a commodity as rock solid as gold, change has to be managed, as Alan Swaby learns.
One of the modules to be found in business courses covers the topic of marketing myopiaÔÇöor how businesses take their eye off the ball and allow a once thriving concern to wither away. The case often quoted is the demise of the rail transport industry in the second half of the 20th century.

Creating an icon
Jane Bordenave talks to Alessandro Barioli, managing director of PermasteelisaÔÇÖs European Division, about the companyÔÇÖs commitment to quality and its positioning as the leader in its sector.

An operation of distinction
Langer Heinrich is taking a unique approach to mining uranium from its site in the Namib Desert. With the environment in mind, it uses naturally occurring reagents in its processes, as Becky Done finds out.

Running on empty
When the market overheats it can have far reaching implications, as Alan Swaby learns while talking to one of South AfricaÔÇÖs leading tyre producers.
ItÔÇÖs inconceivable to think that motorists wouldnÔÇÖt be able to get the replacement tyres they wantedÔÇöregardless of how exotic a car they driveÔÇöwithin a few days or so at the very most. But at the heavy end of the tyre spectrum, this has, on occasions, been the reality.

Stacks of snacks
One of the latest entrants to the South African snack industry is making a name for itself, as Jeff Daniels discovers.
No doubt the children who attend the factory tour of Blue Chip Snacks do so with visions of Willy WonkaÔÇÖs chocolate factory in mind. If so, they will be very quickly brought back to earth. The reality is that any storeroom holding a couple of hundred tons of potatoes will never be as enticing to young minds as the sweet treats of Roald DahlÔÇÖs fictional world.┬á

A hot prospect

From an experiment in its founder’s apartment to a global brand that looks set to grow still further, the success of Bandito’s Chile Co. is testament to the quality and flavour of its products, as Andrew Pelis finds out.

It is the subtle blending of ingredients that has propelled Bandito’s Chile Co. to become one of South Africa’s leading Mexican food suppliers, renowned for offering consumers an eclectic combination of flavours, mixing Mexican chillies with local African ingredients such as garlic and lemon.

General Electric (GE) and Vivendi have agreed on a $5.8 billion (Ôé¼3.8 billion) valuation of the French companyÔÇÖs 20 per cent stake in television and movie company NBC Universal (NBCU).