KZN 2026 Programme - spazaconference.com

27 March 2026

UKZN

07h45

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Spaza Supplier Connect Conference 2026 – KwaZulu-Natal Edition

Theme: Empowering Sustainable Growth in Township Retail

Venue: University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban

Date: 27 March 2026 · Time: 07:30 – 17:00

Legend: Highlighted rows = Supplier Speaking Opportunities (sponsored slots).

Time	Session	Details
07:30 – 08:30	Registration, Tea & Supplier Expo Opens	Delegates arrive, register, collect name tags and enjoy morning tea/coffee while visiting supplier exhibition stands.
08:30 – 08:45	Official Welcome & Opening Remarks	Conference host welcomes delegates, introduces the KZN edition and outlines objectives, theme and housekeeping.
08:45 – 09:15	Opening Keynote: Township Retail & Spaza Shops in KwaZulu-Natal	Overview of KZN's township and semi-rural trading landscape, trends, opportunities and challenges facing Spaza shops.
09:15 – 09:45	Regulation & Compliance for Spaza Shops in KZN	Invited representatives unpack trading permits, by-laws, food safety and compliance requirements relevant to KwaZulu-Natal.
09:45 – 10:15	Supplier Speaking Opportunity 1
10:15 – 10:35	Morning Tea Break & Networking	Tea/coffee, light snacks and networking time in the exhibition area with suppliers and fellow Spaza owners.
10:35 – 11:05	Training: Money Management & Cash Flow Basics for Spaza Shops	Practical tools for KZN Spaza owners to track sales, manage expenses, improve profit and strengthen cash flow.
11:05 – 11:35	Supplier Speaking Opportunity 2
11:35 – 12:15	Panel Discussion 1: Trading in Township & Semi-Rural KZN	Discussion on pricing, stock, transport, competition and serving customers in both township and semi-rural communities across the province.
12:15 – 13:00	Lunch, Networking & Expo Visits	Lunch is served. Delegates engage with exhibitors, suppliers and partners at their stands.
13:00 – 13:30	Training: Health, Safety & Food Standards in Your Spaza	Guidance on hygiene, stock rotation, storage, expiry dates and creating a safe environment for customers.
13:30 – 14:00	Supplier Speaking Opportunity 3
14:00 – 14:30	Access to Finance & Support Funds for KZN Spaza Shops	Overview of funding, support programmes and business development services available for KZN-based Spaza traders.
14:30 – 15:00	Supplier Speaking Opportunity 4
15:00 – 15:20	Afternoon Tea, Lucky Draw & Expo Networking	Refreshments, informal networking and a quick lucky draw for engaged delegates.
15:20 – 15:50	Panel Discussion 2: Going Digital in KZN Township Retail	Exploring WhatsApp ordering, delivery, digital payments, loyalty tools and social media marketing for KZN Spaza shops.
15:50 – 16:10	Case Study Session: Building a Sustainable Spaza in KZN	Real examples of how KZN Spaza shops have grown, stabilised and strengthened supplier relationships.
16:10 – 16:30	Prize Giving, Exhibitor Awards & Closing Announcements	Awards for best stand, most engaged delegate and prize winners, followed by closing remarks and next steps.
16:30 – 17:00	Networking Cocktail & Supplier Connect Session	End-of-day cocktail function with light snacks; final opportunity for networking and deal-making.

Time

Session

Details

07:30 – 08:30

Registration, Tea & Supplier Expo Opens

Delegates arrive, register, collect name tags and enjoy morning tea/coffee while visiting supplier exhibition stands.

08:30 – 08:45

Official Welcome & Opening Remarks

Conference host welcomes delegates, introduces the KZN edition and outlines objectives, theme and housekeeping.

08:45 – 09:15

Opening Keynote: Township Retail & Spaza Shops in KwaZulu-Natal

Overview of KZN's township and semi-rural trading landscape, trends, opportunities and challenges facing Spaza shops.

09:15 – 09:45

Regulation & Compliance for Spaza Shops in KZN

Invited representatives unpack trading permits, by-laws, food safety and compliance requirements relevant to KwaZulu-Natal.

09:45 – 10:15

Supplier Speaking Opportunity 1

10:15 – 10:35

Morning Tea Break & Networking

Tea/coffee, light snacks and networking time in the exhibition area with suppliers and fellow Spaza owners.

10:35 – 11:05

Training: Money Management & Cash Flow Basics for Spaza Shops

Practical tools for KZN Spaza owners to track sales, manage expenses, improve profit and strengthen cash flow.

11:05 – 11:35

Supplier Speaking Opportunity 2

11:35 – 12:15

Panel Discussion 1: Trading in Township & Semi-Rural KZN

Discussion on pricing, stock, transport, competition and serving customers in both township and semi-rural communities across the province.

12:15 – 13:00

Lunch, Networking & Expo Visits

Lunch is served. Delegates engage with exhibitors, suppliers and partners at their stands.

13:00 – 13:30

Training: Health, Safety & Food Standards in Your Spaza

Guidance on hygiene, stock rotation, storage, expiry dates and creating a safe environment for customers.

13:30 – 14:00

Supplier Speaking Opportunity 3

14:00 – 14:30

Access to Finance & Support Funds for KZN Spaza Shops

Overview of funding, support programmes and business development services available for KZN-based Spaza traders.

14:30 – 15:00

Supplier Speaking Opportunity 4

15:00 – 15:20

Afternoon Tea, Lucky Draw & Expo Networking

Refreshments, informal networking and a quick lucky draw for engaged delegates.

15:20 – 15:50

Panel Discussion 2: Going Digital in KZN Township Retail

Exploring WhatsApp ordering, delivery, digital payments, loyalty tools and social media marketing for KZN Spaza shops.

15:50 – 16:10

Case Study Session: Building a Sustainable Spaza in KZN

Real examples of how KZN Spaza shops have grown, stabilised and strengthened supplier relationships.

16:10 – 16:30

Prize Giving, Exhibitor Awards & Closing Announcements

Awards for best stand, most engaged delegate and prize winners, followed by closing remarks and next steps.

16:30 – 17:00

Networking Cocktail & Supplier Connect Session

End-of-day cocktail function with light snacks; final opportunity for networking and deal-making.