Brands/Products
EFT Corporation Expands e-Commerce Offering with Happy Pay
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To boost sales volume and order value, EFT Corporation has integrated Happy Pay’s innovative Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service into its hosted checkout platform.
This development will allow EFT Corporation clients to add this expanded payment functionality to their payment options at checkout, offering merchants across South Africa expanded payment flexibility for their e-commerce customers.
The service is facilitated through the EFT Corporation’s technology stack, providing a seamless user experience that requires no additional development.
The process is seamless for merchants and consumers alike. If the merchant enables Happy Pay via EFT Corporation’s platform, the option appears at checkout as a payment method.
After clicking the button and registering with Happy Pay, an AI-driven approval system assesses affordability and processes credit approval in mere minutes.
The buyer’s first instalment, which is 50% of the total amount, is due on their first payday post-purchase, and the remaining 50% is then paid on their next payday.
EFT Corporation and its clients take on none of the risk, with EFT Corporation facilitating the interaction between the consumer and Happy Pay in its built environment. Happy Pay is responsible for onboarding the consumer, settling the full amount with the merchant, and collecting any additional payments directly from the consumer.
“Clients doing e-commerce transactions with us already have various payment methods available, such as capturing card details, using Scan to Pay online, instant EFT Solutions, and more.
“But because the BNPL market is growing so rapidly, and consumers are starting to expect it, we wanted to be able to also offer this option to our clients,” the Chief Commercial Officer at EFT Corporation, Ms Catherine Korsten, stated.
“Happy Pay’s model has been tailored to meet local needs, aligning with monthly income cycles in South Africa.
“This allows consumers to make purchases and split the cost over two interest-free payments scheduled around their personal paydays – without the need for upfront deposits. It is a transparent, fee-free alternative to traditional credit, and one that resonates with the realities of South African consumers,” Ms Korsten added.
The chief executive of Happy Pay, Mr Wesley Billett, said, “Buy Now, Pay Later, when designed correctly, can help bridge the financial inclusion gap by offering a genuine alternative to high-interest retail credit and payday loans. Traditional credit models rely on outdated scoring and charge consumers heavily just to access credit.
“At Happy Pay, we flip that model. We use realtime affordability data to offer cost-free instalments to consumers, funded by the value we deliver to merchants through increased conversion, higher basket sizes, and new customer acquisition.”
“This approach allows us to offer cost-free instalments, helping consumers avoid debt spirals while giving merchants a powerful growth tool. It is a more inclusive and sustainable model for consumer finance, one that saves South African households millions in interest and fees each year,” he added.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Canal+ Africa, Mr David Mignot, has disclosed that MultiChoice is now fully integrated into the media group.
Mr Mignot disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday, noting that this development marks a new phase in the evolution of one of Africa’s leading pay television operators.
He noted that the integration positions MultiChoice within a global media organisation with an extensive international footprint.
“MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries. The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries,” Mr Mignot said.
The statement underscores the scale of the combined business, highlighting Canal+’s global reach alongside its significant investments across Africa.
The completion of the transaction is expected to strengthen MultiChoice’s position in the African media and entertainment market by giving it access to the broader resources, expertise and international capabilities of the Canal+ Group, while reinforcing the group’s commitment to the continent.
MultiChoice operates across sub-Saharan Africa through platforms including DStv and GOtv, serving millions of subscribers with entertainment, sports and news content.
By Adedapo Adesanya
FoodCourt, a Nigerian cloud kitchen startup backed by Y Combinator, has suspended operations after months of unpaid salaries and mounting debts to vendors triggered a staff strike and forced the company to halt customer orders, according to a report by TechCabal.
The publication reported that customers first noticed on March 4 that they could no longer place orders through the FoodCourt app after the company disabled ordering as kitchen workers, delivery personnel and branch staff embarked on strike over unpaid wages. The company also owed outstanding payments to vendors.
By April 19, FoodCourt had temporarily shut its last operating branch after suspending activities across its Lagos and Abuja locations while seeking fresh funding and restructuring the business, according to the report.
The company’s chief executive, Mr Henry Nneji, said the decision to pause operations was not caused by a single issue but by a combination of operational, organisational and working-capital challenges.
“It’s important to clarify that the decision to pause operations wasn’t driven by one single issue. We reached a point where it became clear that continuing to patch those issues while operating wasn’t the right long-term decision,” he said.
“The objective is to build a stronger business than the one that existed before the suspension. We fully intend to bring FoodCourt back,” he added in an emailed response.
The company acknowledged outstanding obligations to employees, vendors, riders and service providers, but declined to disclose the number of affected workers or the total amount owed. It said efforts were underway to resolve the liabilities as part of its restructuring process.
It was also reported that the startup’s financial difficulties worsened after expansion into additional locations increased operating costs, while its cloud kitchen model came under pressure from rising labour, logistics, food and marketing expenses.
Despite the shutdown, Mr Nneji said FoodCourt intends to relaunch after completing its restructuring, adding that the company believes demand for its products remains strong.
Founded in 2021 by Henry Nneji and Paul Adokiye Iruene, FoodCourt operates cloud kitchens under multiple virtual restaurant brands through its consumer app. According to TechCabal, the startup had previously disclosed raising $1.7 million, delivering more than one million meals and reaching $4.3 million in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2024.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To further reinforce its commitment to continuous enhancement of customer experience through menu innovation and quality improvements, Chicken Republic, Nigeria’s leading quick-service restaurant brand and a flagship brand of Food Concepts Plc, has improved its Smokey Jollof recipe across restaurants nationwide.
As a customer-centric brand, Chicken Republic regularly evaluates consumer feedback, dining trends, and product performance to ensure its menu continues to deliver the quality and value to which customers have become accustomed.
The updated Smokey Jollof is part of this ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
The refreshed recipe represents the latest evolution of one of the brand’s most popular offerings.
Developed with a focus on richer flavour, greater consistency and an even more satisfying eating experience, the improved Smokey Jollof reflects Chicken Republic’s dedication to meeting the evolving tastes and expectations of its customers.
“At Chicken Republic, our customers are at the heart of every decision we make. We are constantly listening, learning and looking for ways to improve the experience we deliver.
“The improved Smokey Jollof is a reflection of that commitment. We’ve refined the recipe to deliver an even richer, more enjoyable taste experience while maintaining the flavour profile our customers know and love,” the Managing Director of Food Concept, Mr Olumide Aniyikaiye, stated.
“Great brands evolve with their consumers. This update is not about changing what people love, but about making it even better.
“We are confident that customers will enjoy the improved recipe and appreciate the attention we continue to invest in delivering quality meals every day,” Mr Aniyokaiye added.
The improved Smokey Jollof is now available at Chicken Republic outlets nationwide, allowing customers to experience a more flavourful and consistent version of a fan-favourite menu item.
This latest enhancement underscores Chicken Republic’s broader commitment to innovation, quality and creating memorable meal experiences for customers across Nigeria.
