Global automotive manufacturer Nissan is gearing up to double production at its South African plant over the next five years. Managing director Mike Whitfield talks to Gay Sutton about driving up capacity at the plant and localising the supply chain.

Neil Morris, head of strategic planning at Yorkshire Building Society, explains how adopting a robust approach to strategic planning and M&A activity has enabled the mutual organisation to grow and prosper following the recent financial crisis.

Cooper Standard has announced plans for a new manufacturing facility in Craiova, Romania, further expanding its global automotive body sealing and fluid handling businesses.

Headquartered in Novi, Michigan, Cooper Standard is a global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry. Products include body sealing systems, fluid handling systems and anti-vibration systems.

For one South African retailer, a major shift in strategy has been the key to reviving its fortunes, enabling it to compete more effectively and ensuring long term sustainability.

Jeff Daniels looks at some of the innovative new ideas that a UAE airline is using to fuel rapid growth in business.

What do you do if you are an Arab prince whose most precious possession is a priceless racehorse scheduled to run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp? On the other hand, what if you are the logistics manager for Save the Children and you need to airlift vital supplies to somewhere in Africa? In either case, it’s a good chance that you’ll both be on the phone to the same people.

Development in Kenya is experiencing something of a bottleneck; but as Jeff Daniels learns, action to free up matters is now well in hand.

Uranium mining plays a significant role in the nuclear energy chain—and in Namibia, the Trekkopje uranium mine and desalination plant represent the largest direct foreign investment ever made in Namibia.

Managing director Paul Craig talks to Vincent Kielty about how a local Ghanaian company has forged a reputation for excellence in a challenging marketplace.

Sara Lee Corp has agreed to sell its North American dough business to Ralcorp Holdings for around $545 million.

The business had net sales of more than $300 million in the year ended July 2010.

Ralcorp’s CEO said the deal will enable the company to be a private leader in the $1.8 billion refrigerated dough category.

The business, which employs 700 people mainly in Texas and Georgia, will operate as part of the Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products division after the close of the transaction.

Premium Transmission Ltd, part of the Karan Thapar Group, has divested its automotive gear manufacturing division to Indsur Global Limited.

Indsur Global manufactures insulator castings for the automobile sector at its plant in Halol, India. The acquisition will provide Indsur Group with access to key customers and a strong platform for expansion.

Premium Transmission is a leading manufacturer of industrial gearboxes in India. The automotive gear manufacturing division in Aurangabad serves mainly three wheeler manufacturers in the country.