Reena Das Nair

University of Johannesburg

Reena Das Nair is Associate Professor and Acting Director at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Reena has worked for specialist economic consultancy Acacia Economics offering expertise in competition and regulatory economics. Prior to joining CCRED, Reena was Programme Manager: Industrial Policy at Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), a not-for-profit research organisation undertaking research for policy makers. Before TIPS, she worked as Principal Economist at the Competition Commission of South Africa. She has extensive experience in undertaking investigations and economic analysis in mergers, abuse of dominance and cartel cases. Reena holds a PhD (Economics) from the University of Johannesburg and a MCom (Economics) from the University of the Witwatersrand. She has published widely, including in the International Review of Applied Economics, Development Southern Africa and the Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, and has authored and co-authored chapters in Edward Elgar Publishing, HSRC Press, Wits University Press and Jacana Media book publications. Reena also provides training and capacity building for regulators and competition law and economics professionals in Southern and East Africa. Her areas of research interest include competition dynamics in the grocery retail sector, food value chains and regional value chains, with a focus on barriers to entry for small and medium-sized and women-owned enterprises, and alternative routes to market in food systems.

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2023
Reena Das Nair and Nwabisa Nontenja

Digital Technology Adoption in Agro-processing Value Chains

The adoption and use of digital technologies in the supply chains of large and lead firms has the potential to increase the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) along food value chains in various ways. At the primary level of food value chains, better traceability through digit...

Publication / Working Paper

2023
Reena Das Nair and Shingie Chisoro

Participation of SMEs and women-owned businesses in the South African wine value chain

Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) and women-owned businesses are recognised as important contributors to South Africa’s economic growth, employment, and structural transformation objectives. In South Africa, SMEs are estimated to account for around 98.5% of all businesses (in number term...

Publication / Working Paper

2020
Reena Das Nair and Shingie Chisoro

Confronting entry barriers in South Africa’s grocery retail sector

Extensive urbanisation along with the associated demand for increased convenience has spurred the demand for fresh food, processed food and household products sold through supermarket chains. From a consumer perspective, supermarkets offer a convenient ‘one-stop-shopping’ experience that can gre...

Publication / Book chapter

2020
Reena Das Nair and Namhla Landani

The role of supermarket chains in developing food, other fast-moving consumer goods and consumer goods suppliers in regional markets

Supermarkets are strong catalysts to stimulate the growth and development of producers and suppliers of processed food and manufactured products in Southern Africa. This paper assesses the role of supermarkets and governments in developing supplier capabilities through supplier development programme...

Publication / Working Paper

2020
Reena Das Nair and Namhla Landani

New approaches to supermarket supplier development programmes in Southern Africa

Supermarkets are strong catalysts to stimulate the growth and development of suppliers of processed food and manufactured products in Southern Africa. This paper assesses the role of supermarkets and governments in developing supplier capabilities through supplier development programmes. In South Af...

Publication / Scientific paper

2020
Reena Das Nair and Namhla Landani

Making agricultural value chains more inclusive through technology and innovation

Some entry barriers in agricultural and agro-processing value chains, particularly for smallholder farmers and small/medium-sized processors, can be overcome with innovation and technology adoption. Technologies and innovation in these sectors have been both radical and incremental, ranging widely t...

Publication / Working Paper

2020
Reena Das Nair

The “supermarket revolution” in the South

This chapter evaluates the extent of 'supermarketisation' and internationalisation of supermarket chains and the implications on consumers, suppliers and the competitive landscape. While the degree of both supermarketisation and internationalisation has not been to the extent that was pred...

Publication / Book chapter

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