The Foschini Group (TFG), one of South Africa's largest fashion and lifestyle retailers, runs its African distribution centres on Manhattan warehouse management, implemented and supported by Supply Chain Junction (SCJ), Manhattan Associates' GeoPartner for Africa and the Middle East. TFG's growth, online and through acquisitions, keeps changing what the business needs from its DCs. The partnership keeps those DCs and the Manhattan system in step with these dynamic requirements, above all in omnichannel and e-commerce.
49.2%
Growth in TFG Africa's online sales, year to March 2026
10%
Online share of TFG Africa sales in the final quarter of that year
30+
Projects SCJ has delivered or started with TFG since 2022
Year-round
Support for TFG's Manhattan sites, including peak trading
Online figures: TFG results for the year ended 31 March 2026. TFG has around 40 brands and more than 4,900 outlets in 22 countries (same source).
Why omnichannel and e-commerce change the warehouse
TFG trades through stores and online, and its app, Bash, is a leading South African fashion and lifestyle shopping app. TFG Africa's online sales grew 49.2% in the year to March 2026 and reached 10% of sales in the final quarter. TFG has also grown by acquisition, bringing new brands and businesses into the group, each with its own ranges, channels and service expectations.
For the DCs, that means many more small orders shipped to homes, more returns coming back, sharper peaks, and new businesses to bring onto the network. Each of those changes lands in the warehouse management system.
Key focus and optimisation areas
- Omnichannel fulfilment. Serving stores and online customers from the same DCs and the same stock.
- E-commerce capacity. Handling a fast-growing volume of small online orders without slowing deliveries to stores.
- RFID. RFID has been critical to TFG's DCs. RFID receiving integrates directly with Manhattan, so stock is captured quickly and accurately as it arrives.
- Automation. Manhattan working with automated equipment such as put walls and sortation, alongside RF-directed processes.
- Returns. Bringing online returns back into stock quickly, so returned items can be sold again sooner.
- Peak trading. Preparing for and supporting the busiest weeks of the year.
- Integrating new businesses. Bringing new brands and sites onto Manhattan as the group grows and acquires.
- Continuous improvement. Regular enhancement releases, alongside year-round support, so the system keeps pace with the operation.
How does TFG go live with a new site?
TFG uses what it calls scaled go-lives. It trains hard and manages the change hard at low volume, and adds volume only once operators are driving the building and the system well. Michael Rhategan, TFG's Head of Logistics, says this gets efficiencies and process compliance right almost from the start.
Why does TFG work with a local Manhattan partner?
Michael Rhategan's advice to other retailers is to choose a local partner, and to choose one that brings best practice into the business. He values having people on the ground who already know TFG, so new work starts quickly.
“Working with Supply Chain Junction and Manhattan over the many years has been, I think, a critical partnership that we've had, not only because you've got local people on the ground, but also you've got people in the business that understand your business.”
Michael Rhategan, Head of Logistics, The Foschini Group
Watch: Michael Rhategan on the partnership
The Foschini Group · Fashion and lifestyle retail · South Africa
Read the transcript
My name is Michael Rhategan. I'm Head of Logistics at TFG. TFG is a fashion retailer in South Africa, one of the largest in South Africa, which focuses primarily on bricks and mortar with a high component of e-commerce orders. I've been with TFG for 24 years now, and with Manhattan since 2008.
Back in 2008, we were locked into a custom-built WMS, which wasn't scalable and not agile at all. An upgrade path was incredibly painful, and we lacked the functionality to achieve some of our business objectives. At the time, we were mainly focused on flowing merchandise through our warehouses, so there was no replenishment to stores in any meaningful way, and certainly no ability to do e-commerce.
We looked at a number of solutions back in 2008, some of them not around anymore. At the time we felt that moving to Manhattan was the best choice, given that they brought best practice and good market share, and we were concerned about the sustainability of some of the other businesses. We did a scaled implementation at first in some of our Cape Town facilities. Replenishment-type operations were brand new to us, so we chose specific businesses to do that with, and all of them were highly successful.
Our business has evolved since 2008 over many iterations. In the last two years we have built three buildings and delivered three WMS go-lives, and all of them have been successful, but we've changed our approach. We do what we call scaled go-lives. We scale volume, we train hard, we change hard, and once we know the operators are driving the building and the system well, we add volume and scale to it. That way you get your efficiencies and your process compliance right almost from the beginning.
What's really exciting is SCJ's signing of the recent Manhattan Active with another client. It's our future. We need hands on the ground here locally to help us implement something in our future. We're also really excited about our big project this year, which puts significant benefits on our plate: rapid response times to the stores, better fulfilment costs, and managing our inventory together in one place with our stores.
Working with Supply Chain Junction and Manhattan over the many years has been, I think, a critical partnership that we've had, not only because you've got local people on the ground, but also you've got people in the business that understand your business. So the uptake time to start something new is quick, because they know our business and they know what we need.
In terms of recommending an approach to others: choose a local partner, it's important, and choose wisely, a partner that's going to bring best practice into your business. Sometimes you are a little bit stagnant in your thinking and your approach to things, and they have different experiences across the world because they're such a well-represented WMS business.
Frequently asked questions
Which warehouse management system does The Foschini Group use?
TFG runs its African distribution centres on Manhattan warehouse management, implemented and supported by Supply Chain Junction.
Who is TFG's Manhattan implementation partner?
Supply Chain Junction, Manhattan Associates' GeoPartner for Africa and the Middle East. SCJ has delivered or started more than 30 projects with TFG since 2022, alongside year-round support.
How does Manhattan support TFG's omnichannel and e-commerce fulfilment?
TFG's DCs serve stores and online customers from the same stock on Manhattan. SCJ works with TFG to keep that operation in step with growth, covering e-commerce capacity, returns, peak trading and new businesses joining the group.
What role does RFID play in TFG's distribution centres?
RFID has been critical to TFG's DCs. RFID receiving integrates directly with Manhattan, so stock is captured quickly and accurately as it arrives.
What is a scaled go-live?
It is TFG's approach to bringing a new site live: train hard and manage the change at low volume, then add volume once operators are driving the building and the system well.
How fast is TFG's online business growing?
TFG Africa's online sales grew 49.2% in the year to 31 March 2026 and reached 10% of sales in the final quarter, according to TFG's results for that year.
Talk to us about your warehouse
Supply Chain Junction is Manhattan Associates' GeoPartner for Africa and the Middle East, with over 90 implementations in the GCC and Africa and teams in South Africa, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. See how we implement Manhattan for retailers, get in touch or see more client results.
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