The Shoprite Group has once again claimed top honours at the 2025 South African Loyalty Awards, with its Xtra Savings programme named Best Retail Loyalty Programme of the Year for the fifth year running. Launched in 2019, Xtra Savings is South Africa’s largest rewards programme, with over 33.7 million members who saved R16.5 billion at
Pick n Pay has been reaffirmed its leadership in loyalty innovation by winning multiple accolades at the prestigious 2025 South African Loyalty Awards, including a top category win and several commendations across key campaign and data categories. The retailer’s wins reflect its deep commitment to delivering value-driven, customer-first loyalty experiences that resonate with millions of
Restaurant franchise group Spur Corporation increased headline earnings by 16.5% to R275 million for the year to June 2025 as the group’s market-leading brand portfolio delivered a strong trading performance in the weak consumer spending environment. The full year dividend was increased by 40.4%, to 299 cents per share, as the directors showed their confidence
As South African households continue to face rising living costs and make more intentional spending choices, retailers are urged to deliver meaningful value. Pick n Pay’s Price Palooza campaign supports this notion, reinforcing how loyalty programmes are helping customers stretch their budgets through discounts, rewards, and a little excitement at the till. The campaign aligns with recent
The Shoprite Group has been added to Absa’s Rewards programme to bring additional rewards to even more South African shoppers. During the launch phase from 16 August 2025, Absa Rewards members who pay with qualifying debit or credit cards will earn up to 60% cash back when shopping at Shoprite, Checkers, Checkers Hyper, LiquorShop, or
From FNB to Absa, TymeBank to Standard Bank, and now Capitec, Pick n Pay continues to unite South Africa’s leading banks under one roof, giving customers unmatched convenience when managing their money while they shop. With the addition of Capitec cash deposits at Pick n Pay tills, now empowers all banked customers to deposit cash,
Africa’s biggest bank and Africa’s biggest retailer is expanding its UCount Rewards partnership after just three months, to also include Petshop Science, the country’s fastest growing pet retail business. Customers can now unlock up to 30% back in Standard Bank UCount Rewards points on the wide range of treats, toys and specialised pet food available
By Gavin Lomberg, Chief Commercial Officer, RCS South Africa’s retail sector was undoubtedly one of the hardest hit by the onset of COVID-19. Lockdown regulations, reduced trading hours and the sudden, unexpected limitation of face-to-face contact required retailers to rethink the rules, in unprecedented circumstances. The industry saw retailers entering new product territories, pivoting their
Global research over more than two decades by institutions such as MasterCard, Visa, The World Bank, commercial banks and mobile network operators (MNOs) affirms that the most powerful tool to drive revenue and impact is to connect consumers, merchants, banks and brands to drive financial inclusion and deep customer engagement, and ultimately maximise value for
More than 25 million South African consumers saved a combined R7 billion on their grocery bills during the past six months (July to December 2022) through the Xtra Savings programme at Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets. It has contributed to fending off soaring living costs with Xtra Savings members swiping their rewards cards over 238 million times to benefit from
As we enter 2023, it seems the year will not be any easier for South African retailers or consumers than 2021 and 2022. Fitch forecasts that real household spending will decelerate in line with a wider economic slowdown, while higher inflation and interest rates will provide headwinds for the economy. Volatile exchange rates, continued electricity shortages and high
By Darijan Bošković, Sales Director: Africa at Infobip The African continent is widely considered retail’s next big gold rush, based on its population of 1.4 billion people, which includes more than 500 million internet users and over 330 million eCommerce consumers. Additionally, with 19 of the top 20 fastest-growing countries in the world, the continent’s
Pick n Pay Home offers new and exclusive online-only products and customers get an impressive new Smart Shopper benefit Customers across South Africa will now be able to shop online at a brand-new Pick n Pay Home shop for a range of exciting new products that will only be available online. The new online shop will be
Group turnover increased by 6.0% to R39.6 billion, with headline earnings per share increasing by 33.5% Adjusting for the financial impact of the KwaZulu-Natal civil unrest and related insurance payments received by the group, headline earnings from continuing operations grew by 11.9%. The group generated cash inflows from operations of R4.3 billion and the return
Makro mRewards partners with Standard Bank UCount Rewards & Caltex to ease the fuel burden. As of 16 September 2022, Makro, one of South Africa’s longest standing retailers will offer its mRewards members up to R10* back in Rewards Points per litre of fuel and oil at participating Caltex forecourts around the country. According to
South Africa’s business, government and NGO leaders came together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet (MySchool), Woolworths innovative, multiple award-winning community loyalty and corporate social responsibility programme. The programme has provided support of around R934 million to more than 8 000 schools and NGO beneficiaries across the country, who have benefited from
The popularity of rewards programs among South Africans remains high, as many consumers continue to seek ways to stretch their pockets, and find ways to make the most out of their everyday purchases. As a result of this popularity, more and more South African brands are including rewards as part of their customer relations strategy.
The impact that online – in all its facets – has on offline sales is much greater than perceived This year the fourth 2022 South African Digital Customer Experience Report reveals the phenomenal impact that the combination of social selling, reviews and online browsing – in all of its facets – has on offline sales:
OneDayOnly, South Africa’s biggest daily deals site, has just launched a brand new advertising campaign. “12 years ago, we started OneDayOnly with the mantra that every day was an opportunity to make someone feel like a big deal – bringing great deals on great brands to South Africans, every day”, Laurian Venter, Managing Director of
The overwhelming success of loyalty programmes amongst South Africa’s big retailers has encouraged many mid-tier brands to roll out their own offerings. While these can only help to attract and retain customers, many are missing out on the benefits of running the built-in loyalty programmes offered by QR payment platforms in tandem with their own.
A loyal customer base is good for business. But how do you ensure customer loyalty and how can you both retain and grow your customer base? According to numerous studies and insights, one of the most valuable investments your company can make in terms of both retaining and gaining customers is to have an effective
SPAR is working with a preferred tech partner, Spaaza, in a strategic partnership which will see the company support the retailer internationally with the development of the next generation of SPAR’s personalised loyalty and savings platform. Strategic Partnership Spaaza, an independent tech company based in Amsterdam, offers a powerful personalised loyalty solution that will help
As the pandemic shifted the retail landscape and pre-pandemic trends accelerated, new consumer behaviours evolved and market share see-sawed precariously. So to, loyalty benefit programs were placed centre stage as retailers had to examine the relevance thereof and how to innovatively retain and grow their relationship with customers. It’s been said that customer satisfaction is
Through its popular UCount Rewards programme, Standard Bank managed to put money back into the pockets of its customers over the 2021 year-end spending period, helping to stretch the holiday budgets of millions of South African consumers amid a challenging economic environment. Fayelizabeth Foster, Head of Loyalty and Rewards at Standard Bank South Africa, says
The Shoprite Group’s Xtra Savings rewards programmes have scooped three awards at the 2021 South African Loyalty Awards, with both the Shoprite and Checkers brands recognised. Checkers won Best Programme of the Year in the retail sector while Shoprite won Best Programme of the Year among newcomers. Checkers also won the award for Best Strategic Use of
As we near the festive season, Standard Bank is excited to announce that UCount Rewards members can now earn and redeem Rewards Points from more Rewards Retailers. This expansion of the Rewards Retailers is part of the bank’s key objective to give customers an array of retail choices aligned to their needs. The Standard Bank
Clickatell, a leader in mobile communications and chat commerce, has been selected by leading African retailer Pick n Pay to manage their WhatsApp customer communication channel. Customers can easily access Pick n Pay services by sending “Hi” to +27 60 070 3037. The easy to navigate menu then allows shoppers to choose which action they
Checkers has announced the coming together of two award winning tech innovations, Checkers Sixty60 and the Xtra Savings rewards programme. Thousands of Xtra Savings deals are now available on the Sixty60 app for home delivery nationwide. “Customers have been asking us to offer all of the Xtra Savings deals they love in our stores on
Xtra Savings members can now transact using their Xtra Savings cards following a significant update to the Shoprite Group’s Money Market Account. The Money Market Account, which has attracted 530 000 users since it launched just over a year ago, now provides customers with transactional banking functionalities, including sending money and making withdrawals. “The development
South Africa’s most loved and awarded retail loyalty programme, Pick n Pay Smart Shopper, is celebrating its loyal members as the programme marks its 10th anniversary by offering them a share of more than R1 billion in rewards over the next few weeks. Pick n Pay Smart Shopper was introduced in 2011 and offered members
Loyalty programme teams up with LIFT Airline to offer passengers added benefits Pick n Pay Smart Shopper loyalty members have another way of earning loyalty points, this time on all their travel bookings with South Africa’s newest flexible airline, LIFT. Smart Shopper members who book a LIFT flight online or in-store at any Pick n
A new era of loyalty for retailers, SMEs, and consumers. South Africa has a well-established retail loyalty scene, with over 70% of consumers belonging to at least one programme – according to Truth & BrandMapp’s annual white paper – but recent numbers show that this is declining year-on-year. Research shows that participants want the rewards
The Hollard Insurance Group, one of South Africa’s largest insurers, has partnered with TymeBank, the leading South African digital bank, to offer South Africans Family Protect, a funeral cover that provides a three-month income benefit for living expenses, with no delay or paperwork. The partnership leverages TymeBank’s superior banking platform technology and Pick n Pay’s
With growing trends in digital evolution, personalisation and having a socio-economic impact, financial services cards and payment solutions have to evolve beyond swipes and complicated rewards. Iemas Financial Services has been in the game for over 80 years and has grown into the largest financial services co-operative in South Africa. One of Iemas’ flagship products
The Shoprite Group will be the first supermarket retailer to offer an OUTbonus, following a partnership between Africa’s largest food retailer and OUTsurance, to bring consumers more accessible and affordable insurance products. A very competitively-priced funeral policy is the first product to launch under this new partnership, with numerous additional offerings in the pipeline. The
Lessons to be learned from top SA-csi performers 2020 looks set to be an epic fight for survival as numerous socio-economic factors come into play that will further challenge businesses and their ability to achieve greater levels of customer satisfaction in a bid to retain and grow their customer base – from a looming recession,
Vivo Energy Uganda has today announced the introduction of a pioneering nationwide customer loyalty programme, designed by Shell, called the Shell Club. The user-friendly platform will enable customers to earn and accumulate points for all their purchases at Shell service stations, which can be converted into rewards. Speaking at the launch, Vivo Energy Uganda’s Managing
Checkers has signed up the millionth customer to its new Xtra Savings programme, just a week following its launch on Monday 14 October. The Checkers Xtra Savings card is helping consumers to make huge savings in tough economic times and discounts are clearly marked in store. Some of the incredible offers currently available include: 750ml
Toy retailer also set to open new store at Festival Plaza later this year and unveils the must-have toys this holiday season As part of its commitment to provide customers a better shopping experience, Toys “R” Us today announced that it has fully implemented its Scan & Go feature across all 13 stores in the
The wait is over – Checkers Xtra Savings is here! Africa’s largest supermarket group has introduced its latest initiative that shows their loyalty to customers, and not the other way round. There are no Points. No Tiers. No Levels. Just instant cash savings on your groceries and drinks. Partnering with SA’s biggest brands, Checkers Xtra
An effective strategy for responding to online reviews is good for business and can help companies enhance their reputation and improve operations. Consumers are increasingly using online reviews as their primary source of recommendations for goods and services. Engaging effectively with online reviews is an important way for companies to improve relationships and customer loyalty
MACMobile, an innovator of niche mobile technology solutions for the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, has launched its new FIELDPromote app which revolutionises the last mile of customer loyalty. FIELDPromote offers a complete, intelligent solution for managing activations from conception to execution and beyond, to ensure maximum return on promotional spend. It can be deployed
Over 7 800 of Clicks Group employees will share in a R1.5 billion payment that has been created through the Group’s employee share ownership scheme (ESOP). This is in addition to the R1.3 billion already paid out under the scheme to beneficiaries in 2018. Vikesh Ramsunder, CEO of Clicks Group, says that this is the
Loyalty members of Pick n Pay Smart Shopper will soon be able to earn points when they refuel at BP service stations. This means that customers can soon earn points both at the pump and in BP’s forecourt Pick n Pay Express convenience store. Expected to launch later this year, the extended partnership between Pick
