Makro Expands Footprint with 23rd Store in Gonubie, Eastern Cape

Massmart’s Makro is set to open its 23rd store on the 23rd of April, this time in Gonubie, East London. This is the first time Makro is opening a new store since 2019, and this expansion brings the retailer’s signature value, selection, and convenience to a thriving local business hub known for its family-friendly atmosphere

JYSK Opens in Morocco Marking First Entry in Africa

JYSK opens the first two stores in Casablanca, Morocco. The opening not only establishes JYSK’s presence in Africa but also marks a significant milestone as the company expands into its 50th country. JYSK has officially entered Africa, marking a new chapter in the Danish home furnishing company’s international expansion as the first two stores open

South Africa’s Vida e Caffè to Open In-Store Cafès at SPAR Convenience Stores

The Cape Town-based coffee chain will roll out fully staffed concession stores across selected sites within the convenience chain in South Africa. Vida e Caffè has unveiled a new partnership to open cafès within SPAR convenience stores in South Africa. Founded in Cape Town in 2001, Vida e Caffè is South Africa’s largest branded coffee

Pick n Pay Celebrates New Store Opening as Turnaround Takes Shape

Pick n Pay opened a new supermarket at Westown Square, a mixed-use development in Shongweni, KwaZulu-Natal. A Pick n Pay Clothing and Liquor store will also open in the centre. The new store introduces key features that Pick n Pay is incorporating into its refreshed store format, aimed at enhancing the customer experience. These include

Retailability Sells Legit, Swagga, Style and Boardmans to Pepkor

Retailability Limited, a private owned retail group that specialises in affordable apparel and lifestyle products has entered into a transaction agreement with Pepkor who are seeking to expand their market share in adult wear. The transaction includes 462 stores that operate across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini. “This is a great deal for

Retailer’s Market Day Creates Unique Opportunity for Emerging Farmers 

Small-scale farmers from more than 60 community food gardens across Southern Africa will have a unique opportunity to sell their fresh, organically grown produce directly to customers at selected Shoprite and Checkers supermarkets at the retailer’s Market Day on 3 April 2025. By providing a direct route to market, Market Day helps emerging farmers generate an income, develop critical

Taco Bell Expands into South Africa as Part of Global Growth Strategy

Taco Bell has a plan to ignite international growth, expanding its global footprint from 1150 locations to more than 3000 restaurants outside the US by 2030. The brand plans to enter nine new countries including France, Greece and South Africa, and accelerate growth in its existing India, Australia, Spain and UK markets. The other six

Tiger Brands Boosts Sustainability of Township Enterprises

Two emerging black-owned enterprises have been assisted in growing their presence in the local township economy through Tiger Brands’ business support and market access initiative. Local start-up creative agencies, Bloodline and Barcode, are the recipients of a Tiger Brands Enterprise Supplier Development business support and mentorship package designed to help grow informal businesses into sustainable

FNB Expands Partnership With Pick n Pay, Naming It as eBucks’ Primary Retail Partner

FNB and Pick n Pay are proud to announce the expansion of their partnership to add more value for all their FNB and RMB Private Bank’s customers. The bank’s retail and commercial customers will all earn up to 30% of their spend back in eBucks when using Pick n Pay’s asap! on-demand delivery service, and up

Massmart Growth Summit Generates Interest From Suppliers Across Africa

Last month, retail group Massmart announced that it would be hosting its inaugural Growth Summit in partnership with parent company, Walmart. The summit provides opportunity for Africa-based suppliers who manufacture, grow or assemble on the continent to connect directly with the appropriate Massmart buyers. Altogether, over 300 suppliers based in countries across the continent completed

Mall of Africa Achieves EDGE Advanced Certification for Sustainability

Attacq Limited (“Attacq”), the JSE-listed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and strategic development partner of Waterfall City, proudly announces that its flagship retail asset, Mall of Africa, has achieved the prestigious Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) Advanced Certification. This milestone, achieved through ongoing collaboration with Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (Nedbank CIB), makes

KAL Group Delivers Promising Quarterly Performance

KAL Group, one of South Africa’s leading agri, fuel & convenience speciality retailers listed on the JSE, has delivered a solid start to the first three months of the 2025 financial year (Q1 or this period), and, encouraged by green shoots emerging in the operating environment, is cautiously optimistic about the 2025 outlook. “Our streamlined

Highlighting SPAR Brand Growth Across Africa

The SPAR brand is present across more than 48 countries with over 14,000 stores operating worldwide. On the African continent, new store openings in various formats across Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and South Africa reflect how local retailers continue to meet the needs of their customers. SPAR South AfricaIn mid-December, the SUPERSPAR Supermarket Mondlo celebrated its grand

UK’s Pret A Manger to make South Africa debut in February 2025

UK coffee and food-to-go chain Pret A Manger will make its South Africa debut on 14 February 2025 with an outlet in Johannesburg’s up-market Melrose Arch neighbourhood. Pret, which signed a licensing agreement with private equity firm Millat Group in February 2024, said the upcoming launch marks a significant milestone in its international expansion and

Engen Pumps More Convenience with pudo Partnership

Engen is excited to announce a partnership with pudo, South Africa’s innovative smart locker and courier solution provider; a collaboration that aligns with Engen’s commitment to delivering smarter solutions, differentiated products, and unparalleled convenience for its valued customers. Pudo, short for pick up drop off, is transforming the courier industry with its growing network of smart

ZURU Revolutionises Toy Retail With Bold In-Store Branding Across Leading South African Retailers

ZURU is reshaping the South African toy retail landscape with its innovative in-store branding across major outlets such as Checkers, Toys R Us, and Toy Kingdom. This strategic move highlights ZURU’s commitment to creating visually impactful spaces within retail environments, driving shopper engagement, and enhancing the customer experience. “We are thrilled to be the first

Pick n Pay South Africa Posts Wider Loss but Sees Recovery Ahead

Pick n Pay

Pick n Pay, South Africa opens a new tab. On Monday, it reported a wider half-year loss, reflecting trading losses in its core supermarket business alongside higher borrowing costs. Still, it said its full-year performance would be stronger. The country’s third-biggest grocery retailer reported a loss before tax and capital items of 1.1 billion rand

Pick n Pay Delivers Early Momentum on Its Turnaround Plan

Pick n Pay

Pick n Pay’s turnaround strategy is gaining momentum, showing strong progress across key initiatives, including solid performance from Boxer and improved results in Pick n Pay supermarkets. The Group’s interim results, published today, highlight significant sales growth in Pick n Pay Clothing and Pick n Pay Online. As anticipated, the first six months of FY25

Float: Credit Card Holders in South Africa Reveal Shopping Trends

Float

Float, Africa’s first card-linked instalment platform has unveiled the latest shopping trends among credit card holders using its payment method. With an impressive average order value of close to R10,000, order values through the platform significantly exceeds those of the regular buy now pay later model, which typically ranges between R1,000 and R1,400. The latest

Trade Intelligence: Mid-Year Insights on SA’s Grocery Retailers

Trade Intelligence

Trade Intelligence’s bi-annual Corporate Retail Comparative Report (CRCR) offers a detailed analysis of the comparative performance of South Africa’s six major grocery retail companies – Shoprite Holdings, The SPAR Group, Pick n Pay Stores, Woolworths Holdings, Clicks Group, and Dis-Chem Pharmacies. This second edition for 2024 covers the reporting period of the first half of

NakedCherry Expands to Cape Town: New Franchise Store at V&A Waterfront

NakedCherry is excited to announce the opening of its newest franchise store in the vibrant V&A Waterfront, located at The Pavilion, Corner Portswood and Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001. This expansion marks a significant milestone in NakedCherry’s mission to deliver high-quality beauty and skincare products across South Africa and beyond. Known

Trade Intelligence Retail Conference 2024 – Bringing the Industry Together in Challenging Times

Trade Intelligence

Trade Intelligence (Ti) marked its 20th anniversary by hosting the annual Ti Retail Conference on the 12th of September. With an impressive lineup of speakers and panellists, the conference once again demonstrated Ti’s role in bringing the industry together, offering practical insights and creating a space for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Four key themes emerged

Gen AI: Easing the Burden of Consumer Decision-Making – Accenture

By Junaid Kleinschmidt, digital marketing strategy and intelligence lead for Accenture, Africa The South African retail landscape is contending with a range of challenges, such as high unemployment, severe inflation, shrinkflation, and the lingering effects of Covid-19. These pressures have transformed consumer expectations and added layers of complexity to their shopping decisions. Retailers must now

South African Retailers Have Arrived at an E-commerce Crossroads

South African Retailers

South Africa’s e-commerce landscape has arrived at an important juncture. The explosive growth observed during the pandemic years has slowed down somewhat and consumer spending power has faltered amid low economic growth and a global cost of living crisis. At the same time, competition is heating up. Asian retailers such as Shein and Temu are

LG Electronics SA Launches Online Store, Redefining Digital Shopping

LG Electronics

LG Electronics South Africa recently took a giant leap into the future of shopping with their online store which will forever change how South Africans buy their favourite tech. This is not just another e-commerce site—it is a bold move, changing the digital landscape and marking a new chapter in LG’s South African journey, says

The Enduring Power of Sa’s Independent Grocery Trade – Trade Intelligence

New research underscores the enduring strength and intricate dynamics of South Africa’s independent grocery trade, from big wholesalers to spazas, thriving amid two decades of retail shifts. When retail research business Trade Intelligence was founded in 2004, the formal grocery retail space was dominated by the ‘Big Six’ – Pick n Pay, Shoprite, SPAR, Woolworths,

“Tu-Sort Garage NA Shell Lubricants” Promotion Empowers Mechanics Countrywide

Tu-sort Garage na Shell Lubricants is a countrywide promotion that is empowering garage owners and mechanics by rewarding them with an upgrade of tools at their locations to elevate their workspace and educate them on genuine Shell Lubricants. The mechanics and garage owners can register by dialing 459200# and following the prompts to participate in

Engen Celebrates 700th Quickshop & Co Milestone

Engen, South Africa’s biggest fuel and convenience retailer, opened its 700th Quickshop & Co store at Engen Summit Convenience Centre in Midrand on 1st August 2024. Located at 386 Olifantsfontein Rd, Engen Summit is designed to serve the early risers, the late-night cravers and the busy bees navigating life’s hectic schedules. Operating 24/7, the site’s

bpSA Redefines Convenience to Meet Customer Needs With New Retail Initiatives

bp Southern Africa (bpSA) has announced three initiatives in response to market demands – a revamped store design and offer, an inhouse loyalty programme as well as a low carbon battery rental service “Our investment in new convenience offerings, in the year bpSA celebrates 100 years of doing business in South Africa, is testament to

SPAR Zimbabwe Monthly Clean-Ups Continue to Be a Success

On the first Friday of each month, SPAR Zimbabwe retailers take part in a clean-up in their local communities. This initiative further engrains SPAR Zimbabwe’s roots in the local community. Monthly clean-upSPAR Supermarkets take part in this clean-up alongside other stakeholders over a period of two hours. As well as keeping the local community clean,

Women in Wine Launches Exclusive Range at Shoprite

Founded by 20 professional black women from diverse backgrounds in viticulture, Women in Wine marks a shift in the traditionally male-dominated wine industry, committed to opening doors for women, including vineyard workers and their families. Advocating for women’s inclusion in leadership roles, Women in Wine have established the Farm Worker Women’s Trust, collaborating with strategic

Makro Doubles Comparable Online Grocery Essentials Sales

As the pace of digital adoption increases in our country, more and more South Africans are browsing and shopping online to ensure they get the best prices. In light of this rise in comparative shopping behaviour and the current challenging consumer environment, Makro has redoubled its efforts to help customers save money so they can

Forging a New Path Under the Agrimark Banner

In October 2024, Forge stores, operating in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), are changing to Agrimark, a move which promises exciting opportunities for both customers and communities. This change is part of Agrimark’s strategic drive to create a unified brand identity across all regions, integrating the KZN branches with Agrimark. “Forge and Agrimark share a similar product range

Massmart Launches ECONO Samp in Continued Drive to Help Customers Save Money

The cost of living remains challenging for South African consumers many of whom are hard pressed to meet monthly expenses for basic food items. This situation is typically exacerbated in winter where people need to consume more calories. Consistent with its objective to ‘help customers to save money and live better’, Massmart continues its drive

Africa Is Leapfrogging Into the Future of Retail – Africa Business

The bi-annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), which is a study of the global retailing landscape has revealed Africa is poised to move away from traditional retail models and become the fastest-growing, richest, and most sophisticated market in the world. Prashaen Reddy, a partner at management consulting firm Kearney says that this is thanks to

POS Versus POS: Selecting the Right Solution Is Far More Complex Than Chasing the Cheapest – redPanda Software

By Peter Ludi, Business Development Executive at redPanda Software A point of sale, commonly referred to as POS, is a vital cornerstone of any retail business, regardless of whether it sells products or services. However, a misunderstanding of the definition of POS sees many small and medium-sized retailers fall into the trap of buying a

Redefining the Retail Strategy Through Store Reinvention – Accenture

By Lauren Samaai, senior manager within the Retail business at Accenture, Africa It was just four years ago during the pandemic – with consumers restricted to their homes and mall doors tightly shut, that online commerce began its unprecedented rise. This phenomenon left retailers thinking about the role of the actual store moving forward. Today,

SHEIN Showroom: The First Offline Pop-up Debuts in South Africa

SHEIN, the global online fashion and lifestyle powerhouse, is thrilled to announce the launch of its first-ever pop-up store in South Africa. Set to take place from 2 – 11 August 2024, at the prestigious Johannesburg Mall of Africa, this ten-day event promises an interactive experience for fashion enthusiasts and casual shoppers alike. Drawing inspiration

Shift to Omnichannel Payments in Retail to Drive Efficiencies and Enhance CX – Ecentric Payment Systems

By Quintin van der Linde, Head of Business Development & Don Lange, Partner Manager at Ecentric Payment Systems Even as more retailers turn to setting up online storefronts to extend their presence and cater to shoppers looking for convenience, the majority of South Africans still prefer to shop at physical stores, and retailers are looking

Retail and Wholesale Sector Faces Growing Business Interruption Risks, Allianz Risk Barometer Reveals

Business interruption is the primary concern for the retail and wholesale sector in 2024, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer. It is followed by Natural catastrophes (31%), Cyber incidents (25%), Fire, explosion, and Macroeconomic developments (both with 20%). The report, based on insights from over 3,000 risk management professionals and business leaders, highlights the growing

Understanding SA’s Evolving Shoppers: A Call to Action for Brands and Retailers – Trade Intelligence

As shopper behaviours evolve, brands and retailers are working hard to catch up, using tools to connect with a new generation of increasingly demanding and informed shoppers. South African shoppers are not what they used to be. They’re tougher, savvier, and more in tune with what they are looking for. A combination of COVID and

The SPAR Group Launches ‘R1 Billion in Savings’ Promotion, a First in South African Retail

The rising cost of living is significantly straining South African consumers’ budgets, with food expenses alone exhausting approximately one-third of their income. In response, The SPAR Group has announced its ‘R1 Billion in Savings’ shopper promotion, exclusive to SPAR Rewards customers. Until 22 July, the promotion aims to provide significant financial relief to consumers struggling

Forecourt Retail Sector Growing Despite Declining Fuel Sales – Trade Intelligence

A new report by Trade Intelligence reveals a growing forecourt retail sector despite declining fuel sales. The report examines the forecourt retail market, key players and shoppers. As shoppers become increasingly time-pressured, convenience is a growing necessity, and South Africa’s forecourt stores have positioned themselves effectively to meet this need. Understanding the dynamics of this

How Pioneering Homegrown Platforms Are Still the Go-to Option for a Broad Cross-Section of South African Society – Amazon

With Amazon’s South African operations now up and running, the question on everybody’s lips is what the impact will be on homegrown online shopping platforms. The ecommerce giant has market capitalisation of more than a trillion US dollars, and there are fears it will crush local competitors. What some may not realise, however, is that

Liberty Two Degrees’ Retail Assets Continue to Deliver Sustainable Operational Performance

The current economic climate presents slowing growth, characterised by high inflationary pressure, increasing costs of property rates, the lack of delivery of basic utilities such as electricity and water, as well as consumer pressure. Notwithstanding the challenging environment, L2D’s assets continue to stand out. L2D’s retail assets delivered market leading trading performance, recording portfolio trading

Liberty Two Degrees’ Eastgate Shopping Centre Installs the Largest Registered Rooftop Installation in South Africa

Investing in solar power was a strategic decision taken by Liberty Two Degrees (L2D), as it provides a cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly means of generating electricity. L2D’s sustainability strategy includes the reduction of its reliance on the grid, which has improved operating efficiencies. L2D has made significant investments in renewable energy as part of

Massmart Early Leak Detection Technology Saves Approximately 15 Million Litres of Water in 2023

As the world celebrates World Environment Day, Massmart has shared its ongoing commitment to saving water in its operations. This is motivated by the fact that South Africa is a water scarce country where it is estimated that 70 million litres of clean drinking water are lost, each day, to leaking infrastructure. The group’s water

V&A Waterfront Marks World Environment Day at Its First Totally Recycled Commercial Building.

Picture this: More than 460 homes running on clean energy year-round. Buildings saving enough energy to power 2,500 homes. A community saving 200,000 litres of water a day, enough to meet the needs of 1,300 people. A place where residents’ reduced CO₂ emissions are equivalent to taking 6,600 cars off the road. In a world

Pick N Pay Looks Ahead to Restore Profitability in Its Supermarket Business

Following a disappointing full year performance for FY24, Pick n Pay CEO Sean Summers unveiled the new board-approved six-point strategy to restore the Group’s core Pick n Pay supermarket business to profitability. The Group delivered a weak FY24 result to 25 February 2024, driven by a substantial trading loss in the Pick n Pay business,

Astron Energy Signs New 10-Year Agreement With Leading Forecourt Store Offering Freshstop

Leading fuel company Astron Energy has signed a 10-year partnership extension agreement with one of South Africa’s leading forecourt retail brands, FreshStop. The deal sees Astron Energy, which operates a retail network of over 800 service stations in South Africa, continuing its 15-year journey with FreshStop, part of the Food Lover’s Market group of companies.