Since opening our first stores in 1979, Shoprite Holdings has had a bold vision for the future; a vision that would see the Group grow from strength to strength to become the leading food retailer we are today. 

We would like to share some our breakthroughs, milestones and achievements. 

 

BEING THE LARGEST SUPERMARKET RETAILER IN AFRICA

2024

  • The Shoprite Group was named Company of the Year at the News24 Business Awards in Cape Town on 14 March 2024. The award acknowledges the company's exceptional business growth, communication, transparency, and overall contribution to South Africa. CEO, Pieter Engelbrecht, said the award was a symbol of "ordinary people doing the extraordinary".

  • The Group reports double-digit growth with half year sales reaching R121.1 billion (increased by 13.9%) for the 26 weeks ended 31 December 2023, with diluted headline earnings per share (DHEPS) increasing by 7.6% to 621.4 cents.

2023

  • Checkers’ premium private label range, Forage and Feast, wins the coveted NielsenIQ BASES Breakthrough Innovation Award in the food category for 2023 (November 2023).
  • The Group is honoured for its transformative youth employment initiatives at the Youth Employment Service (YES)’s inaugural Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Awards in October.
  • The Shoprite Group reports sales increasing by 16.9% to R215.0 billion for the 52 weeks to 2 July 2023, with diluted headline earnings per share (DHEPS) increasing by 9.7%.
  • The Group opens its first clothing store in March at Canal Walk shopping centre in Cape Town. UNIQ clothing by Checkers is a standalone brand providing quality wardrobe basics.
  • Shoprite becomes the first retailer in South Africa to introduce an exclusive private label product range (called Homegrown) which is locally sourced from primarily small, medium and micro enterprises.
  • Shoprite Holdings launches a secondary listing on the A2X, while the Group’s main listing remains on the JSE Limited.
  • Red Star Wholesale and Catering Services (formerly known as Checkers Food Services) expands their offering to KwaZulu-Natal in March 2023, adding to their existing footprint in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
  • The Shoprite Foundation (the Group’s non-profit organisation) is established to empower communities through education and skills development, employees through the Shoprite Employee Trust, and develop SMMEs through ESD initiatives.

2022

  • The Shoprite Group has made another minority investment in a South African tech start-up, Omnisient, Africa’s first privacy-preserving data collaboration platform provider. 
  • To further assist suppliers with access to funding at affordable rates, the Group launches its new supply chain finance product, CredX in September 2022. 
  • The Shoprite Group reports sales increasing by 9.6% to (R184.1 billion) for the 52 weeks to 3 July 2022, with diluted headline earnings per share (DHEPS) increasing by 10.0%.
  • The Group’s joint venture agreement with RTT On Demand was finalised and Pingo Delivery (Pty) Ltd established. Pingo, the new on-demand delivery platform business, will provide a platform for last-mile logistics.  
  • In June 2022, the Group launched Shoprite Next Capital, a business division dedicated to the growth of small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
  • The Shoprite Group ranked first in the retail sector for data transparency in Environmental Social and Governance/Sustainability in the 2022 IRAS Sustainability Data Transparency Index (SDTI).
  • In May 2022, Shoprite Holdings announces an evergreen B-BBEE employee trust at its subsidiary Shoprite Checkers Proprietary Limited. 
  • The first Checkers Outdoor, the Group’s standalone outdoor store, opens in Hermanus in April. The brand specialises in camping and braai accessories, and high-tech gadgets for nature enthusiasts.
  • In the 2022 Deloitte Global Powers of Retailing survey, Shoprite Holdings Ltd. is listed as the largest retailer in the Africa/Middle East region, rising seven places to the 100th position in the global rankings.
  • The Group reports sales increasing by 10.0% to R91.1 billion for the 26 weeks ended 2 January 2022 with diluted headline earnings per share (DHEPS) increasing by 25.2% to 519.3 cents.

2021

  • Staying true to the customer-first culture, the Group identified opportunities in key segments to introduce new concept stores: Checkers Foods, a smaller format store focusing on convenience and fresh foods; Little Me, a standalone baby store for the parent-customers; and Petshop Science giving pet owners access to expert advice and products at supermarket prices.
  • The Shoprite Group launched a digital innovation hub, ShopriteX, which aims to grow and monetise its ecosystem of value for consumers by creating a seamless shopping experience. Its innovations include Xtra Savings rewards programmes, Checkers Sixty60, and South Africa’s first AI-driven concept store, Checkers Rush.
  • The Group reports sales increasing by 8.1% (to R168.0 billion) for the 53 weeks to 4 July 2021, with another year of South Africa market share gains as it adds R12.6 billion in sales, creates 3 897 jobs and pays a record dividend. 
  • In July 2021, the Group wins 2021 Employer of Choice in the retail category of the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) Employer Awards. 
  • Following the social and political unrest in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July 2021, the Group rapidly rebuilds and restocks damaged stores, asssisting with relief efforts, and sending mobile Usave eKasi truck stores into affected communities to ensure food security. 
  • The Group launches its own mobile network, k’nect mobile, in April 2021. 
  • Following continued reviews of its performance in African markets, the Group withdraws from Kenya in March 2021, and signals its exit from Uganda and Madagascar in August 2021.  
  • Shoprite supermarkets in Nigeria become franchise operations operated by Ketron Investments Limited following the Group's disposal of shareholding in Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited. 
  • Shoprite is ranked 107th and is the first listed South African supermarket listed in the Deloitte’s annual edition of Global Powers of Retailing which reviews 250 of the largest fastest-growing retailers worldwide.

2020

  • Wendy Lucas-Bull is appointed as the Independent Chairman of the Shoprite Holdings Board on 16 November 2020, following the retirement of longstanding Chairman Christo Wiese.  
  • The Group launched a precision retail media business, Rainmaker Media, which provides specialised and focused media service for Fast-Moving Customer Goods (FMCG) product supply partners.
  • Shoprite Xtra Savings Rewards is launched on 12 October 2020, a year after Checkers’ Xtra Savings Rewards was launched. 1 million shoppers sign up in the first 72 hours.  
  • The global COVID-19 pandemic requires the Group to find innovative ways to put customer safety first, leading to the launch of virtual grocery vouchers which can be sent directly to the recipient’s cell phone. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) use these vouchers to roll out food assistance at scale.  
  • The Group becomes the first South African food retailer to offer dynamic QR payments at tills in all Shoprite, Usave, Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores, allowing for contactless transactions.   
  • In partnership with OUTsurance, the Group is the first South African retailer to bring more accessible and affordable insurance products to its stores, launching a competitively priced funeral policy in March 2020.
  • The 2020 Deloitte Global Powers of Retailing report lists Shoprite in position 100.
A hand swiping the Shoprite xtra savings card. The Group launches the Shoprite Xtra Savings Rewards in 2022, a year after Checkers’ Xtra Savings Rewards was launched in 2019.
BEING THE LARGEST SUPERMARKET RETAILER IN AFRICA

2019

  • Shoprite Holdings turns 40 and is named the biggest South African retailer in the 2019 Deloitte Global Powers of Retail report. We are the only South African retailer listed in the top 100 and rank 86th in the world. 
  • The Group opens its first distribution centre in Gaborone, Botswana. Most of the 3 700m² space is occupied by Freshmark.
  • Entering the tech sphere and financial services market, the Group opens its first K’nect store in Delft, Cape Town, making it easier for customers to do global money transfers, cellphone purchases, bill payments and to buy tickets and insurance.
  • The Group launches its first rewards programme, Checkers Xtra Savings Rewards, giving customers access to cash savings and personalised offers. 
  • Showcasing more innovation in the Group, Checkers launches an on-demand one-hour grocery delivery service, Sixty60, in November – pioneering 60-minute grocery deliveries in South Africa.
  • To improve the Group’s operations and governance, we implement an enterprise resource planning IT system that allows real-time line of sight to integrate planning, supply chain management, sales and supporting activities, training, compliance and more across the entire business.
  • The July 2019 BrandHealth Tracker finds that 66% of grocery shoppers think of Shoprite first when they think about low prices.
  • Other accolades during 2019 include: Sunday Times/Sowetan Shopper Survey Grand Prix Award for Overall Best Retailer and Best Grocery Store, Winner of Sunday Times Top Brands in Best Grocery Store category, No. 1 Best Grocery Retailer category of Reader’s Choice Awards. 

2018

  • The Group establish a centralised command centre from which a specialist team of investigators, data and crime analysts, and law experts operate to protect its customers and employees by using technology, AI and a vast intelligence network.
  • The Group opens its first distribution centre in Lagos, Nigeria. The 4 700m² facility is the first property owned entirely by us in Nigeria. Most of the space is occupied by Freshmark, the Group’s fruit and vegetable procurement, buying and distribution arm.
  • In December, the Group opens its first Shoprite supermarket in Nairobi, Kenya, creating more than 200 new job opportunities. The Group withdraws from Kenya in 2021.
  • Shoprite Holdings hits the mark in the 2018 Deloitte Global Powers of Retail Report as the 94th biggest retail group in the world, leading the way at 62 places ahead of our nearest rival.
  • In trading, the Group increases its total turnover by 3.1% to R145.3 billion in the 12 months to 1 July 2018. A positive volume growth of 2.7% combined with a 3.3% increase in customer numbers as well as local market share gains continue to reflect a strong underlying performance. 
  • Awards in 2018 include: Sunday Times/Sowetan Shopper Survey Grand Prix Award for Overall Best Retailer, SAP Gold Award for Business Transformation for IS Retail Implementation, at the PETCO Awards, Zip Cola wins Recycled Product of the Year, winner of the Best Grocery Store category in Sunday Times Top Brands 2018, DSV’s Abacus Award for unlocking significant value in the Supply Chain, winner of the Best Grocery Store category in Sunday Times Top Brands.

2017

  • Pieter Engelbrecht becomes the second Chief Executive Officer in January, taking over from retail giant, Whitey Basson, who continued serving on the Board as Non-executive Vice Chairman until 25 October 2017.
  • The first Medirite opens in Maputo, Mozambique, further expanding the Group’s presence in the country.
  • The Group delivers industry-leading results for the 2017 financial year in spite of tough market conditions. Serving over 35 million individual customers on the African continent, the Group gained market-share and grew trading profit 11.6% (15.7%compared to 52 weeks) to R8 billion.
  • The Shoprite Group reports sales increasing by 16.8% to R106.3 billion for the 26 weeks ended 1 January 2023 with diluted headline earnings per share (DHEPS) increasing by 10.2% to 577.5 cents.
  • Red Star Wholesale and Catering Services (formerly known as Checkers Food Services) expands their offering to KwaZulu-Natal in March 2023, adding to their existing footprint in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
Shoprite Group CEO, Pieter Engelbrecht Pieter Engelbrecht becomes the second Chief Executive Officer of the Shoprite Group, taking over from Whitey Basson in 2017.

2016

  • Checkers launches first FreshX concept store with the opening of Checkers Hyper Mall of Africa on 26 April 2016.
  • Long-serving Chief Executive Officer, Whitey Basson retires at the end of this year.
  • To improve distribution processes, the Group begins construction of mega warehouses at Cilmor Distribution Centre in Brackenfell in the Western Cape. The distribution centre consists of three different sections: Ambient (operational in August 2017), Frozen and Chilled (operational in 2018) and a new Freshmark Chiller Warehouse covering 30 000m2 (operational August 2019). 
  • The Group achieves a milestone as we open our 30th Shoprite store in Zambia.
  • At the end of 2016’s financial year, surveys show that 76% of South Africa’s total adult population – more than 29 million customers – shops at one of our supermarket brands. 
  • We achieve a record one billion transactions in a single year (86 customers served per second) and reach a turnover of more than R130 billion.
  • In heed of South Africans’ call to provide financial assistance to communities left without water during one of the worst droughts in decades, the Group introduces a till point donation facility called the #ActForChange Disaster Relief Fund in March. This community initiative is launched in Shoprite and Checkers stores, allowing shoppers to add donations in increments of R5 to their purchases. 

 

The greens section of a Checkers Hyper supermarket. Checkers launches first FreshX concept store with the opening of Checkers Hyper Mall of Africa in 2016.

2015

  • We achieve a new record by opening 13 new supermarkets across Africa in the last week of October – 10 in a single day! 
  • Shoprite Holdings maintains its ranking as the largest retailer in Africa and the Middle East in the Deloitte’s Global Powers of Retailing survey. The Group is named the 107th largest retailer in the world, 41 paces ahead of our nearest rival.

2013

  • The Group ups the stakes in sustainable retailing as Checkers introduces the first plastic shopping bag in South Africa, produced from 100% recycled material.
  • We create a record 9 201 job opportunities during the year, emphasising our sustainable approach when it comes to the communities we serve.
  • Shoprite Holdings is ranked 11th in the 2013 SA Giants list in Financial Mail’s Top Companies, while Deloitte’s Global Powers of Retailing survey names us the largest retailer in Africa and the 93rd biggest in the world.

2012

  • In April, the Group becomes the first South African retailer to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with a new, world-class supermarket in Gombe, Kinshasa. The Group withdraws from the DRC at the end of 2022.
  • The Group moves up another three places in the Global Powers of Retailing list, to 92nd, while firmly maintaining its firstplace ranking in Africa and the Middle East.

2011

  • In March, the Group acquires the franchise division of Metcash Trading Africa (Pty) Ltd which includes trade names such as Friendly Grocer, 7-Eleven and Price Club Discount Supermarket. These 150 members are integrated into the Group’s OK Franchise Division, further expanding our retail footprint, growing the Group to 1 247 stores and 95 000 employees. 
  • The Group enters the hospitality and catering markets with the establishment of Checkers Food Services (CFS) – formerly known as Shoprite Food Services – a business-to-business brand delivering quality products at the lowest prices to the hospitality and catering industry.
  • Shoprite Holdings increases its global ranking to 95th (from 130th in the previous year) in Deloitte’s Global Powers of Retailing Survey.
BRAND DISTINCTION AND INVESTMENT IN SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES

2009

  • The Group becomes South Africa’s largest grocery chain by market value and is added to the Merrill Lynch & Co. list of most preferred stocks.
  • Transpharm, a pharmaceutical wholesale company, specialising in the wholesale and distribution of toiletries, specialist medical and surgical equipment, and veterinary and front shop items, is acquired.
  • Usave enters Botswana, further establishing the Group’s brand in this country.

2008

  • The Group is added to the JSE Top 40 index of blue chips, firmly establishing Shoprite Holdings as a nationally recognised and financially sound company. 

2007

The Shoprite Mobile Soup kitchen feeding a community. The Shoprite Group launched Shoprite Mobile Soup Kitchens in 2007, to serve and support communities countrywide.
 

2006

  • The Usave store format allows the Group to enter new markets more rapidly, with new stores opening in Lesotho and Mozambique.

2005

  • The Group seizes an opportunity to move into areas in the Western Cape in which we were previously under-represented by purchasing Foodworld, a retail chain mainly offering Halaal food. This adds 13 existing retail stores and four small wholesale outlets to our operations. 
  • Adding ticketing services to our offering, the Group acquires Computicket and Computicket Travel.
  • The Group enters the liquor industry and opens its first Shoprite LiquorShop. 
  • In December, the Group enters Nigeria, with a supermarket in a new shopping centre in Lagos.

2004

  • The Group starts a wholesale operation in India and franchises its first Shoprite Hyper in a modern shopping centre in Mumbai. We divest from the country in 2010 to focus on investment opportunities in commodity-rich countries in Western Africa.
  • Usave opens in Eswatini (Swaziland at the time), further establishing the Group’s presence in the country.

2003

  • Shoprite Holdings opens another secondary listing on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) with 2.7 million shares, at 4 200 Kwacha per share, while the Group’s main listing remains on the JSE Limited.
  • The Group opens its first Angolan store in Luanda.
  • With the rollout of the highly successful new Usave format, the Group enters Ghana in September, opening in Newton in the capital city of Accra.
  • The Group also opens a Usave in Lilongwe, Malawi.

2002

  • October of this year sees the continued African-growth of the Group with the acquisition of five supermarkets and a distribution centre from the French-owned supermarket group, Champion, in Madagascar. The Group discontinues its operations in Madagascar in 2021.
  • Expansion also takes place in Mauritius, with Shoprite Hyper Trianon opening in November. At the time, the store achieves the highest turnover ever recorded for a single opening day of trade. The Group withdraws from Mauritius in 2018, following a devastating fire at the Hyper.
  • The Group acquires Score Supermarkets’ Tanzanian operations comprising three supermarkets and a small distribution centre in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. These stores are, however, sold to regional retailer, Nakumatt, in 2014 to focus on investment opportunities elsewhere.
  • Shoprite Holdings launches a secondary listing on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX).

2001

  • The Group enters the North African market by opening the first of seven supermarkets in Egypt. We divest from Egypt in 2006 due to ongoing retailing restrictions. 
  • We also start operating in Malawi by opening a Shoprite in Lilongwe.
  • In the interest of the Group’s expansion into new markets, we decide to market the Shoprite and Checkers brands separately. Checkers is repositioned to compete in the middle-to-higher income market.
  • The first Usave opens its doors in Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape, in November. These small-format stores offer a limited range of basic foods at low prices to lower income consumers.

2000

  • The Group enters Zimbabwe in September and opens a store in the Bulawayo Centre. The Group, however, divests from this country in September 2013.
  • We enter Uganda in November by opening our first store, Shoprite Clock Tower, in Kampala. The Group discontinues its operations in Uganda in 2021.
  • Freshmark becomes a division of the Group and is responsible for fruit and vegetable procurement, buying and distribution. This addition shows the Group’s further investment in supplementary services. 
Two co-workers with crates of fruit around them. Freshmark becomes a division of the Group, showing Shoprite’s further investment in supplementary services 2000.
EXPANSION INTO AFRICA

1999

  • The first Medirite starts trading at Checkers Hyper in Brackenfell, allowing customers to fill their prescriptions while doing their grocery shopping. This opening denotes the broadening of the Group’s list of supplementary services.

1998

  • The Group’s cross-border expansion continues as we open our first supermarket in Botswana.
  • Our Money Markets started in 1998 with a vision of bringing a comprehensive range of financial services and products to our customers at our conveniently located supermarkets. A dedicated service counter called a “Money Market” was created to transact financial services and products in our supermarkets.

1997

  • Shoprite acquires OK Bazaars Group from SAB in the legendary R1 deal. This strategic expansion added 157 super- and hyper-sized supermarkets and 146 furniture stores, including OK Furniture and House & Home, to the Group, while saving 14 091 jobs. This purchase marks the Group’s first stores in Eswatini (Swaziland at the time).
 
Whitey Basson after OK Bazaar acquisition Whitey Basson marks the legendary OK Bazaars R1 deal. The Shoprite Group acquires OK Bazaars Group from SAB in 1997, not only expanding its footprint, but also saving jobs.

 

  • The Group also expands into Mozambique by opening its first store in Maputo.

1996

  • Showing our appreciation for hard work, the Group launches the Woman of the Year Award to mark National Women’s Day. This prestigious award later becomes South Africa’s premier accolade for achievement by women before coming to an end in 2012.

1995

  • The Group continues development in Africa by opening its first Shoprite store in Central Africa, in Lusaka, Zambia, in October, with more expansion plans for the rest of the continent put into action.
  • With the attainment of Sentra, a central buying organisation for 550 owner-manager supermarket members, the Group enters the franchising field. This acquisition allows us to compete in smaller, convenience-orientated markets and is the start of the OK Franchise Division as it will later become known (1999).

1991

  • The Group grows significantly with the R55 million purchase of Checkers, a national chain of supermarkets with 169 stores and 16 500 staff members. Overnight, our operations increase to 241 outlets and a staff complement of almost 22 600.

1990

  • The Group starts its expansion into the rest of the African continent by opening a Shoprite in Windhoek, Namibia.
  • Grand Bazaars is acquired and by now, the Group is operating across 71 stores with just over 6 000 staff members.
EXPANSION IN SOUTH AFRICA

1988

  • The Group continues its growth across South Africa and opens two stores in Limpopo, the first being in Polokwane.

1986

  • The Group is listed on the JSE Limited in South Africa with a market capitalisation of R29 million.
  • We expand to the Free State by opening a store in Bloemfontein.
  • By now, the Group is already running 33 outlets in various provinces throughout South Africa.
Shoprite Holdings - Integrated Report 1989 Shoprite Parow Assistant Manager, Chris Bosman (left), discusses a purchase with a customer in one of the supermarket chain's fifteen grocery wine departments at the time (1989).

1985

  • The first Meat Market (butchery area) inside a Shoprite supermarket was opened.

1983

  • We expand to the Northern Cape by opening our first branch outside the Western Cape, in Hartswater.
  • The Group celebrates the opening of its 21st Shoprite outlet.

1980

  • The Group decides on its vision; to focus on the middle-to-lower income market and to supplement internal growth with the acquisition of promising supermarkets or groups of supermarkets.
Shoprite Holdings - Integrated Report 1987 Shoprite's head office and main warehouse in Parow, Cape Town (1987).
PROUD BEGINNINGS IN THE WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

1979

  • The Group’s success story starts in 1979, when PEP Stores purchases a small eight-store Western Cape grocer from the Rogut family. The grocer, Shoprite, had fewer than 400 staff members and was valued at less than R1 million.