About our Company » Supply Chain Management

Shoprite is the largest distributor of fast-moving consumer goods and the leader in associated technology. The Supply Chain Management division strives to ensure that the Group’s consumers have uninterrupted access to the products of their choice at the lowest possible prices. To achieve this the Group actively controls the distribution of products from the time of manufacture to the time when the customer purchases the item from the shelf at retail outlets with a highly effective and cost-efficient distribution network that stretches from the supplier via distribution centres to the individual stores. In other words, Shoprite has moved away from the inefficient direct-to-store-delivery as used by traditional retailers.

The Shoprite Group has more than 220 000 m2 of distribution space, with the largest centres being 50 000 m2 in Cape Town and 65 000 m2 in Gauteng.

The Group is also active in the distribution of temperature sensitive goods ranging from fresh fruit and vegetables to perishable and frozen food. These centres can control both the temperature and the humidity levels in order to enhance the quality of products, hence maintaining the cold chain.

Shoprite distributes product by road, rail, air and sea to 17 countries with each country’s language, import regulations and lead-time adding to the complexity of supply. The challenge is to satisfy customer demand even in the most remote locations in Africa.