Supa Ginja, a powder ginger beer business started in a North West garage, experienced dramatic growth during South Africa’s national lockdown with several alcohol bans as well as a deal with Shoprite.

The Shoprite Group has launched Shoprite Next Capital, a business division dedicated to capacitate and grow commercially-viable SMMEs to further the Group’s continued efforts to give small suppliers access to its consumer market.

Local bakery Crispe Cookies has supplied cakes and other confectionery to the Shoprite Group for 28 years - and it has almost doubled its staff capacity in the last five years from 50 to 97 due to its ongoing relationship with the retailer.

Tin Stuf, a canning company based in Limpopo, is selling canned chicken feet and necks at Shoprite stores around the country. But the journey to this point has been one of immense hard work - and personal tragedy.

Fresh produce company Urban Grown has been established for just six years but has recently secured a significant contract with the Shoprite Group to supply a variety of fresh vegetables close to their source.

A small KwaZulu-Natal company's perseverance has paid off, and its locally-produced range of dhal products are now listed in 25 Shoprite and Checkers stores.

An order from Checkers for bakery goods provided a lifeline and growth opportunity to a long-established bakery whose orders came to an abrupt stop during lockdown.

Small supplier Cherry Melon designed and manufactured a range of affordable maternity wear exclusively for Checkers.

Small supplier, Ree Collective, has increased its turnover by 144% since it started supplying its baby bags, custom-made for South African parents, to more than 100 Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores.

Shoprite is once again stepping up to enable entrepreneurs to grow their businesses with the 2021 Shoprite Hustle competition. The annual competition boosts small business development and will celebrate established and promising small business owners who stand to win a share of more than R1 million in prizes.