Not a week seems to go by without receiving news of some or other delivery outfit teaming up with a retailer, and this one is no exception. SPAR and Uber Eats are the latest duo, having announced that they will be partnering to cover grocery and liquor deliveries from 150 SPAR and Tops stores, with plans to reach up to 400 stores by the end of the year. The partnership may even be expanded in future to SPAR Pharmacy and Build it deliveries if things work out. You may recall that SPAR already partners with township delivery services such as Delivery Ka Speed and KasiD, and this new collaboration with Uber Eats will extend SPAR’s reach into even more underserved areas, alongside urban locations, of course. “By partnering with Uber Eats, we aim to provide our customers with greater convenience, value and speed, while maintaining the quality, affordability of daily deals, and the community-first innovation that defines SPAR,” says Blake Raubenheimer, SPAR’s omnichannel exec.

Comment: The wheels keep on turning. Although joining the on-demand game relatively late, SPAR is demonstrating its commitment to omnichannel retail. The hope is that in partnering with a well-oiled machine, as it were, it will be able to scale up quickly.

SKUBU, that’s who. Launched on 19 May 2025 as a pilot in Diepsloot, SKUBU is South Africa’s first fully automated refill store offering a retail model where customers refill staples like maize meal, oil, and cleaning products from dedicated stations instead of buying pre-packaged goods. It was created to reduce packaging waste and lower costs, delivering on the need for more affordable shopping options in low-income communities while supporting sustainability goals. Shoppers load money onto a SKUBU card, which they use to tap and buy products at fixed prices per litre or kilogram, with products like Sunlight dishwashing liquid available from as little as R4 per 100ml. Operated by Sonke (Pty) Ltd. and backed by partners such as the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) and Unilever, SKUBU targets budget-conscious consumers seeking value and environmentally friendly choices. Locals, according to SKUBU worker Onthatile, are enthusiastic about this first-of-its-kind store in South Africa. Besides promoting local brands like MANZI Water, SKUBU demonstrates how innovative retail concepts can address both environmental and socio-economic challenges, potentially transforming the future of retail in the country.

Comment: SKUBU presents a strong case study in how tech-enabled retail can influence consumer behaviour in low-income areas. Its performance will help determine the viability of scaling refill store models across township economies.

We start off with Pick n Pay – or Takealot, depending on your POV – which will be rolling out Pickup Points for the latter in the former’s supermarkets. What began with just two pilot locations in 2023 has expanded to 30 Takealot Pickup Points in Pick n Pays across the country. Between February and May this year, collections at the locations doubled and the service now processes over 14,000 collections per month, with more than 45,000 unique customers having used it to date. We move on to Woolworths, which has seen a ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal swing in its favour. The matter in dispute was Woolies’ right to claim over R8m in input VAT relating to underwriting fees resulting from its rights offer to fund the purchase of David Jones back in 2014. SARS maintained that the rights offer was an isolated transaction which did not fall within the retailers’ usual scope of business, and hence VAT could not be claimed. The court disagreed, saying that since the retailer operates as an active investment holding company, where raising capital is an integral part of its business, claiming VAT back is legit. And still with Woolworths, after 25 years of partnering with Engen, The Dapper One has opened its 100th Foodstop at Engen’s new flagship Sandton Convenience Centre. The centre also includes a Quickshop & Co. convenience store, Café 365 bakery with Brazmata barista coffee and a Nando’s outlet and can be found at 104 Katherine Street, if you’d like to go pay them a visit.

Comment: Speaking of forecourts, Ti’s Forecourt Report 2025/2026 was released last month and explores global and local trends, shopper behaviour in forecourt stores as well as the size and scope of the forecourt channel for FMCG brands. Click here for more info.

Yet another initiative that saves the planet while helping consumers save their hard-earned bucks is this one from Coca-Cola, which has relaunched its 2ℓ returnable PET bottles in KZN and Gauteng. Like the glass bottles of the past, the cost of the RefPET bottles includes a deposit (in this case, R9), so when returning the empty bottle to the retailer and grabbing another 2ℓ of fizz, consumers will only be paying the refill price of around R15 (store dependent). The RefPET bottle looks similar to regular plastic bottles, but is specially designed to be returned, cleaned, and refilled multiple times. Consumers can identify it easily through its green cap and the “Returnable” label on the front. Another interesting feature of the project is the technology behind it: automated bottle inspection systems ensure that every bottle is safe, clean, and ready for reuse. CCBSA has also trialled advanced laser coding technologies to track bottle lifecycles and improve efficiency. CCBSA is distributing free 2ℓ bottles in local communities to get the ball rolling and is “also working closely with local spaza shops, tuck shops, and independent retailers to make the return process convenient and consistent for consumers,” according to Bame Modimogale, CCBSA’s Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability director. Consumers are also being reminded to return their bottles in good condition, free from cracks, damage or tampering, to keep the refill cycle going.

What’s going on at Kellogg? The short answer is “a lot”, but let’s break it down. Back in 2023, the Kellogg Company split into two businesses, WK Kellogg and Kellanova – Kellanova is the larger entity, with snack brands such as Pringles as well as Kellogg’s international cereals under its umbrella, while WK Kellogg is dedicated to cereals in North America. Just a few weeks ago, we reported that food-giant Mars, which has been looking to acquire Kellanova since last year, has received competition approval in the US for the transaction and is now waiting on a decision by the EU. Then this week, we learned that WK Kellogg has agreed to be acquired by Nutella, Tic Tac and Kinder owner, Ferrero. We see it coming… Nutella-laced Frosted Flakes or a sneaky Rocher in your box of Special K. But back to the deal worth around $3.1bn (R55.59bn) – not only would it help WK Kellogg weather its current storm, but also assist Ferrero in diversifying its cocoa-heavy portfolio, a commodity that just last year saw massive price increases due to high demand and strained supply. Although the price has now normalised, cocoa is a sensitive crop, and environmental factors can quickly place yields at risk. This would be Ferrero’s biggest acquisition since 2018, when it bought Nestlé’s US confectionery business in a bid to extend its reach into the highly lucrative US market.

Stats SA released the latest retail sales data this week, showing +4.2% YoY growth in May 2025. Positive real growth (i.e. adjusted to exclude inflation, also known as ‘constant prices’) came from six of the seven measured retailer types, with food specialists (retailers like bakeries, butcheries, fruit & veg that sell a specific type of food rather than a general assortment) in the red, declining -1.9%. Retailers in clothing and textiles were the biggest positive contributors, reporting growth of +12.5%. General dealers (selling predominantly food) reported +3.6% growth, while retailers in household goods came in at +4.4%. Retailers in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and toiletries scraped together only +1.0%, just behind the +1.1% from retailers in hardware. ‘All other’ retailers (including specialists in sport goods, books, stationery, etc.) reported growth of +2.7% YoY.

Comment: The numbers have been complicated over the last few months due to the timing of Easter this year versus last year. Overall, they are reflecting the moderating inflation, especially in the case of food and personal care. Pressure remains on shoppers’ wallets, however, as we wait until the end of July to see if the SARB will cut the interest rate and if it will be enough to get some momentum into retail sales growth.