Shoprite has clearly decided that ordinary shopping is so last year. From 16 August, Absa cardholders can earn up to 60% cashback (yes, real cash, not just points) at Shoprite, Checkers, LiquorShop, and even via Sixty60 delivery. After the initial two-month launch, the cashback drops to a modest 30% depending on a customer’s tier level (alas, all good things must come to an end). Meanwhile, the nation’s finest boerewors enthusiasts are battling it out in the Championship Boerewors Competition. The Top 10 finalists, ranging from rescue technicians to car salesmen, prove that South Africans take their sausage seriously. The final cook-off on 23 August will see one lucky boerewors master’s recipe stocked nationwide, potentially driving home in a Toyota Fortuner. Oh, and if sugar is your spirit animal, Sixty60 just teamed up with Krispy Kreme for a teal-tinted doughnut range. Grab a 3-pack in-store or via delivery, because sometimes life’s too short not to have doughnuts at your fingertips. Shoprite: keeping your wallet and your taste buds equally entertained.

Comment: Shoprite has officially turned grocery shopping into a lifestyle event: cashback in your wallet, and donuts to match your mood. The combo we never thought we needed.

Some harsh commentary about Pick n Pay in the news this week, following the Group’s recent trading update (to 29 June 2025). Although some critics fixate on the financial losses reported over the past two years, it opens the door to a sobering look at the future prospects of Pick n Pay. The fact that the Group retained a 65% share in Boxer within the IPO brings a sense of comfort, especially considering Boxer’s success, rapidly expanding stores and turnover growth. Banks also seem to have PnP’s back, FNB, Absa, TymeBank, Standard Bank, and now Capitec clients can deposit, withdraw, and transfer cash while grabbing their groceries at over 1,400 Pick n Pay stores across South Africa. No queues, no ATMs, no apps, and certainly no judgment for buying bread and milk while handling your finances. Meanwhile, across the border in Botswana, Pick n Pay has shifted from franchise to full corporate ownership, promising refreshed stores, upgraded hot foods, bigger fresh produce sections, and yes, even more chocolate. Over 1,200 local employees remain, serving communities with improved service and consistent quality.

Comment: Don't count Pick n Pay out

Clicks is inching ever closer to a R100bn market cap, and honestly, the momentum is hard to ignore. The Group’s share price closed at R371.41 last week, market value at R87.9bn - up more than +64% in five years. Its beauty and pharmacy strength, coupled with a loyal ClubCard army of over 13 million members, has turned Clicks into an unstoppable force. Retail turnover climbed +11.7% in FY2024, trading profit topped R4bn for the first time, and private labels are flying off the shelves (more than a quarter of H&B sales). Expansion isn’t slowing either: 51 new stores opened last year, with 40–45 more on the way. Meanwhile, Dis-Chem is much newer to the JSE, having listed in 2016 (Clicks listed in 1979) and is valued at R26.3bn with a share price of R30.52. While Dis-Chem is focusing on improving its digital platform, revamping its loyalty programme and using analytics to drive expansion, Clicks scales its strengths in convenience, personalisation, and beauty. Its formula is simple yet effective: combine consistent earnings growth with brand equity and watch investor confidence go through the roof.

Comment: Two retailers operating in the Health and Beauty space may be competing for the same wallet, but they are very different businesses. We take a closer look in the upcoming Trade Intelligence Health and Beauty Report.

From South Australia to Liverpool, and Northern Ireland to the U.S., retailers are redefining convenience, experience, and community engagement. Aldi has leapt into the home delivery arena through its partnership with DoorDash, offering South Australian shoppers access to fresh groceries without leaving their homes (but beware the app mark-ups). On the other side of the globe, John Lewis’ Beauty Halls are now offering facials, expert consultations, and exclusive brands like Fenty Beauty, turning shopping into an indulgence. SPAR International is flexing its community credentials: in Northern Ireland, Wesley Wilkinson’s SPAR celebrated 30 years of serving the Mountsandel community in Coleraine, while SPAR UK’s Community Cashback initiative has distributed £100,000 to over 65 local causes. Combining consumer convenience with environmental responsibility, Tesco and Mondelēz are trialling a 60% reduction in plastic packaging for Cadbury Crunchie multipacks. Across the Atlantic, Walmart will offer a 10% employee discount on 95% of its grocery items, helping 1.6 million U.S. workers navigate inflationary pressures. Across continents and categories, one theme stands out: retailers are embracing innovation, inclusivity, and community as key pillars to remain relevant, resonant, and remarkable in 2025.

Move over, rivals – Unilever’s ice cream empire is having its moment. Unilever Global has served investors a double scoop of delight. Its ice cream portfolio, soon to be spun off as The Magnum Ice Cream Company, performed above sales expectations in the second quarter. With a 7.1% surge in underlying ice cream sales, ice cream may just be Unilever's favourite child, outpacing the rest of its household staples and leaving the competition licking (yes, pun intended) their wounds. By November, the spin-off will be official, but Unilever keeps a small stake (less than 20%), because even giants need a taste of their own ice cream. Peter ter Kulve, Unilever's ice cream veteran, will lead the charge, joined by CFO Abhijit Bhattacharya and Chair-designate Jean-François van Boxmeer. Despite a 50% drop in free cash flow (supply chain woes, tariffs, and ice-cream spin-off costs), the company remains upbeat, pouring investments into North America and India. With 19,000 expert ice cream employees and €8.3bn in sales, The Magnum Ice Cream Company is well-placed to scale responsibly, proving that even indulgence can be strategic.

Comment: Investors hoping that the sum of the parts is bigger than the whole? 1 scoop + 1 scoop = 3 scoops?

It’s been a week of feasts and financial frustrations. First up, Rainbow Chicken is flexing its wings with earnings set to triple, thanks to lower feed costs, fewer avian flu dramas, and a blessed break from Eskom’s load-shedding roulette. Meanwhile, Pepkor clearly missed the memo on moderation. With 5,800 outlets already under its belt, it’s adding 462 more stores; Legit, Swagga, Style and Boardmans. It’s the retail equivalent of “just one more slice” … except the cake is now a shopping mall. For those with a sweet tooth and zero willpower, Mondelez is unleashing a triple-filling Oreo. It’s a bold statement that dessert should be excessive, and self-control is a myth. Not to be outdone in snack heaven, PepsiCo has officially launched Cheetos in South Africa. The orange-fingered king of snacks has arrived in flavours from cheesy puff to BBQ brix. But not everyone’s week was so sweet. Over in pharma land, Aspen’s Gus Attridge just saw $12m vanish in 11 days, as the share price tumbled nearly a third since January. Shareholders will need more than Panado for this headache.

This week, Stats SA released the Q2/2025 labour force survey results. Despite the employment gains (+20,000 over the quarter), the number of unemployed individuals continues to rise (+139,000 over the quarter). How? Well, more people entered the labour force (+159,000 more over the quarter) but did not find a job. The official unemployment rate sits at a staggering 33.2%. Some interesting (and alarming) numbers:

• 77% of unemployed people have been jobless for over a year
• Unemployment rate for women: 35.9% (men: 31.0%)
• 35.2% of 15- to 24-year-olds are NEET (not in employment, education or training), that is 3.6 million young people
• Informal sector: 3.3 million jobs (20%) - increasing +197,000 year-on-year
• Formal sector: 11.5 million jobs (68%) - increasing only +1,000 year-on-year

Comment: Even with ongoing debates about how to accurately measure employment in the informal sector, the data still provides valuable insights. This sector is a vital engine for job growth, especially when compared to the minimal gains in the formal sector. With 3.6 million young South Africans (aged 15-24) not in employment, education, or training – a crisis that demands attention – how do we bridge this skills gap and create a future where our youth can thrive?

Notes: Stats SA define Informal Sector employment as working in establishments that employ fewer than five employees, who do not deduct income tax from their salaries/wages; or own-account workers helping unpaid in their household business who are not registered | In addition to Formal and Informal Sector, 7% of employment is in households and 5% is in agriculture as per the Q2/2025 survey | Source: Stats SA