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Retailer Round-Up

By By Trade Intelligence | August 2025 | 26 August 2025

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It’s been a busy few months on the retailer front – too much to capture in a single Retail Pulse. So here’s more than a pulse, a full retailer check-up if you will, where we share trading updates and news from key retailers.

Enjoy the read!
 


  • FY2025 Store Openings: 194 stores across its banners were opened over the year, as well as 81 LiquorShops, 60 Petshop Science, 8 Checkers Outdoor, 10 UNIQ clothing and 1 Little Me
  • FY 2025 turnover: Group +8.9%, Supermarkets RSA +9.5%, Supermarkets Non-RSA +6.4% (in rands).
  • Checkers pilots SA’s first smart trolley with with built-in scanner & automated checkout. See it in action here.
  • Jamie Oliver fronts new Simple Truth ad campaign.
  • Checkers opens yet another of its ‘mini-malls’ at the Groot Phesantekraal View shopping centre in Durbanville (CT), hostin a Checkers supermarket, Checkers Little Me, Checkers Outdoor, Petshop Science and a UNIQ clothing.
  • From 16 August, Absa cardholders can earn up to 60% cashback at Shoprite, Checkers, LiquorShop, and even via Sixty60 delivery.
  • Usave rolls out loss prevention tech to drive affordability. Read more
  • New world-class DC powers Shoprite Group’s longest retail promotion. Read more
  • Petshop Science products available on Checkers Sixty60 since June, starting with select areas in Cape Town, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.

 


  • Trading update for the 17 weeks ended 29 June 2025:
  • +4.3% increase in Group turnover (+3.8% in comparable stores), with star segments Boxer (+12.1%), Clothing (+17.3%) and Online (+33%) compensating for the weaker supermarkets portion of the business.
  • Company-owned supers are showing improvement, (+4% in like-for-like sales), and they are faring better than franchise stores (-1.4%), which is unusual.
  • Pick n Pay asap! offered the best prices compared to Checkers Sixty60, Spar2U, and Woolies Dash during a MyBroadband’s grocery delivery comparison. Read more
  • 50% increase in loyalty sign-ups driven by meal deals, including the popular Burger Friday and Pizza deals (+400% pizza growth over the past month). Read more
  • 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.
  • Pick n Pay Mobile is ramping up its service by introducing a new mobile app which incorporates features such as instant eSIM activation and the ability for users to self-RICA. This app also gives users free rewards linked to the Smart Shopper loyalty programme.
  • There are currently 30 Takealot pickup points at Pick n Pay stores, with plans to hit 36 by the end of 2025. Collections doubled between Feb–May 2025, serving 45,000+ customers to date.

 


  • Trading update for the 17 weeks ended 29 June 2025:
  • Turnover +12.1% (with comparable stores up +3.9%), despite consumers still battling to make ends meet and (very) low internal selling price inflation of -0.6%.
  • Boxer remains confident that it is on track to meet its projected turnover growth (in the low-teens) thanks to the performance of its existing stores and its store roll-out plan.
  • Already opened 7 Superstores and 10 liquor stores during the first four months of FY2026, with plans to reach 60 (25 superstores and 35 liquor stores) by financial year end.
  • 2 million Boxer Rewards Club members. Read more

 


  • HY2025 Results: SPAR Southern Africa delivered modest growth: wholesale turnover up +1.7%, retail revenue +1.9%, despite challenging conditions
  • SPAR is in a necessary but uncomfortable phase of its strategy, margins are still below target, dividends withheld, and retail execution needs work.
  • In July, SPAR and Uber Eats announced that they will be partnering to cover deliveries from 150 SPAR and Tops stores, aiming for 400 by year-end.
  • Angelo Swartz assumed operational leadership of the SPAR Southern Africa region in July, after  Max Oliva, stepped down as CEO after 30 years with the business.

 


  • Trading update for the 52 weeks ended 29 June 2025: SA  operations showed strong growth, with Food outperforming the market thanks to growth in volume and shopper visits (with turnover +9.2%). 
  • Launched new MyDifference rewards programme in July with tiered status and gamification elements. Read more 
  • New ‘store of the future’ in Tygervalley is its first full-line store – integrating Food, Fashion, Beauty and Home. See it here
  • New Woolworths Food Emporium at Village Square in Cape Town. A flagship store opens at Village Square, Cape Town, designed to entice and retain in-store shoppers. See it here
  • WVentures update: Adjacent businesses (Food services, WCellar, Pet Care and WEdit) delivered double-digit profit growth, and over 60 new stores were opened in the last year alone. Read more
  • 24,000 of its frontline staff in its stores and DCs will now have access to health insurance for the first time.
  • Woolworths has been named among the top three brands most likely to be recommended by South Africans, according to insights agency KLA.

 


  • Trading update: Retail turnover climbed +11.7% in FY2024 Trading profit topped R4bn for the first time Private labels are flying off the shelves (more than a quarter of H&B sales).
  • 51 new stores opened in 2024, with 40–45 more on the way.
  • A new store concept is on the horizon for Clicks, aimed at delivering advanced healthcare services and specialised support all under one roof. Read more

 


  • Dis-Chem’s results reflect a business in the throes of strategic reinvention. The financials speak to steady momentum: total income increased by +9.2. However, these gains unfold against a backdrop of heavy strategic investment.
  • Dis-Chem pulls Nutriwomen's Dermacare products from its shelves following Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) ruling on L'Oréal's complaint against the brand for copying its CeraVe packaging  

 

  • Makro has reduced the price of 100 basic food items to the lowest price it can offer for three months. The price roll-back includes South African essentials such as Black Cat peanut butter, Crosse & Blackwell mayonnaise and Handy Andy cream, but also 28 M Brand products, Makro’s own private brand.
  • Game introduces own-brand noodles for under R20. Read more 
  • Makro came out as the cheapest in BusinessTech’s grocery basket comparison for July. Read more

 

 

  • In June, Amazon SA introduced three essential categories – groceries, pet food, and vitamins and supplements. “The initial customer response has been extremely positive, particularly for our bulk buying options and multipack savings across all three categories,” says Amazon South Africa’s retail head for consumables, Philile Mabolloane.
  • For now, Amazon’s range of groceries is far narrower than that offered by our supermarkets. But if it keeps building on it – and there’s no reason to believe it won’t – it could pose a real threat, at least within the delivery space.
  • Amazon came out as the cheapest in a MyBroadband basket comparison, pipping Takealot by a not insignificant R780. Read more

 


From new store formats to loyalty innovations and pricing strategies, South Africa’s retailers are pushing hard to adapt, defend share, and capture growth. Some are in phases of reinvention, others are doubling down on proven formulas – but all are shaping a competitive, fast-changing market.

For now, consider this your extended retailer check-up – and stay tuned for next month’s Retail Pulse newsletter so you don’t miss a beat. 

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