The short version: Sixty60 delivery fee holds firm despite fuel price increase | Centurion DC sends just 10% of waste to landfill

What does smart retailing look like? Taking a common consumer problem and turning it into a USP, that’s how. Take the example of Shoprite, whose PR machine has jumped onto the fact that with petrol on the up, it can save you some cash. Through Sixty60 of course, which despite the fuel price hikes will keep its delivery fee steady at R36… or the flat fee of R99 per month if you subscribe to Xtra Savings Plus. Now, Shoprite has done a little bit of math to show us just how much we could save, saying that the “Checkers Sixty60’s R36 delivery fee means customers could save up to R42 per trip, depending on the vehicle”. Let’s step in with a DISCLAIMER right here. The calculations are based on AA rates, which take fuel into account, yes, but also other vehicle ownership and running costs like insurance, licensing, wear-and-tear of the engine and tyres, and more. So it wouldn’t be a R42 saving on fuel alone. Be that as it may, every cent saved adds up, so if it means diverting what we would spend on our vehicle to buy groceries to some other expense, we’ll take it.

In other Shoprite news, the Group’s largest DC in Centurion has achieved ‘Level 2 Zero Waste to Landfill’ certification from the Green Building Council of South Africa. This means that over 90% of all waste generated across the DC is diverted from landfill, achieved by reusing packaging materials, redistributing food fit for consumption to Shoprite’s donation programme, and converting food which isn’t fit for human consumption into animal feed or compost. Then there’s the recycling of cardboard, plastics, paper, pallets, glass and metal, and repairing equipment before considering disposal, all resulting in the remaining waste being sent to landfill only as a last resort.

The short version: New Sassy apples available at Pick n Pay stores | Smart Shoppers get 5x points… and it’s no joke

Consider, if you will, the humble apple… that crisp and juicy lunchbox staple, available virtually all year round. Per capita, South Africans consume about 9.5kg of the fruit every year, or put another way, they eat/drink 1 apple every 6 days or so. Pick n Pay is hoping to bring some sass into the apple cart with its crop of Sassy™ apples, a varietal originally developed in New Zealand over the last 12 or so years. What’s so special about these particular crispy snacks? First off, they are, in fact, particularly crispy, a feature that most apple lovers prefer. They also have just the right amount of zing… nice and sweet, but with a pleasant tartness to cut through the high sugar content. Growers also love them because they can withstand higher temperatures without losing their vibrant colour, an excellent characteristic to have on a supermarket shelf. Our South African Sassys are farmed in Ceres, and while growing in popularity and demand, the crop is still young and developing. This means Sassy™ apples will only be available in 40 Pick n Pay stores around the country for two weeks. Shoppers will need to get there quickly if they want a taste.

And no April Fool’s joke here, yesterday, lucky Smart Shoppers were able to earn 5x Smart Shopper points on all purchases made. The extra points were in addition to the instant savings earned in-store and online.

The short version: Woolies clusters store formats together | The Body Shop turns 50

Taking a leaf out of Shoprite’s playbook is Woolworths, which has opened four new store concepts in proximity at the new mixed-use Sandton Gate precinct. Just like the ‘Checkers mini-malls’, a term Ti has proudly coined (see our story on that here), where you will find a Checkers super, PetShop Science, LiquorShop and perhaps a UNIQ clothing all within meters of each other, in the Woolies version we have a Woolworths Food Market, Woolworths Edit, WCafé and WCellar. “For Woolworths, the expansion underscores a clear strategic direction: to move beyond traditional retail formats and build integrated lifestyle experiences,” says The Dapper One, making a firm statement on the role it is playing in redefining physical retail. 

Next, many happy returns to The Body Shop, which in March celebrated its 50th anniversary globally. In South Africa, the celebration came to life with a one-day, 50% off all products campaign across its stores on 27 March. The celebrations won’t stop there, however, with the iconic British high street brand planning exciting announcements, brand activations and product launches over the next 12 months, including the return of the popular 90s fragrance, Dewberry, while introducing new limited-edition collections. Of course, all these initiatives will be supported by Clicks, which owns the local franchise rights for The Body Shop in SA, throughout the year, too.