Late last week, we received news that SPAR would be joining the likes of Checkers and Woolies in the petcare space race in what is fast becoming a very highly contested category. On paper, all looked fine and dandy – known as Pet Storey, SPAR’s new format would also follow a franchise model, making pet products and services “accessible and affordable” to punters. Shortly after opening the doors of its first store in Boksburg, however, SPAR faced significant backlash for selling live animals in store. Shoppers were not happy, and animal rescue organisations and animal rights advocates also had their say, resulting in the retailer having to backtrack on the sale of all animals entirely. “We have heard and understand all concerns raised following the launch of our first Pet Storey store in Boksburg,” a SPAR statement said. “We apologise sincerely for the distress this has caused. We have since made the decision not to sell mammals, reptiles, birds or invertebrates at any Pet Storey store.” The statement also made it clear that SPAR would ensure that Pet Storey remained focused on selling only pet care accessories and services.

Botswanan retailer, Choppies, which ventured across the Limpopo River in 2008 to open its first store in SA, is now officially exiting the South African market, having agreed to sell its Jwayelani chain of 45 stores and a meat processing plant in KZN to local retail and investment company, the Shingai Group. Founded in 2013 by CEO Philisiwe Sibiya, Shingai’s main focus is to distribute African food brands to global retailers through its supply chain and logistics expertise. The plan is to revitalise the Jwayelani brand, strengthen its community heritage as a discount chain and create a platform that empowers black-owned producers, farmers, and suppliers. From Choppies’ side, the divestment is part of its strategy to streamline operations, following its exit from other African countries over the past few years due to underperformance. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed before the end of November 2025.

Well done, Mzansi, you did it! Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld turned into a smoky paradise this Heritage Day, as 2,500 braaiers, hosted by independent retailer Big Save, converged to break the Guinness World Record for simultaneous grilling – and break it they did! At 10am sharp, tongs clattered, charcoal flared, and the smell of boerewors filled the stadium. The festival wasn’t just about fire and meat, however. Among the entertainers on stage were Mi Casa, Biggy and GoodLuck. Food trucks, chill zones, and even an adults-only beer garden ensured the festival catered to everyone.

We kick off our wrap-up of shorter stories this week with Boxer, which has just opened its 550th store in Bridge City Mall, KwaMashu (KZN). Looking back at our records, we see that it celebrated its 500th store opening less than a year ago – that’s 50 stores in 47 weeks. Impressive by anyone’s standards. Sort of related, Pick n Pay has converted its supermarket in Liberty Midland Mall, Pietermaritzburg, into a full-blown hyper. The decision to upgrade the Liberty Mall store followed a review of local shopping patterns and needs, revealing a strong demand for greater variety under one roof. This is the first of several revamps for The Big Blue, which hasn’t opened a net new hyper in five years. Next up, Amazon has launched a couple of pop-up shops as part of its Shop Mzansi Heritage Month celebration. With one pop-up in CT and another in Jozi, the stores are a showcase for products from local entrepreneurs, aiming to support small businesses and create connections between sellers and customers. And finally, Checkers Little Shop is back with its cute mini products, but this time shaped into sticky poppers that can also be used to play their very own, dedicated board game. Shopper feedback has been mixed, with some loving the new take, while others are disappointed, saying they preferred the standard mini products. Either way, the kids are all abuzz about them, and there will no doubt soon be groups of Little Shop Swoppers on school playgrounds across the country.