Shoprite Holdings, Africa’s largest retailer, which is partly owned by South African billionaire Christo Wiese, is expanding its online delivery offerings through its upmarket brand, Checkers. Customers can now purchase general merchandise, including small appliances, on Checkers’ Sixty60 app, the country’s leading on-demand grocery delivery service.
The move signifies a strategic shift for Shoprite, which seeks a larger slice of the burgeoning e-commerce market for general merchandise. This intensifies competition in South Africa’s digital retail space, directly challenging Takealot.com, Naspers’ dominant e-commerce platform, and the recent arrival of global giant Amazon.
Checkers ups delivery options
Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic’s e-commerce boom, Checkers is now offering over 10,000 larger products for same-day delivery within a 60-minute window. This includes camping gear, small appliances, electronics, and gardening equipment, enhancing convenience for shoppers.
Shoprite is currently beta testing the new Sixty60 app with a dedicated fleet of delivery vans to handle larger items, replacing the motorbikes typically used for groceries. The app is currently available in Cape Town with a planned nationwide rollout.
Shoprite’s Sixty60 targets South Africa’s online boom
Shoprite Holdings, Africa’s largest supermarket chain with more than 3,543 stores, counts billionaire Christo Wiese as a major shareholder. His 11.63-percent stake is valued at nearly $1 billion.
Wiese oversaw Shoprite’s transformation from a Cape Town-based chain of eight stores into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Acquisitions and strategic expansion fueled this growth in the company’s first three decades.
To cater to evolving consumer preferences, Checkers, a subsidiary of Shoprite, has expanded its Sixty60 convenience format to include general merchandise. This positions Checkers for a significant slice of South Africa’s burgeoning e-commerce market.
Shoprite Group’s commitment to strategic innovation continues to solidify its market leadership by providing unparalleled customer convenience.
