African footprint shrinks to seven countries after exits since 2020
SOUTH AFRICA – The Shoprite Group has released its results for the year ending 29 June 2025, showing that sales have moved past US$13.6 billion, with an increase of about US$1.12 billion over the 12-month period.
Chief executive Pieter Engelbrecht said the company returned US$904 million at point-of-sale during the period while keeping selling price inflation in its South African supermarkets at 2.3 percent.
In its Shoprite and Usave stores, sales climbed 5.9 percent, translating to a gain of around US$357 million from a base of US$6 billion, with Shoprite alone maintaining pricing inflation at below 2 percent.
Checkers delivered sales growth of 13.8 percent, adding about US$638 million to reach close to US$5.5 billion, while the Sixty60 delivery platform rose 47.7 percent, with reported sales of US$6.4 billion.
These results come as the company is nearing the conclusion of its restructuring process across the continent, although its position in Mozambique remains uncertain.
African operations under review
The retailer once had stores in nearly 15 African countries, extending beyond rivals such as Pick n Pay and Massmart, but has scaled back over the past five years.
Since 2020, Shoprite has been reevaluating its overseas business due to currency pressures, weak commodity markets, rising inflation, and the impact of rents charged in US dollars.
This has resulted in withdrawals from several markets including Nigeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Madagascar, Ghana, and Malawi.
At present, Shoprite has 268 outlets in seven countries, all within the Southern African Development Community region.
Engelbrecht said the review process has reached completion, though Mozambique is being watched closely because of economic volatility and security issues.
He highlighted delays in restarting liquefied natural gas projects as well as ongoing attacks by insurgents in Cabo Delgado province.
Violence in Palma in 2021 forced TotalEnergies to halt its multi-billion US dollar LNG project under a force majeure that is still in place.
Although both the company and Mozambican president Daniel Chapo have recently suggested the suspension could end, Engelbrecht said uncertainty around the sector continues to weigh on future prospects.
He added that unless the LNG industry resumes, questions will remain over the country’s long-term economic stability and Shoprite’s role within it.
