Checkers takes over Pick n Pay’s prime spot with a new flagship store
Retailer Checkers has launched its new flagship store in South Africa, opening its latest Fresh X store in Hyde Park Corner in Sandton.
Pick n Pay previously occupied the mall’s high-demand floor space, but it became available after the retailer closed its store in September 2024.
Pick n Pay has been reviewing, downsizing and converting its store portfolio in a bid to return its core supermarket segment to profit.
Retail giant Hyprop, which owns the mall, secured Checkers as the new anchor tenant in Hyde Park Corner in early 2025.
Hyde Park Corner, situated between Sandton and Rosebank in Johannesburg, has approximately 40,000 square meters of retail space and caters to high LSM shoppers.
The affluent clientele in surrounding neighbourhoods primarily frequents the mall, which is seen as the place for rich people to shop.
The new Checkers flagship is one of over 190 new stores opened by the Shoprite group in the past year, and features a flurry of high-end offerings to match the mall’s high LSM market.
Notably, the store features its own in-store Krispy Kreme and Kauai kiosks, and carries the rest of the retailer’s upmarket designs and stylings.
According to the group, the specialist options in the store include:
- An in-store Kauai
- An in-store Krispy Kreme
- A Meat Market with free-range chicken and restaurant-quality steak;
- A bakery with artisan breads and cakes;
- A dedicated health and wellness section;
- An authentic feel wine cellar;
- Fresh fruit and vegetables;
- Hot and cold foods deli; and
- A Money Market counter.
Shoprite noted that the Hyde Park Fresh X was one of 16 new stores opened in just a week.
The group opened two Shoprite, three Checkers and two Usave supermarkets; one Little Me, one Medirite, one Checkers Liquorshop, one Checkers Outdoor, one UNIQ clothing by Checkers, and four Petshop Science stores.
On top of the Hyde Park Fresh X, Shoprite also opened a standalone Petshop Science in the mall, offering premium pet food, treats, toys, and other essentials.
The store openings were part of the rollout of 194 new stores across the country over the past 12 months, which included 43 Shoprite stores, 38 Usave stores, 29 Checkers stores and three Checkers Hyper stores.
In addition, the LiquorShop business added 36 Checkers and 45 Shoprite LiquorShops, respectively.
“We continue to expand our footprint as part of our omnichannel growth strategy designed to extend our reach in adjacent categories where we are currently under-represented,” it said.
This includes opening 60 new Petshop Science stores, taking the brand to a total of 144 stores.
Checkers Outdoor added eight new stores, for a total of 28 stores; Uniq Clothing by Checkers added 10 new stores, for a total of 30 stores, and Little Me opened one new store, for a total of 11 stores.
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