61-year-old South African retailer you’ve never heard of taking on Pick n Pay and Checkers
President Hyper claims to be the cheapest hypermarket in South Africa, tracing its history in the country back to the 1960s.
President Hyper has only four locations in South Africa: Rustenburg, Vanderbijlpark, Krugersdorp and Fochville, with the latest expansion happening fairly recently, in 2025.
The group’s stores are independently-owned, though use names and branding owned by the Shoprite Group.
It is an unsung grocery retailer that focuses on essentials, fresh produce, butchery, bakery, deli and home meals.
The company stated that it doesn’t measure itself against the competition, but rather against customer expectations, which it has done since 1964.
It is one of the oldest retail brands in the country, but many would not have ever heard of it.
The company was founded by the late George Synodinos, a Greek immigrant, who came to South Africa in the 1950s.
His early ventures included a Drive-In Café in Carltonville, but sinkholes forced him to move.
He then moved to Fochville in the South-West of Gauteng, where he developed the retail business that became President Hyper.
The first store on President Street, Fochville, had only 360 sqm of space. Resilience and smart business decisions allowed him to overcome competition from OK Bazaars.
In 1986, he expanded the brand and acquired the premises used by OK Bazaars in Church Street.
The chain was then able to expand its stores to more locations. The Synodinoses were also famed for their charity work in the areas where they operated.
In 2021, the family sold the President Hyper trademark to Shoprite, South Africa’s largest retailer that also owns Checkers and OK.
In an ironic twist, OK now franchises President Hyper, with the stores still trading independently.
Synodinos retired in 2022 and returned to Athens, Greece. He passed away earlier this year at the age of 94.
The family remains strongly connected to the President Hyper brand, with Synodinos’s son, Basil, acting as CEO.
Massive expansion in 2025
Despite being around for nearly six decades, the retailer has undergone several significant changes in its stores.
The 10,000 sqm Rustenburg store opened in May 2025 on the aptly named President Boulevard.
Notably, President Hyper’s three other locations anchor President Square shopping centres found across South Africa.
This includes the President Square Vaal Shopping Centre in Vanderbijlpark, which recently underwent a massive refurbishment.
The shopping centre, which Vaal Square (Pty) Ltd owns under the Bentel Group, officially reopened on 30 October 2025.
“This relaunch marks an important milestone for the centre as we continue to grow with our community, creating a vibrant shopping experience that brings people together,” said Selwyn Bentel of Bentel Group.
The centre is anchored by a 13,800 sqm President Hyper, and now features 32 new stores that include Fashion, Banks, Food, Health & Beauty Services, Home Furnishings and Appliances.
“Our unique anchor tenant and a range of exclusive new brands truly set us apart in the area. In addition, there is free Wi-Fi to keep visitors connected while they shop or dine,” added Bentel.
The Bental Group said that President Hyper is a renowned high-performance trader, and the developers ensured that the construction program was accelerated to ensure minimal disruption to its trade.
A significant highlight of the redevelopment was the redesign of the entrance façades to create a visual balance across the mall.
A taxi rank has also been relocated closer to the stores, which will improve convenience, particularly for the Hyper.
Images of President Hyper
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