Shoprite buys another South African retailer
The Competition Commission has approved Shoprite’s acquisition of PicardiRebel, adding another business to the retail giant.
“The Commission has recommended that the Competition Tribunal approve the proposed transaction where Shoprite intends to acquire the Target Business, with conditions,” it said.
PicardiRebel is a liquor store chain which operates 34 retailers, including one wholesaler, throughout South Africa, according to the Commission.
The brand is well-established in the country, founded roughly 45 years ago and operating in many major areas.
The Competition Commission recommended that the acquisition be approved subject to conditions to address public interest concerns.
It said that Shoprite would need to commit capital towards refurbishing PicardiRebel stores by a predetermined date.
“The merged entity will be required to commit to capital expenditure, including the refurbishment of the Target Business’s liquor stores within a specified period following the implementation date,” it said.
“The Commission is of the view that the proposed transaction is unlikely to substantially lessen or prevent competition in any relevant market.”
Shoprite is already a major player in South Africa’s retail sector, and is the largest private employer in the country.
The group operates approximately 2,577 stores in South Africa, with 352 being Checkers Liquorshops – the sector into which PicardiRebel will be integrated.
Shoprite said in its 2026 financial results that it planned on continuing its expansion, with 211 confirmed new outlets in the new year.
The Competition Commission noted that Shoprite already has a large footprint in South Africa’s liquor market.
“Through its LiquorShop brand, the Shoprite Group offers a wide range of local and international alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages,” it said.
“Its liquor stores are generally located adjacent to, [or] close to, its supermarkets.”
The group’s Checkers LiquorShop business performed well in the last financial year, reporting sales growth of roughly 14.5%.
The sector earned R8.3 billion in sales revenue for the period, with 40 new stores being opened in this division.
A growing footprint
Shoprite’s acquisition of PicardiRebel is not the only major company the group plans on purchasing in the next financial year.
The group recently announced that it had agreed to purchase Vida e Caffé, one of South Africa’s largest and fastest-growing coffee shop brands.
Shoprite said that this acquisition would expand its presence in a fast-growing market and would add expertise to its business.
“Vida e Caffè strengthens our presence in the coffee and quick service restaurant category while adding deep operational expertise in this fast-growing market,” the group said.
Vida was founded roughly 25 years ago in Cape Town and has since grown into a major chain with approximately 400 stores.
“Vida is a business we greatly admire, and we look forward to learning from its success while supporting its next phase of growth,” Shoprite said.
This acquisition is currently pending regulatory approval from the Competition Commission, with Shoprite expecting the sale to occur in the 2027 financial year.
The group also acquired a majority stake in R&A Cellular, a South African technology and payments company.
This acquisition is planned to expand Shoprite’s financial services strategy and strengthen its position in informal markets.
“R&A Cellular’s device network enables informal and semi-formal micro-retailers to deliver convenient, high‑frequency financial services access points for essential everyday services,” Shoprite said.
Shoprite plans to use its stake in R&A to expand its footprint by increasing its installed device base among informal retailers.
“These initiatives are expected to drive growth, deepen customer engagement, and extend the Group’s financial services reach into the informal sector,” Shoprite said.
The company’s acquisitions, along with its large number of planned store openings, indicate its plans for continued expansion throughout South Africa.
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