New Checkers stores on the cards for South Africa, coming after a R10 billion market
Shoprite is discussing launching a new store format in South Africa, focused on children’s toys to expand its market.
The store would operate as a standalone store under the Checkers banner, which is part of the Shoprite group.
The group already has several standalone stores which have branched off from their standard retail offerings, such as Uniq Clothing and Checkers Outdoor.
A source at the company told Daily Investor that the group was planning to launch this new concept store by the end of the year.
When asked about the plans, the retailer told Daily Investor that a standalone toy store chain was being explored, but did not confirm whether the plan was proceeding.
Instead, the company said that it was one of several options it was exploring to diversify its position in the retail market.
“As part of our ongoing focus on customer-centric innovation, we continuously explore opportunities to better serve our customers and meet their evolving needs,” it said.
“A standalone toy store brand is one of several opportunities being evaluated, and no decisions have been made at this stage.”
The source within the company added that the new dedicated toy store chain would focus on popular brands.
They said that brands such as Lego would be an obvious starting point for them, due to their wide range and ability to attract new shoppers.
Expanding into new markets through dedicated standalone stores has become a working strategy for the Shoprite Group.
In the 2026 financial year, revenue from Shoprite’s adjacent businesses increased by roughly 7.5%, while sales in the segment rose by 57.4%.
The large increase in sales came as the company focused on expanding its footprint across several adjacent businesses, such as Uniq Clothing.
This retail brand recently opened its 50th store in South Africa, located in Cape Town, after it was founded in 2023.
At the time, Shoprite said the expansion of the brand was prompted by strong demand from South Africa’s consumers.
“This momentum reflects the strong customer demand for well-made clothing that delivers on quality and style without the premium price tag,” Shoprite said.
A market opportunity
According to a market research report by Euromonitor, South Africa’s toy market was valued at around R10 billion in 2025, with the wider market, including video games and digital media, valued at up to R20 billion.
Shoprite has previously discussed the importance of the toy market in its existing stores, particularly around the festive season.
In December 2025, Shoprite’s general manager for digital commerce, Andy Ridge, said customers were increasingly using Checkers Sixty60 for festive toy shopping.
“They want convenience, speed, and the confidence that they’re getting the latest trends at competitive prices,” he said.
He added that Checkers stores had to significantly increase their toy stock compared to the previous year to meet demand.
“Hyper stores now carry up to 2,000 toy lines, including international brands, local favourites, and LEGO shop-in-shops concepts,” he said.
From this high demand, Checkers has previously looked to capitalise on the toy market in its existing store formats.
For example, the retailer previously partnered with Lego to create store-within-a-store formats in select Checkers Hypers’.
Checkers Sixty60 also provides the group with a strong platform to build on for establishing a standalone toy store format.
The grocery delivery service adds convenience for consumers and gives Checkers an edge over established companies in the market.
Companies such as Toys ‘R’ Us and Toy Kingdom have operated in South Africa for years, and Shoprite’s proposed move could signal a new competitor to these companies.
Entering the children’s toy market also provides the Shoprite Group with additional protection against food-related inflationary pressures through diversified offerings.
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