Checkers Sixty60 takes on Takealot and Amazon

Checkers’ new Sixty60 app significantly increased its product range, including products from Apple, Dyson, Thule, Smeg, Samsung, and Harmon Kardon.

On Thursday, Checkers announced that South Africans nationwide can now access a new Sixty60 app.

It promises a refined app layout and user interface, and multi-factor authentication to enhance security.

In addition to the wide range of groceries and essentials, the new app offers shoppers in eligible areas delivery of products from selected Checkers Hyper stores nationwide. 

“Over 10,000 larger general merchandise products are now available for same-day delivery within sixty-minute time slots,” Checkers said.

Neil Schreuder, Shoprite’s chief strategy and innovation officer, said the company plans to become Africa’s most profitable omnichannel retailer.

Checkers Sixty60 has significantly increased its range by introducing 2,500 additional premium products as part of this plan.

This includes 100 new brands, such as Apple, Dyson, Thule, Smeg, Samsung, and Harmon Kardon, with more being added over the coming months. 

The extended premium ranges will be rolled out nationally in phases, and they are currently available in selected areas of Cape Town.

These areas include Kuils River, Brackenfell, Durbanville, Bellville, Goodwood, Edgemead, Milnerton, Century City, and Table View.

The additional products are also available in Blouberg, Parklands, Rondebosch, Observatory, Gardens, Sea Point, and Camps Bay.

“With the new Sixty60 app, we’re again raising the bar for online shopping in South Africa,” Schreuder said.

Checkers Hyper products on Sixty60 qualify for free delivery until the end of 2024 as part of the launch.

The expanded product range clearly shows that Shoprite is using the Sixty60 platform to compete against Takealot, Amazon, and Makro.

Although Sixty60 differs from the online shopping platforms in that it does not support a marketplace, its popularity means it is a formidable competitor.

Sixty60 has moved from a quick and convenient way to buy groceries to a fully-fledged online shopping service with a wide product range.

Its exceptional logistics network will force other online retailers to take note and potentially adapt to remain competitive.

Last year, Takealot launched TakealotNOW, a new 1-hour on-demand delivery, in Cape Town’s northern suburbs.

This year, the company expanded its TakealotNOW service to more areas in Cape Town and added Pretoria as a new city.

It shows that Takealot is aware of the threat Sixty60 poses and that it should respond with a competing offering.