Checkers Sixty60 coverage boom

Shoprite has released its reviewed annual results for the year ended 30 June 2024, revealing a significant expansion of its Checkers Sixty60 footprint and strong online sales growth.

The retailer last reported that the on-demand delivery service was available through 505 of its stores nationwide in December 2023. It has added 34 stores in eight months, bringing the footprint to 539 sites.

Year-on-year, Shoprite added 73 stores to Sixty60’s footprint.

Shoprite also noted that sales through the on-demand grocery delivery platform increased by 58.1%. This is down from the 81.5% sales growth it reported for the same period last year.

Despite the lower growth rate, Checkers Sixty60’s sales contributed significantly to the Shoprite Group’s overall sales growth of 12% to R240.7 billion.

At the same time, the group reported a R6.2 billion profit, representing 4% growth over the previous year.

Shoprite said it was able to invest R7.8 billion in its Smarter Shoprite strategy, which focuses on new stores, store upgrades, maintenance, digital and e-commerce, information technology, sustainability, and supply chain.

It expects to invest a further R8 billion in the business during the current financial year.

Checkers Sixty60 sales have continued to grow year-on-year, and the Shoprite Group launched an e-commerce platform for small and medium-sized businesses to offer them a similar service in July 2024.

Shoprite will service spaza shops and small businesses through its online Cash & Carry Wholesale business. The retail giant said it is the wholesale brand’s first venture into e-commerce.

Shoprite’s head of B2B e-commerce, Mark Cotton, said the platform would help these businesses that face high transport costs and difficulties meeting the demand in the informal sector.

“We are committed to supporting small businesses by providing innovative solutions to the specific problems these enterprises face,” said Cotton.

Users will benefit from reliable and visible stock access and delivery services that eliminate the need to hold excess stock, freeing up cash flow for business owners.

Shoprite said the new system also streamlined the purchase and fulfilment store for Cash & Carry in-store traders.