Retailing in South Africa is a large, diverse market sector, comprising myriad businesses, ranging in size from independent traders to multinational corporations. In 2024, the retail sector grew for the fourth consecutive year, to reach a value of approximately R1.36 trillion. [1] The year prior, retail was the second-largest employment sector in South Africa, and contributed around 20% towards the country's GDP. [2]
South Africa's retail sector is the largest on the African continent. The sector contributes a significant amount towards South Africa's economy.
The country's formal independent retail and wholesale sector is valued at R268 billion as of 2025, comprising nearly a third of the SA's fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market. [3]
The South African Government has implemented tax reforms to support the local retail sector. For example, the South African Revenue Service introduced stricter rules for cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Shein and Temu, raising import duties and value added tax to curb foreign competition. These regulations include increased customs duties and import VAT, aimed at protecting local retailers and generating government revenue. Customs duties are determined by the type, value, and origin of imported goods. [1]
The South African retail industry was predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 4% through 2027. [4]
Below are alphabetized lists of the major retailers in South Africa by product category. Revenue is in South African rand. For foreign-domicilied companies, the year of foundation is the year of launch in South Africa. Only columns that are complete are totaled.
The retail sector forms a considerable part of the city of Cape Town's local economy. The city is home to the headquarters of all but one of South Africa's largest supermarket brands, both of its largest e-commerce stores, all four of its major coffeehouse chains, both of its largest gas station chains, its largest gardening chain, its largest outdoor retailer, its largest pharmaceutical retail brand, and all but one of the country's largest fashion retailers. Many of these companies have their head offices in Cape Town CBD.
Online shopping has become more common, as the internet in South Africa has become more accessible. The country has 50.8 million internet users, constituting 78.9% of the population, as of January 2025. [5]
In 2024, e-commerce was predicted to grow at an annual rate of 15 to 20%, driven by an increase in internet accessibility and increased use of digital payment methods. In the same year, e-commerce accounted for 10.5% of total retail sales in SA. [6] This was estimated to reach 20% by 2027.
Originally, the largest e-commerce store in South Africa was Kalahari.com. Kalahari merged with Takealot in 2015, [7] and the new company has become the e-commerce sales leader in the South African market. Takealot owns online fashion store Superbalist, which it acquired along with delivery service Mr Delivery (now branded MrD) in 2014. US-based Amazon only launched in SA in 2024, and still has a small presence. Many brick and mortar retailers also sell their goods online.
| Company | Founded | Ownership | Headquarters | Revenue | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 2024 | Amazon (USA) | Cape Town | ||
| Takealot | 2011 | Naspers | Cape Town | R14.95 billion (2024) | [8] |
| Total |
South Africa has many thriving, and in some cases even world-renowned, independent coffeehouses. There are also four major coffeehouse chains, all of which are headquartered in Cape Town, which has a vibrant coffee culture.
| Company | Founded | Headquarters | Number of locations | Revenue | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bootlegger | 2013 | Cape Town | 80+ (2025) | [9] | |
| Seattle | 1993 | Cape Town | 297 (2025) | [10] | |
| Vida | 2001 | Cape Town | 320+ (2025) | [11] | |
| WCafe | Cape Town | 220+ (2025) | [12] | ||
| Total | 917+ |
South Africa's supermarket space is dominated by a few major corporations, most of which are locally based and have been around for numerous decades. Spar has the largest number of stores, by a significant margin. Shoprite, meanwhile, has the highest earnings, and is among the top 100 largest retailers in the world.
Woolworths is the market's only dedicated premium supermarket chain. Food Lover's Market is the newest entrant into the space. Food Lover's is South Africa's largest privately owned retail chain. All other major supermarket chains are public companies, traded on the JSE Limited, South Africa's largest stock exchange.
Shoprite is the parent company of Checkers and USave. Checkers also has a dedicated FreshX brand of upmarket stores. Pick n Pay is the parent company of Boxer.
Cape Town has an exceptionally large retail economy, and is home to the headquarters of all but one of SA's largest supermarket brands.
| Company | Founded | Headquarters | Number of locations | Type | Revenue | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxer | 1977 | Cape Town | 500 (2024) | Lower market to midmarket | [13] | |
| Checkers | 1956 | Cape Town | 597 (2025) | Midmarket to upmarket | R97.31 billion (2024) | [14] |
| Food Lover's Market | 1993 | Cape Town | 300+ (2022) | Midmarket to upmarket | [15] | |
| Pick n Pay | 1967 | Cape Town | 2,279 (2024) | Midmarket to upmarket | - R20.12 billion (2024) | [16] |
| Shoprite | 1979 | Cape Town | 3,478 (2025) | Midmarket | R256 billion (2025) | [17] |
| Spar | 1963 | Pinetown | 4,449 (2024) | Midmarket to upmarket | R152.3 billion (2024) | [18] |
| USave | 2003 | Cape Town | 500 (2025) | Lower market to midmarket | [19] | |
| Woolworths | 1931 | Cape Town | 1,057 (2024) | Upmarket | R77.33 billion (2024) | [20] |
| Total | 13,160+ |
South Africa is home to numerous convenience store brands, most of which are located at gas stations, either via an in-house brand, or a partnership with a different retail company. Part of a thriving automotive industry in South Africa, there 4,000 gas stations across the country, operated by seven different brands. [21] [22]
The two largest gas station chains by number of locations are headquartered in Cape Town, while the rest have their head offices in Gauteng.
| Company | Founded | Headquarters | Revenue | Convenience store partner | Headquarters | Number of locations | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astron | 1911 | Cape Town | Food Lover's Market's FreshStop | Cape Town | 850 (2025) | [22] | |
| BP | 1924 | Johannesburg | Pick n Pay Express | Cape Town | 500 (2025) | [22] | |
| Engen | 1881 | Cape Town | R156 billion (2022) | Woolworths Foodstop | Cape Town | 1,040 (2025) | [23] |
| Puma | 2017 | Sandton | Circle K | Johannesburg | 118 (2025) | [24] | |
| Sasol | 1950 | Sandton | R249.09 billion (2025) | Sasol's delight | Sandton | 354 (2025) | [25] |
| Shell | 1902 | Sandton | Spar express | Pinetown | 591 (2025) | [22] | |
| Total | 1954 | Johannesburg | Total's bonjour | Johannesburg | 547 (2025) | [22] | |
| Total | 4,000 |
South Africa has a few big-box store chains. These sell general merchandise, such as major appliances and homeware, in a warehouse format. Some, like Makro, are warehouse clubs, where shoppers are required to sign up for a free membership card in order to purchase anything, and can buy items in wholesale quantities.
Aside from being sold in SA's big box stores, electronics items like TVs are also sold at a few stores that focus on this market segment. Items in the computing category can be found in certain physical stores, and are sold through specialist online-only retailers, like Wootware. South Africa's largest e-commerce store, Takealot, is also a major player in the electronics sector.
Cell phones in South Africa can be purchased from a variety of retailers, including major e-commerce stores like Takealot, brick and mortar electronics retailers, big box stores. They can also be bought, prepaid or on a contract basis, from SA's major mobile telco providers. Mobile telecommunications in South Africa are dominated by four major companies, which are:
Two of SA's largest sporting and exercise gear stores, Totalsports and Sportscene, are owned by diversified retail corporation TFG.
Both Clicks and Dis-Chem operate in-store pharmacies, nursing offices for things like vaccines, and sell personal care items, and a small selection of homeware items, at stores across South Africa.
| Company | Founded | Headquarters | Number of locations | Revenue | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clicks | 2003 | Cape Town | 945+ (2025) | R48.6 billion (2022) | [26] |
| Dis-Chem | 1982 | Midrand | 300+ (2025) | R39.17 billion (2025) | [27] |
| Total | 1,245+ | R87.77 billion |
SA has just three major general home improvement chains. All large retailers in this sector, except French-based Leroy Merlin, are local companies. However, the country is also home to more specialized home improvement chains, such as Italtile's CTM, which focuses on tiles and bathroom fittings, as well as dedicated paint stores from manufacturers like Dulux. Other retail chains in this sector include Gelmar, DIY Depot, and Built it.
| Company | Founded | Headquarters | Number of locations | Revenue | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brights Hardware | 1971 | Cape Town | 9 | [28] | |
| BUCO | 1982 | Cape Town | 72 | [29] | |
| Builders Warehouse | 2003 | Sandton | 117 (2025) | 1.18 billion (2024) | [30] |
| Leroy Merlin | 1923 | Sandton | 5 | [31] | |
| Mica Hardware | 1983 | Bedfordview | 160+ | [32] | |
| Total | 363+ |
Three of South Africa's major supermarket chains also operate dedicated clothing stores, under separate brands - Woolworths' Edit stores, Pick n Pay's Pick n Pay Clothing brand, and Checkers' UNIQ Clothing by Checkers.
Pepkor is the parent company of both PEP and Ackermans clothing chains. MRP operates separate clothing and sportswear stores. TFG sells clothing under numerous brand names, as well as online, via its bash website. TFG also operates dedicated Sterns, Galaxy & Co, and American Swiss jewelry stores. Major fashion retail chains include: [33]