Headquartered in Cape Town's Foreshore area, the company operates numerous divisions, including Takealot.com, South Africa's largest online retailer.[3][4]
In 2024, Takealot contributed 12.3% to parent company Naspers' overall revenue.[1] Takealot has set a profitability goal of 2026.[5]
History
In October 2010, former MWEB CEO Kim Reid and US-based investment firm Tiger Global Management acquired existing South African ecommerce business Take2, renaming it takealot.com.[6] Takealot.com was officially launched to the public in June 2011.[2][6]
In 2014, Takealot launched an on-demand food delivery service after acquiring Mr Delivery (rebranded Mr D)[7] and Superbalist.com, a fashion e-tailer which later was acquired by a South African consortium of retail and private equity investors, led by Blank Canvas Capital on September 1, 2024.[8]
In the same year, Takealot announced that a merger would take place with then-major South African online retailer, Kalahari.com.[9][10][11] The merger was successfully completed in May 2015.[12][13]
In 2018, South African mass media company, Naspers, increased its shareholding in Takealot to 96%.[14]
In May 2024, Takealot launched an optional subscription service with two tiers called TakealotMORE, somewhat akin to Amazon Prime, whereby customers could subscribe to gain access to faster delivery, free delivery and collections, and exclusive deals on certain items each month.[15]
In September 2025, Takealot announced the launch of its business-to-business (B2B) service, Takealot for Business. The procurement service offers single-supplier services across multiple business segments, with interest-free payment periods, rebates, and streamlined logistics.[5]
Operations
Delivery Network
Takealot provides delivery services in all major metropolitan areas across South Africa, under its Mr D banner. The company uses a variety of vehicles, depending on package size, and offers same-day and next-day delivery options, as well as weekend delivery. As of 2019, Takealot contracts over 4,500 delivery drivers and carries out over 1.6 million monthly deliveries.[16][17]
Delivery Services
Takealot offers a streamlined delivery service for specific Takealot.com items, via its Mr D app, called TakealotNOW.[18]
The company also operates an optional subscription service called TakealotMORE, through which customers can gain access to delivery and collection benefits, Mr D-specific benefits, and exclusive deals on certain items each month.[19]
Food Delivery
As a distinct division, Takealot operates Mr D food deliveries from restaurants and supermarkets via the Mr D app. The company acquired a majority stake in Mr Delivery, a pioneer in the South African food delivery industry, in 2014.[20] The service, rebranded as Mr D, competes with the likes of Uber Eats in South Africa. For grocery delivery, Mr D has a partnership with major South African retailer Pick n Pay to offer a dedicated grocery shopping service on the app.[1][21]
In April 2019 Takealot opened its first series of collection points, branded as Takealot Pickup Points.[22][23][24] As of March 2020, over 50 Takealot Pickup Points are available in all 9 South African provinces.[25][26]
Takealot Marketplace
Takealot's Marketplace enables third party sellers to offer goods to consumers. These are fulfilled by the suppliers instead of directly by Takealot. As of 2024, the company had over 11,000 active sellers on its Marketplace.[1]
Corporate social responsibility
Since 2024, Takealot distribution centers have used a new storage system which reduces the number of boxes per order for around 70% of all orders the company processes. Packaging pallets are also restored and reused. Furthermore, the company has optimized its inbound courier network to reduce the number of deliveries to DCs.[1]
Takealot is a member of the South African Plastics Pact, a collaboration of industry members aimed at reducing plastic waste through lobbying local and national governments to enact regulations that improve waste management, such as via recycling.[1]
Takealot warehouses and distribution centers in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg make use of solar power. As of 2024, combined solar capacity is around 1,800 kWp.[1]
As of September 2025, Takealot has 232 e-bikes, 41 Mellowvan 3-wheeled EVs, and 16 electric commercial trucks (with another 14 trucks on order). E-bikes are used for Takealot's on-demand deliveries, Mr D, and TakealotNow services. Mellowvans (produced in South Africa), are used for last-mile Takealot deliveries. The company's fleet of JAC N75 trucks are used for middle-mile deliveries.[27]
Criticism
Takealot has garnered attention from South African labour unions following protests from Takealot workers in July 2022.[28][29] Some workers have stated that they work more than 12-hour shifts, with only a one-hour lunch break.[citation needed]
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R14.95 billion (2024) [1] 
-R264 million (2024) [1] 
