What is a Retail Shop?
Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is sale to business or institutional customers.
A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholesaler, and then sells in smaller quantities to consumers for a profit.
Top Retail Shops In South Africa
Shoprite Holdings
ShopRite Holdings is Africa’s largest food retailer. It operates 2,843 supermarkets in 15 countries serving 35 million customers across Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands The company is headquartered in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Its primary business is food retailing to consumers of all income levels with the goal of providing all communities in Africa with food and household items in a world-class shopping environment but at the lowest possible prices.
As of 2019, the company employs approximately 147,000 people. Revenues for FY2017 (the latest figures given by Deloitte’s Global Powers of Retailing) were $10.34 billion.
SPAR Group
This supermarket chain is a Dutch multinational retail chain and franchise brand with approximately 12,500 stores in 42 countries. The company was founded in 1932 by Adriaan van Well. Through its affiliate organizations, Spar operates in most parts of Africa, Europe, and parts of Asia and Oceania. It is headquartered in Amsterdam.
In July of 2014, Spar Group South Africa opened its first supermarket in Angola. In August 2014, the group acquired 80 percent of the BWG Group, which had outlets in Ireland and southwest England. This helped it soar to the number three position among South African retailers. The company generated $6.232 billion in revenues for FY2017.
Pick n Pay
Pick n Pay is the second largest supermarket chain store in South Africa. It was established in 1967. It can also be found in other regions of South Africa such as Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia, and Mauritius.
The supermarket behemoth was founded by Jack Goldin, who was born in Obeliai, Lithuania but moved to South Africa when the Nazis invaded his hometown. Raymond Ackerman purchased three Pick n Pay supermarkets (in Cape Town) from Goldin and, today, Ackerman’s son Gareth currently serves as CEO of the company. FY2017 revenues were $5.418 billion.
Woolworths Holdings Limited
Woolworths Holdings Limited (not to be confused with the now-defunct American W.F. Woolworths chain) is a South African chain of retail stores and one of the largest in the country. It is modeled after Marks & Spencer of the United Kingdom.
The first department store opened in The Old Royal Hotel in Cape Town in 1931 and was founded by a gentleman named Max Sonnenberg. It operates through both corporate and franchise stores throughout South Africa and neighboring countries.
Various store formats include full-line stores, food stand-alone stores, food and homeware lifestyle stores, and stores offering textiles such as clothing, footwear, and homewares. In-store cafes offer organic teas and coffee as well as light meals while some stores also offer tapas bars. In 2015, Woolworths has acclaimed the best store for customer care in accordance with the South African Customer Index. Revenues for FY2017 were $4.944 billion.
Who is the biggest retailer in South Africa?
Shoprite
The South African food retail market is highly concentrated, with five main players accounting for about 60% of all retail sales. Referred to as the Big 5, the five companies are Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Spar, Woolworths and the new player, Walmart’s Cambridge Foods.
Which mall is number one in South Africa
The galleria mall in South Africa is the one that has the highest number of retail stores, the largest retail space, and the most recreational activities.