Retail giant Shoprite has posted a 9.9% rise in earnings for the first half of its financial year, driven by strong sales volumes, customer loyalty, and continued digital innovation. Headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the 26 weeks ending December rose to 662.3 cents, up from 602.8 cents in the prior year. Profit for the period increased by 10.2% to R3.6 billion, fueled by a 9.6% rise in total merchandise sales, which reached R128.6 billion. Trading profit also surged 13.5%, demonstrating the group’s ability to sustain profitability despite a low selling price inflation of just 1.9%.
A key driver of Shoprite’s success was the expansion of its digital and e-commerce ecosystem. The Checkers Sixty60 platform, which underwent a major upgrade before the festive season, now includes same-day delivery for general merchandise, extending its reach beyond groceries. Meanwhile, the group’s new product categories—particularly in clothing and pet care—gained traction, with its Petshop Science division seeing a 56.9% increase in sales. Additionally, Shoprite’s data-driven platforms, Rex and Rainmaker, continued to generate new revenue streams by leveraging customer insights and retail media opportunities.
The retailer declared an interim dividend of 285 cents per share, a 6.7% increase from the previous year, returning R1.5 billion to shareholders. CEO Pieter Engelbrecht credited the performance to a “sustained multiyear strategy focused on business expansion and market leadership.” He also highlighted the group’s investment in technology, including the successful rollout of a new point-of-sale system across 2,450 stores, requiring approximately 60,000 work hours.
Shoprite’s focus on operational efficiency, digital transformation, and customer engagement has positioned the retailer for continued growth, reinforcing its dominance in the South African retail landscape.