South Africa’s grocery retail market is shifting as rising food inflation pushes consumers to shop smarter. New Roots research shows shoppers spreading spend across multiple stores, planning purchases carefully and chasing discounts via flyers, apps and online channels. Loyalty is weakening, grocery apps are surging, and local community dynamics — not national averages — are increasingly shaping which retailers win.
GLO09 January 2026
South Africa’s retail sector is undergoing a significant shift as consumers adapt their shopping habits in response to sustained cost pressures. Rising food prices and persistent inflation are forcing households to rethink where, how and how often they shop — and loyalty to a single supermarket is increasingly a thing of the past.
Recent inflation data from Statistics South Africa shows food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation continuing to climb, reaching a 10-month high in July. Against this backdrop, new findings from Roots, the country’s longest-running independent consumer research survey, reveal a far more strategic, deal-driven shopper emerging across communities.
Grocery loyalty gives way to smart shopping
Roots data shows that South Africans are now spreading their grocery spend across multiple retailers in a bid to manage rising costs. On average, shoppers complete their main monthly grocery shop at four different stores — compared with just one or two a few years ago. Careful planning has replaced impulse buying: the proportion of shoppers making unplanned purchases has halved since 2022, dropping from 10% to 5%.
Price comparison has become central to the shopping journey. Nearly seven in ten consumers rely on printed flyers delivered to their homes to identify promotions, while many also turn to search engines, social media and direct messaging platforms to track specials. In-store browsing remains important too, with shoppers actively seeking discounts once inside shops.
Grocery apps surge into the mainstream
One of the most striking changes is the rapid rise of app-based grocery shopping. More than a third of respondents reported using on-demand grocery delivery services in the previous four weeks, placing grocery apps among the top five shopping channels nationwide.
Checkers Sixty60 leads the category, followed closely by Pick n Pay asap!, with Spar and Woolworths Dash also gaining traction. The growth of these platforms reflects a broader global trend: convenience, price transparency and time-saving services are becoming essential as urbanisation and digital adoption accelerate.
National averages hide local realities
While national market share figures offer a high-level view, the Roots survey highlights stark differences at provincial and community level. Historically, Pick n Pay led grocery spend nationally, followed by Shoprite and Checkers. Over time, however, market share has shifted, with growth absorbed by value-focused chains, premium players and app-based services.
Shoprite currently attracts the largest share of national grocery spend, largely due to its strong presence in densely populated areas where consumers have fewer alternatives. Checkers and Pick n Pay follow closely, but when the data is examined at community level, Checkers dominates more individual areas than any other retailer.
Provinces tell different stories
Provincial data underscores just how fragmented the retail landscape has become. In Gauteng, Pick n Pay attracts the highest share of grocery spend, while Checkers dominates in Cape Town, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and along the Garden Route. Shoprite remains the clear leader across several inland provinces, including Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Free State. In contrast, Spar performs strongly in select Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga towns.
These regional patterns demonstrate that consumer behaviour is shaped as much by accessibility, income mix and local competition as by national pricing strategies.
Why community insight matters more than ever
According to Spark Media’s head of research Lynne Krog, the data highlights the danger of relying on national averages to guide strategy. Retail success, she argues, is increasingly determined at community level, where needs, income pressures and shopping behaviours vary widely.
In affluent areas such as Fourways in Gauteng, for example, consumers still prioritise value. Despite assumptions that premium retailers would dominate, data shows strong engagement with mainstream chains, heavy use of loyalty programmes and an active hunt for specials — reinforcing that price sensitivity cuts across income groups.
The pressure on retailers intensifies
With food inflation, energy costs, property rates and transport expenses all placing pressure on household budgets, food and grocery retail has become one of the most fiercely contested sectors in South Africa. Shoppers are demanding quality, affordability and relevance — and they are prepared to switch brands to get it.
For retailers, the message is clear: growth will come not from broad national strategies, but from deep local understanding. Those able to tailor pricing, promotions and communication to the specific needs of individual communities — while maintaining trust and value — are best positioned to win in an increasingly fragmented and competitive market.
Source note: Roots 8.1 was commissioned by Spark Media, conducted by Borderless Access and published by Caxton Media, surveying 25,000 adults across 107 South African communities.
Source: Spark Media / GLO
Disclaimer: Press release
© Press Release 2025
Send us your press releases to news@globalloyalty.org
Press releases originate from external third-party providers. This website does not have responsibility or control over its content, which is presented as is, without any alterations. Neither this website nor its affiliates guarantee the accuracy of the views or opinions expressed in the press release.
The press release is intended solely for informational purposes and does not offer tax, legal, or investment advice, nor does it express any opinion regarding the suitability, value, or profitability of specific securities, portfolios, or investment strategies. Neither this website nor its affiliates are liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, nor for any actions taken based on it. By using the information provided in this article, you agree to do so at your own risk.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, subsidiaries, affiliates, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers, and licensors shall not be liable to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive, or exemplary damages, including but not limited to lost profits, savings, and revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract, or any other theory of liability, even if the possibility of such damages was known or foreseeable.
The images used in press releases and articles provided by 3rd party sources belong to the respective source provider and are used for illustrative purposes in accordance with the original press releases and publications.
Disclaimer: Content
While we strive to maintain accurate and up-to-date content, Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the correctness accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or reliability of the information or the results derived from its use, not that the content will meet your requirements or expectations. The content is provided “as is” and “as available”. You agree that your use of the content is at your own risk. Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. disclaims all warranties related to the content, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and title, and is not liable for a particular purpose, non-infringement, and title, and is not liable for any interruptions. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so these jurisdictions may not apply to you. Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. Reserves the right to modify, interrupt, or discontinue the content without notice and is not liable for doing so.
Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. shall not be liable for any damages, including special, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages, or damages for lost profits, revenue, or use, arising out of or related to the content, whether in contract, negligence, tort, statute, equity, law, or otherwise, even if advised of such damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on liability for incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation may not apply to you. These disclaimers and limitations apply to Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. and its parent, affiliates, related companies, contractors, sponsors, and their respective directors, officers, members, employees, agents, content providers, licensors, and advisors.
The content and its compilation, created by Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd, are the property of Global Loyalty Organisation Ltd. and cannot be reproduced without prior written permission.
