The Shoprite group recently reported stronger sales for the year ended 28 June, helping adjusted headline earnings per share rise 12.5% to R15.79.
The group said it also increased its full-year dividend by 11.8% to R8.73 a share.
Shoprite’s South African grocery stores performed particularly strongly during the year. The segment’s sales increased by R15.2bn, or 7.1%, to R228.7bn.
Shoprite and Usave sales increased by 4.3%, despite internal selling-price deflation of 0.1% and 0.6%, respectively. Checkers and Checkers Hyper sales rose by 10%.
The stronger performance in South African grocery operations helped group revenue increase 7.1% to R274.8bn.
Pieter Engelbrecht, Shoprite’s chief executive, said this performance was achieved in an environment where affordability and low prices remained central to its customer offering.
The retailer said it opened 32 new supermarkets during the last financial year, highlighting its continued expansion of its core supermarket network.
This comes after just under a year ago, Checkers unveiled its largest fully certified halaal store at Saxony Westwood Mall in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal.
Riaz Cotwal, Divisional Manager for Checkers KwaZulu-Natal said, "This store builds on the foundation laid by Checkers Foods Cowey Park in Essenwood, Durban, the first halaal store in the province. Now we have elevated the scale, sophistication, and customer experience to new heights."
Shoprite Lotus River is managed by Shaheema Williams, who has been with the retailer for 25 years.
Williams transferred to the new store from Shoprite Elsies River, bringing extensive experience within the group to the new supermarket.
Ashley.Lechman@nationalmg.co.za
