Following a successful pilot in Gauteng and the Western Cape, Shoprite’s award-winning Sixty60 service rolls out to 19 stores across eight provinces, aiming to revolutionize convenience for lower-income households with fast, affordable grocery delivery.
Johannesburg, South Africa – March 5, 2025 – Shoprite, South Africa’s largest retailer, has launched an ambitious expansion of its on-demand grocery delivery service, Shoprite Sixty60 South Africa expansion, extending its reach to 19 stores across eight provinces. The move, announced this week, builds on a triumphant pilot phase in Gauteng and the Western Cape, bringing the promise of ultra-fast, low-cost grocery delivery to millions more South Africans, particularly in underserved and lower-income areas.
The rollout, which kicked off this month with new locations like Shoprite Kleinmond in the Western Cape and Shoprite Kriel in Mpumalanga, marks a significant pivot for the Sixty60 brand. Initially launched in 2019 under the upscale Checkers banner, the service gained fame for its promise of groceries delivered within 60 minutes. Now, by integrating it into the Shoprite chain—known for its affordability and widespread presence—the company is betting on capturing a broader swath of the market, from township shoppers to rural families.
“We’re thrilled to bring Sixty60 to places where convenience can make a real difference,” said Neil Schreuder, Chief of Strategy and Innovation at the Shoprite Group. “This isn’t just about speed—it’s about access. We’ve spent months fine-tuning the logistics to ensure every delivery is seamless, no matter the location.” The expansion will unfold in phases, with Shoprite Atlantis and Shoprite Jabulani in Soweto already operational, signaling a deliberate push into diverse communities.
For South Africans, the timing couldn’t be better. With inflation easing but household budgets still tight, Sixty60’s commitment to in-store pricing—coupled with instant Xtra Savings rewards—offers a lifeline to cost-conscious consumers. “I used to trek to the store every week, but now I can get what I need without leaving home,” said Soweto resident Lerato Mokoena, who tried the service last week. “It’s the same prices, just easier.”
The expansion pits Shoprite against rivals like Pick n Pay and Woolworths, both of whom have been scrambling to bolster their own delivery offerings. But Sixty60’s edge lies in its scale and speed: the service has already racked up over 4.5 million app downloads and boasts a logistics backbone now fully owned by Shoprite following its acquisition of Pingo Delivery last year. That control has fueled a 47.1% surge in online sales for Checkers Sixty60 in the past six months, a momentum the company hopes to replicate with Shoprite.
Analysts see the move as a masterstroke in a retail landscape increasingly defined by e-commerce. “Shoprite’s playing to its strengths—affordability and reach,” said Cape Town-based retail expert Thandiwe Ndlovu. “Checkers Sixty60 proved the concept works for higher-income customers. Now they’re taking it to the masses, where the real volume lies.” She noted that Shoprite’s 2,700-plus stores dwarf competitors, giving it a logistical advantage few can match.
Still, challenges loom. Scaling Sixty60 to less urbanized areas means navigating patchy infrastructure and ensuring driver availability, a sore spot after recent reports of high dropout rates among local Pingo riders. Shoprite has pledged to address these hiccups, with plans to refine delivery schedules and bolster safety measures for its fleet. “We’re learning as we go,” Schreuder admitted. “But the demand is there, and we’re committed to meeting it.”
For communities like Ga-Nala in Mpumalanga, the arrival of Sixty60 could be transformative. “This is huge for us,” said local shop owner Sipho Dlamini. “People here don’t always have transport to big stores. Now they won’t have to.” The sentiment echoes across provinces, where the service promises not just convenience but a small boost to local economies through job creation for drivers and store staff.
As Shoprite rolls out its red delivery bikes nationwide, the expansion signals a new chapter in South Africa’s retail evolution—one where accessibility and efficiency could redefine how a nation shops. Whether Sixty60 can maintain its signature speed and savings on this larger stage remains to be seen, but for now, the retailer is betting big that convenience knows no income bracket.
