Retail - Daily News Africa https://www.dailynewsafrica.co.za Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:46:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://www.dailynewsafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cropped-cropped-logo-32x32.jpg Retail - Daily News Africa https://www.dailynewsafrica.co.za 32 32 Shoprite buys SA’s coffee chain, Vida e Caffe https://www.dailynewsafrica.co.za/shoprite-buys-major-coffee-brand-in-south-africa-with-400-stores-across-the-country/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shoprite-buys-major-coffee-brand-in-south-africa-with-400-stores-across-the-country Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:46:51 +0000 https://www.dailynewsafrica.co.za/?p=1345

Shoprite has bought South Africa's biggest coffee chain, Vida e Caffe - with this purchase, Shoprite snapped up Vida’s 400 corporate and franchise stores nationwide, expanding the retailer’s presence in the coffee and quick service restaurant (QSR) category. The other acquisition Shoprite made in this period was an initial majority shareholding of the South African technology and payments company, R&A Cellular. This acquisition was made post-financial year-end, on 14 August 2026, and has given Shoprite a 51% stake in R&A Cellular. R&A Cellular’s device network enables informal and semi-formal micro-retailers to deliver convenient, high‑frequency financial services access points for essential everyday services. In a statement, Shoprite said the acquisition forms part of its financial services growth strategy and will enable the meaningful scaling of the R&A Cellular platform. R&A Cellular will allow Shoprite to expand its installed device base nationally across informal retailers, embedding the use of the retailer’s financial services products within the R&A Cellular ecosystem. “These initiatives are expected to drive growth, deepen customer engagement, and extend the group’s financial services reach into the informal sector,” Shoprite said. In addition to R&A Cellular, Shoprite acquired a 100% stake in Vida e Caffè, South Africa’s biggest coffee chain. The deal was signed on 20 August 2026 and comprises Vida’s South African and non-South African operations. The History behind Vida Vida was founded in 2001 by two friends, Rui Esteves and Brad Armitage, who were inspired by European coffee culture. Esteves and Armitage opened the first Vida e Caffè store on Kloof Street in Cape Town and began expanding shortly thereafter. By the time they opened their third store in Cavendish Square in Cape Town, Grant Dutton had joined the company as a 40% joint-venture partner. After helping the business grow from three stores to seven, Dutton and his investment partners bought Vida from Esteves and Armitage in 2006. Since then, Vida’s store base has expanded significantly, now boasting 400 corporate and franchise stores in Africa. This makes it not only South Africa’s biggest chain but the largest on the continent. Shoprite CEO Pieter Engelbrecht said Vida has a broad and demographically diverse customer base that is supported by a range of store formats. “This combination provides a strong platform for future growth and customer engagement. Authentic, innovative and highly relevant to evolving consumer lifestyles,” Engelbrecht said. “Vida is a business we greatly admire, and we look forward to learning from its success while supporting its next phase of growth.” Shoprite said its acquisition of Vida is expected to strengthen the group’s presence in the QSR industry and complement its existing operations. The retailer currently operates in the QTSR industry through in-store brand partnerships, private coffee and food-service labels, and B2B catering services, but does not operate stand-alone food chains. Shoprite’s share purchase agreement for Vida was executed in August 2026, and the transaction remains subject to the fulfilment of regulatory conditions. Shoprite expects the transaction to become effective in its 2027 financial year.]]>

Shoprite has bought South Africa's biggest coffee chain, Vida e Caffe - with this purchase, Shoprite snapped up Vida’s 400 corporate and franchise stores nationwide, expanding the retailer’s presence in the coffee and quick service restaurant (QSR) category. The other acquisition Shoprite made in this period was an initial majority shareholding of the South African technology and payments company, R&A Cellular. This acquisition was made post-financial year-end, on 14 August 2026, and has given Shoprite a 51% stake in R&A Cellular. R&A Cellular’s device network enables informal and semi-formal micro-retailers to deliver convenient, high‑frequency financial services access points for essential everyday services. In a statement, Shoprite said the acquisition forms part of its financial services growth strategy and will enable the meaningful scaling of the R&A Cellular platform. R&A Cellular will allow Shoprite to expand its installed device base nationally across informal retailers, embedding the use of the retailer’s financial services products within the R&A Cellular ecosystem. “These initiatives are expected to drive growth, deepen customer engagement, and extend the group’s financial services reach into the informal sector,” Shoprite said. In addition to R&A Cellular, Shoprite acquired a 100% stake in Vida e Caffè, South Africa’s biggest coffee chain. The deal was signed on 20 August 2026 and comprises Vida’s South African and non-South African operations. The History behind Vida Vida was founded in 2001 by two friends, Rui Esteves and Brad Armitage, who were inspired by European coffee culture. Esteves and Armitage opened the first Vida e Caffè store on Kloof Street in Cape Town and began expanding shortly thereafter. By the time they opened their third store in Cavendish Square in Cape Town, Grant Dutton had joined the company as a 40% joint-venture partner. After helping the business grow from three stores to seven, Dutton and his investment partners bought Vida from Esteves and Armitage in 2006. Since then, Vida’s store base has expanded significantly, now boasting 400 corporate and franchise stores in Africa. This makes it not only South Africa’s biggest chain but the largest on the continent. Shoprite CEO Pieter Engelbrecht said Vida has a broad and demographically diverse customer base that is supported by a range of store formats. “This combination provides a strong platform for future growth and customer engagement. Authentic, innovative and highly relevant to evolving consumer lifestyles,” Engelbrecht said. “Vida is a business we greatly admire, and we look forward to learning from its success while supporting its next phase of growth.” Shoprite said its acquisition of Vida is expected to strengthen the group’s presence in the QSR industry and complement its existing operations. The retailer currently operates in the QTSR industry through in-store brand partnerships, private coffee and food-service labels, and B2B catering services, but does not operate stand-alone food chains. Shoprite’s share purchase agreement for Vida was executed in August 2026, and the transaction remains subject to the fulfilment of regulatory conditions. Shoprite expects the transaction to become effective in its 2027 financial year.]]> Wasoko (formerly Sokowatch): Reinventing Retail Logististics in East Africa https://www.dailynewsafrica.co.za/wasoko-reinventing-retail-logististics/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wasoko-reinventing-retail-logististics Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:07:14 +0000 http://169.239.217.52/~dailynewsafricac/?p=899

Serving the Informal Retail Backbone 

Wasoko, formerly known as Sokowatch, is an East African B2B e-commerce platform transforming how small shops restock inventory. Founded by Daniel Yu, Wasoko operates in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda, helping informal retailer order good via mobile and receive fast, reliable delivery 

Fast, Data Driven Distribution 

The platform lets small shops place orders via SMS or app and receive same-day delivery from Wasoko’s fleet of vehicles. Shops can also buy on credit, creating a more stable supply chain and improving cash flow for micro entrepreneurs. 

Massive Reach and Market Impact

With over 200,000 retailers onboarded and thousands of orders fulfilled daily, Wasoko has become a critical infrastructure layer for the informal economy. In 2022, the company raised $125 million in Series B funding, led by Tiger Global and Avenir.  

Building Financial Identities 

By analyzing transaction data, Wasoko is helping previously undocumented entrepreneurs build credit profiles, opening the door to loans, insurance, and banking services. 

The Future of Informal Retail 

Wasoko is positioning itself as Africa’s Amazon for informal retail, scaling across the continent and improving the backbone of consumer goods distribution.
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Serving the Informal Retail Backbone 

Wasoko, formerly known as Sokowatch, is an East African B2B e-commerce platform transforming how small shops restock inventory. Founded by Daniel Yu, Wasoko operates in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda, helping informal retailer order good via mobile and receive fast, reliable delivery 

Fast, Data Driven Distribution 

The platform lets small shops place orders via SMS or app and receive same-day delivery from Wasoko’s fleet of vehicles. Shops can also buy on credit, creating a more stable supply chain and improving cash flow for micro entrepreneurs. 

Massive Reach and Market Impact

With over 200,000 retailers onboarded and thousands of orders fulfilled daily, Wasoko has become a critical infrastructure layer for the informal economy. In 2022, the company raised $125 million in Series B funding, led by Tiger Global and Avenir.  

Building Financial Identities 

By analyzing transaction data, Wasoko is helping previously undocumented entrepreneurs build credit profiles, opening the door to loans, insurance, and banking services. 

The Future of Informal Retail 

Wasoko is positioning itself as Africa’s Amazon for informal retail, scaling across the continent and improving the backbone of consumer goods distribution.
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