Retail giant Shoprite has announced the acquisition of Vida e Caffè, South Africa's largest specialized coffee chain, as well as securing a 51% stake in the payment technology company R&A Cellular.
These deals were announced by the company alongside the release of its annual results for the 52 weeks ending June 28, 2026. The total value of the acquisitions is estimated at approximately 1 billion rand, while Shoprite reported a 12.2% increase in annual revenue and an earnings per share increase to 15.32 rand.
Vida e Caffè is a South African coffee chain with over 400 corporate and franchise stores across Africa. The business operates in various locations, including high-traffic streets, petrol stations, fast-service points, offices, and shopping malls.
Expansion Strategy Through Acquisitions
CEO Peter Engelbrecht noted that the diverse customer base and various store formats of this chain create a solid foundation for further growth. He emphasized that Vida e Caffè strengthens the company's presence in the coffee and quick-service restaurant (QSR) segment while adding deep operational expertise to this fast-growing market. With 25 years of experience, Vida has established itself as a leading South African coffee brand, managing around 400 corporate and franchise outlets nationwide.
Engelbrecht added that the wide and demographically diverse clientele is supported by the variety of store formats, such as street locations, petrol station sites, fast-service points, corporate offices, and shopping centers, as well as an increasingly integrated digital offering.
Strengthening Financial Services Strategy
Furthermore, Engelbrecht stated that the purchase of R&A Cellular will help realize Shoprite's financial services growth strategy and expand its penetration into the informal retail market. He specified that this transaction is part of the Group's growth strategy in financial services. It will allow for significant scaling of the R&A Cellular platform by expanding the base of installed devices among informal traders nationwide, broadening their value-added service (VAS) offerings, and integrating the Group's financial services products into the R&A Cellular ecosystem.
These initiatives are expected to contribute to growth, deepen customer engagement, and expand the Group's financial services reach in the informal sector.