Shoprite Holdings expands via R&A Cellular and Vida e Caffè acquisitions

Shoprite Holdings has announced two major strategic acquisitions aimed at expanding its service footprint and entering the quick-service restaurant market.

The retailer has completed the acquisition of a 51% stake in R&A Cellular, an eMalahleni-based company specializing in point-of-sale devices for informal spaza shops across South Africa. CEO Pieter Engelbrecht intends to use the platform to expand R&A Cellular’s device base nationally and embed Shoprite’s financial services, such as Money Market, into the informal retail ecosystem.

Additionally, Shoprite has acquired a 100% stake in Vida e Caffè, South Africa’s largest coffee chain. The deal includes Vida’s domestic and international operations, which span across Africa, including Ghana, Mauritius, Zambia, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. The acquisition is expected to become effective during the 2027 financial year, pending regulatory conditions, and is intended to strengthen Shoprite’s presence in the quick-service restaurant industry.