The antitrust watchdog said the transaction would happen without conditions.
The Competition Commission has approved a slew of proposed transactions where franchise stores operating under Pick n Pay, SPAR, and an independent brand can be acquired by Shoprite.
The proposed transactions include:
- Shoprite Checkers acquiring SPAR Carolina and TOPS—owned and operated by Intrax Investments 262.
- Shoprite Checkers acquiring SPAR Diepkloof—operated by Manuglo Proprietary Limited.
- Shoprite acquiring Van Riebeeck Park Pick ‘n Pay Liquor—owned by Van Riebeeck Park Foodlane Proprietary Limited.
- Shoprite Checkers acquiring Sean’s Discount Liquor—owned by Issken CC.
All transactions were approved without conditions.
Shoprite Checkers is wholly owned and controlled by JSE-listed Shoprite Holdings.
The targetted stores are all independently owned by individuals or trusts outside of the franchise brands – ie, they are not company-owned stores within Pick n Pay and SPAR’s portfolios.
In all cases, the commission said it is of the view that the proposed transactions are unlikely to substantially lessen or prevent competition in any market and do not raise significant public interest concerns.
“(The commission) will continue to monitor future acquisitions, including small mergers, in local markets,”
it said.
Shoprite indicated this week that it is on an expansion drive, opening new stores across the country. This stands in contrast to the group’s competitor, Pick n Pay, which is cutting back and streamlining its Pick n Pay store network, having closed 53 company-owned and franchise stores in the six months since February 2024.
Source: Business Tech
