After years of trying to grow its footprint, Botswana based retailer Choppies has sold its Jwayelani-branded supermarket chain and meat processing plant to the Shingai Itai Consortium.
The transaction will see Shingai Retail Investments, led by businesswoman Philisiwe Sibiya, take ownership of 45 Jwayelani discount supermarkets and the brand’s meat processing plant. The deal is still subject to competition authority approval and is expected to be finalised before November 2025.
“The Jwayelani brand has a loyal customer base, especially around its meat offering. Our vision is to not only strengthen the stores but also to empower local black-owned producers and farmers to participate in the supply chain,” said Sibiya.
Sibiya added that the company wants to help black-owned food producers grow by working with these stores.
“As a new black owned retailer, our overall strategy includes broader economic empowerment and aims to position Jwayelani as more than just a value-for-money retailer for the people, also as a food platform company that can empower black owned food producers, meat producers, farmers, and the broader supply chain to participate with direct access to consumers,” Sibiya said.
“We have assembled a highly credible and experienced management team and Board to support us as we look to transform Jwayelani as one of the go-to value for money grocery retailers in South Africa,” she said.
For Choppies, the move reflects the difficulties many regional and global retailers face in competing against entrenched players such as Shoprite, Pick’n Pay, and Spar.
High operating costs, tight margins, and subdued consumer spending have forced several foreign entrants to scale back or exit entirely. Walmart, for example, has struggled with its Massmart investment, while Game and Cambridge Food have shut down dozens of stores.
Choppies spokesperson Kebonyemodisa Kebonyemodisa, the sale marks the end of a difficult run in South Africa’s highly competitive grocery space.
“This divestment allows Choppies to streamline its operations and focus on its strategic priorities, while ensuring the Jwayelani stores continue to grow under new ownership and to ensure the business is sustainable over the long term,” said Kebonyemodisa.
Shingai’s arrival shows how South Africa’s retail market is changing. While some big companies are pulling back, new black-owned businesses are stepping in.
Meanwhile, other grocery retailers, such as the Shoprite Group, have expressed confidence that Sibiya and her team will turn Jwayelani into a strong and lasting retail business.
