SOUTH AFRICA – The Shoprite Group has introduced an online bottle store, LiquorShop Online, selling more than 3,000 drinks and accessories, and offering nationwide home delivery.
The online store is an extension of its standalone liquor store, LiquorShop, and comes after its brick-and-mortar store was voted South Africa’s favourite liquor store.
“As with its physical stores, LiquorShop Online will focus on offering unbeatable value across a massive range.
“Products will retail at supermarket prices, and customers can link their Xtra Savings cards to benefit from deals online,” the retailer said.
The move bolsters its liquor sales, which currently represent 5.5% of Shoprite’s sales in South Africa. Of the group’s 1,726 stores in South Africa, 537 are its liquor outlets.
While the store offers everyday alcohol products, it also has rare finds such as high-end spirits that are not available in local stores and are exclusive to the website.
Its premium online products include a rare bottle of a Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac, which is selling for R69,999. It also has a Bunnahabhain 25-year-old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky that is going for R5,999 and Teeling Single Malt Irish Whiskey, selling for R 599.99 (US$39.30).
A limited edition 23-year-old Springbank Single Malt Scotch Whisky, which has been bottled under Checkers LiquorShop’s exclusive Private Barrel Co. range of whiskies, is also available. The whisky is selling for R3,799 (US$248.83).
The online outlet will also stock a range of sought-after premium wines, such as The Jem Waterford Estate, Closilo Kopbeen Pinotage, and De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay. Shoppers can also add accessories like wine glasses, tumblers and decanters to their orders.
The launch of the new online store joins Shoprite group’s Checkers Sixty60 service that is seeing continued success for grocery home deliveries.
Since first launching in late 2019 in a few neighbourhoods in the Western Cape and Gauteng, Checkers has rapidly expanded Sixty60 throughout the country and the service is now available from over 150 stores nationwide.
With more than 1.2 million app downloads, over 15 000 groceries to choose from on the Sixty60 app and delivery in as little as 60 minutes at a fee of just R35 (US$2.29), it remains South Africa’s fastest and cheapest on demand grocery delivery service.
South African grocer’s quarterly sales rises over 9%
Meanwhile, the retail chain has reported a 9.3% rise in its first quarter sales, helped by robust trading in its supermarkets in South Africa.
Shoprite, which has more than 2,800 stores in 13 African countries, indicated that sales in its home business increased by 11.6% despite civil unrest in July, during which 135 supermarkets and 54 liquor shops were severely impacted due to looting and arson attacks.
Shoprite estimates the book value of the damage to property, fixtures and fittings, stock and fleet at around R1.25 billion (US$81.74 million).
The retailer has cover in place from the South African Special Risks Insurance Association to the value of R1.5 billion (US$98m) and has to date received an initial R500 million (US$32.75m) payment, it said.
Its supermarkets in the rest of Africa, notably Zambia, increased sales by 1.9%.
Growth in constant currency however “continues to be eroded on translation into the group’s reporting currency, the rand, but nonetheless a return to rand-based growth, albeit at a low level, is positive,” Shoprite added.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE
