Boxer rolling out new stores across South Africa

Boxer said it is on track to meet its target of rolling out 25 Superstores and 35 liquor stores by the end of its 2027 financial year.

The retailer has already opened 19 new stores in the 20 weeks ended 19 July 2026, and said more store openings are planned for the second half of the year.

This was revealed in a trading update published on Tuesday, 28 July, in which Boxer provided shareholders with an update on its performance.

Boxer said its turnover grew 7.2%, with like-for-like growth of 2.2%. This marks a slowdown from the second half of its 2026 financial year, which recorded growth of 10.9% and 3.7%, respectively.

However, Boxer’s like-for-like volume growth remained positive, as it has for the past three years, while its market share grew.

The retailer’s internal selling price inflation was -1.9%, representing a further slowdown from the -0.7% and -1.6% previously reported for the first and second halves of FY2026, respectively. 

“The reported deflation is the consequence of continued deflation across key commodity categories,” Boxer explained.

This includes products like maize meal, rice, and flour, which all experienced double-digit deflation during the period.

Despite this, Boxer said its management is confident that the retailer is on track to maintain its trading profit margin from the second half of 2026 into the first half of the 2027 financial year.

This assumption is based on the retailer’s other trading income growth and tight margin control.

Boxer also appears to be on track to deliver its store roll-out targets, with 19 new stores – 6 Superstores and 13 liquor stores – opened in the first half of the year.

“Boxer has a strong FY27 store opening pipeline, and management remains confident the group will meet its previously communicated FY27 store rollout target,” it said.

This target includes 25 Superstores and 35 liquor stores. At the end of its 2026 financial year, Boxer operated 576 stores across South Africa and Eswatini.

“Boxer expects turnover growth to accelerate over the latter part of FY27, due to an anticipated uptick in selling price inflation and an improved turnover contribution from new stores,” it said.