Shoprite’s Checkers coming after Mr Price, TFG, PEP, and Truworths with 50 stores

Shoprite’s Checkers has opened 50 Uniq clothing stores, a significant expansion since the brand’s launch in 2023.

This expansion poses a threat to South Africa’s established clothing retailers, as the country’s biggest retailer seeks to enter markets outside its core competency.

While Shoprite has no history in the apparel market, the Uniq brand has Checkers, a R105 billion retail juggernaut, on its side.

First launched in March 2023, Shoprite said Uniq was designed to address a gap in the South African retail market for simple, premium, everyday wardrobe staples at affordable prices. 

It offers clothing ranges for men, women, and children, with the first flagship store opened at the Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town.

From there, the brand grew to reach a footprint of 9 stores by the end of the 2023 financial year, 22 in 2024, and 30 in 2025.

By Shoprite’s 2026 financial year, Uniq had expanded to 43 stores nationwide, and its milestone 50th store was opened on 28 September 2026. This implies a growth rate of 1 new store every month.

While from a lower base, this is a far faster growth rate than many of South Africa’s established apparel retailers, some of whom are currently rationalising their footprint.

Uniq’s expansion comes at a time when many local apparel retailers are struggling in a tough consumer environment.

Unlike food, which consumers always need to buy, apparel is a retail segment that South Africans can cut back on during difficult times.

Capitec revealed in its latest interim results that younger and lower-income earners tend to have significantly cut their spending on clothing and entertainment over the past year.

At the same time, their average spending on groceries, food, and transport has increased.

This makes it difficult for apparel retailers like Mr Price, Truworths, and TFG to increase their sales when discretionary spending comes under pressure.

However, Shoprite believes its Uniq offering can become a challenger in this difficult market, especially because it is backed by a R105 billion juggernaut.

Uniq is housed in Shoprite’s Checkers business, which increased its merchandise sales by 10% to R105.2 billion in the 2026 financial year.

This includes Checkers, Checkers Hyper, and Checkers Liquorshop sales. This business is supported by a high footprint of 382 supermarkets and 352 liquor stores.

In addition, Uniq will have the power of Checkers’ Sixty60 business on its side, the biggest on-demand grocery delivery service in the country.

Uniq’s 50th store

Shoprite’s 50th Uniq store was opened in Sea Point, Cape Town, on 28 September 2026. The company called this opening a “milestone” for the brand.

“In just over three years, the clothing brand has established a presence in eight provinces, opening 13 new stores in the past financial year,” it said. 

“This momentum reflects the strong customer demand for well-made clothing that delivers on quality and style without the premium price tag.”

Uniq’s head buyer, Benise Spangenberg, said reaching the 50th store milestone serves as proof of the demand for the brand’s offering.

“It is a reflection of the incredible response we have received from our customers and their appetite for clothing that combines great fabrics, quality, and an elevated sense of style at an accessible price,” she said. 

“That has been our focus from the very beginning as we have continued to grow our womenswear, menswear and kidswear offering.”

She said this milestone gives the brand even greater confidence in where it is going.

Photos of Uniq’s 50th store opening