The four men running South Africa’s biggest food retailers
South Africa’s retail market is fiercely competitive, with leading companies like Shoprite, Woolworths, Pick n Pay, and SPAR battling for dominance.
According to Statista, the country’s food market is projected to grow by 7.25% between 2025 and 2029, reaching a value of $42.69 billion (R807 billion).
However, despite its size, the sector has faced immense challenges in recent years due to economic pressures, making the role of a retail CEO more demanding than ever.
The executives at the helm of these retail giants – Shoprite’s Pieter Engelbrecht, Woolworths’ Roy Bagattini, Pick n Pay’s Sean Summers, and SPAR’s Angelo Swartz – have had to navigate unique challenges while steering their companies through turbulent times.
Engelbrecht took over as Shoprite’s CEO in 2017, stepping into the shoes of Whitey Basson, one of South Africa’s most respected business leaders.
Under Engelbrecht, Shoprite maintained its dominance, becoming the country’s market leader with industry-leading sales and profit growth.
Bagattini became Woolworths’ CEO in 2020, right before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. He had to navigate the company through an already difficult financial period, exacerbated by the economic impact of lockdowns.
Swartz inherited similar challenges at SPAR, while Summers faced an even more dire situation at Pick n Pay.
When Summers returned as CEO in 2023, Pick n Pay was technically insolvent.
He spearheaded a two-step recapitalisation plan that included a R4 billion rights offer and the successful listing of Boxer, which raised R8.5 billion and stabilised the company’s finances.
Each of these leaders has had to make bold decisions to ensure their companies remain competitive in an evolving and difficult retail landscape.
Navigating changing consumers needs only adds to the difficulty, as customers increasingly demand convenience, such as grocery delivery services, premium offerings and affordability.
Shoprite – Pieter Engelbrecht
Pieter Engelbrecht, a chartered accountant with degrees from Stellenbosch University and UNISA, has played a crucial role in shaping Shoprite into Africa’s retail powerhouse.
His career began at PricewaterhouseCoopers in auditing and corporate finance before moving to Harwill Industries as an accounting and operations manager.
In 1997, he joined Shoprite, where he led the company’s project office for a decade, launching key brands like Money Market, USave, and LiquorShop while spearheading acquisitions such as Computicket and Transpharm.
His impact on Shoprite’s growth earned him a board seat in 2003, followed by his appointment as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2005.
As COO, Engelbrecht focused on cost-cutting and expansion, reinforcing Shoprite’s dominance in Africa’s retail sector. His leadership abilities were further recognised when he succeeded Whitey Basson as CEO on January 1, 2017.
Taking over from Basson, a legendary figure who transformed Shoprite from a small grocer into Africa’s largest private employer, was no small task.
However, Engelbrecht rose to the challenge. Under his leadership, Shoprite has maintained its market dominance, expanding its footprint and increasing profitability despite economic headwinds.
Engelbrecht has driven innovation, refreshing Checkers’ fresh and convenience offerings, launching the successful Sixty60 delivery service, and expanding Shoprite & Checkers Xtra Savings programs.
His strategic vision helped Shoprite navigate the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining strong financial performance.
Today, Shoprite has maintained a leading market share for five consecutive years, achieving sales and revenue growth at twice the pace of the rest of the market, according to its integrated 2024 report.
Woolworths – Roy Bagattini
Roy Bagattini was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer of Woolworths Holdings Limited (WHL) in February 2020, stepping into the role at a critical moment.
Not only did he take the helm just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit South Africa, but he also inherited a company facing financial strain.
Before joining Woolworths, Bagattini held senior leadership roles at global consumer goods giants, including Levi Strauss & Co., Carlsberg, and SABMiller.
As Executive Vice President and President of the Americas for Levi’s, he led the company’s largest commercial operations, spanning the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Latin America.
His leadership was instrumental in driving Levi’s eCommerce expansion and omnichannel growth, contributing to over half of the company’s global revenue.
With a proven track record in turnaround strategies, mergers, and acquisitions, Bagattini was well-equipped to steer Woolworths through its challenges.
When he stepped in, Woolworths had just emerged from a difficult financial year. Economic pressures in South Africa and Australia had weighed on the retailer’s performance.
Despite a 6.5% rise in revenue and a 6.1% increase in turnover and concession sales in 2019, headline earnings per share dropped from 346.3 cents to 342.9 cents, with adjusted headline earnings per share declining by 2.1%.
Adding to the strain, Woolworths was forced to sell its struggling Australian chain, David Jones, for R1.6 billion after years of financial setbacks.
The group wrote down the chain’s value by AUS$437.4 million (about R5.09 billion), reducing its valuation to AUS$965.0 million (about R11.23 billion).
Pick n Pay – Sean Summers
Sean Summers is a Pick n Pay veteran, having first joined the retailer in 1974 and serving as its chief executive from 1999 to 2007.
During his first tenure, he solidified Pick n Pay’s position as South Africa’s leading grocery retailer, even outperforming Shoprite under the legendary Whitey Basson.
He was also responsible for acquiring Boxer in 2002 – one of the most strategic moves in South African retail history.
Summers saw the potential for Boxer to dominate the discount grocery market, and he was right.
Over two decades, Boxer expanded to 500 stores across South Africa and Eswatini, including 308 Superstores, 162 Liquor Stores, and 30 Build Stores.
By October 2024, it had an annual turnover of R37.4 billion, a trading profit of R2.1 billion, and a commanding 68% share of the discount grocery market.
Despite Boxer’s success, Pick n Pay itself struggled over the last decade.
By 2023, the retailer was in serious financial distress. Recognising the need for experienced leadership, the Ackerman family approached Summers to return as CEO and lead a turnaround.
However, Pick n Pay’s situation was dire. The company was technically insolvent and required a massive capital injection.
Summers spearheaded a two-step recapitalisation plan – a R4 billion rights offer to restore positive equity and the listing of Boxer on the JSE to settle debts and reinvest in Pick n Pay’s core business.
The plan was successfully executed in 2024 and raised R8.5 billion, while Pick n Pay retained a 65.5% stake in Boxer.
Reflecting on Boxer’s success, Summers said, “It is extraordinary that it is Boxer to save the day for Pick n Pay and put the oxygen back into our lungs.”
The retailer has since unbundled from Pick n Pay and listed on the JSE, boasting a market cap of R29.18 billion.
SPAR – Angelo Swartz
Angelo Swartz, a seasoned leader with over seventeen years at SPAR Group, became chief executive in October 2023, during a particularly challenging period for the company.
Having held several senior positions – including divisional managing director, retail operations director, and business development manager – he was well-equipped to navigate the difficulties ahead.
At the time of his appointment, SPAR was dealing with significant operational disruptions caused by a troubled SAP rollout at its KwaZulu-Natal distribution centre.
This, combined with high interest rates and mounting financial pressures, led to costs outpacing turnover growth.
“It’s a very gratifying time to be in the business and being able to add value at a time that the business really needs it and I think we’ve done a great job,” he told Smart Money.
“I’m really confident about where we’re going. I think we dealt with a lot of issues that really needed dealing with in the business, um, and now onto bigger and better things, hopefully.”
Under Swartz’s leadership, SPAR aims to stabilise its operations, drive sustainable growth and ensure its position as a key player in South Africa’s competitive retail sector.
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