SPAR South Africa is set to significantly scale its delivery footprint through Uber Eats, growing from 275 to more than 800 stores nationwide. The move underscores how online grocery and convenience delivery are reshaping South Africa’s retail market.
A Major Push in On-Demand Retail
The expansion covers SPAR, Tops at SPAR, and KwikSPAR stores, focusing on groceries and liquor delivery. SPAR has also hinted at future categories such as pharmacy and Build it (hardware and home improvement) products.
Uber Eats currently has over 52,000 drivers across 40 towns and cities in South Africa, giving SPAR instant access to a broad delivery network and more than 2 million active users.
This partnership builds on SPAR’s Spar2U platform, which recorded a 174 percent increase in delivery volumes in the first quarter of 2025.
A Crowded Field of Competitors
The race for online grocery dominance in South Africa is intensifying. Checkers Sixty60, Pick n Pay’s PnP asap!, and Mr D are already well-established players.
By expanding through Uber Eats, SPAR is positioning itself to compete more aggressively without building a large in-house logistics network. For many of its independently owned stores, this offers a fast track into digital retail.
A Complex Rollout Ahead
Delivering at this scale comes with challenges:
Last-mile delivery: Reaching township and rural areas adds complexity to logistics.
Product availability: Real-time stock updates are critical to avoid failed orders.
Service consistency: Fast and reliable delivery will be central to customer retention.
Price competitiveness: SPAR will need to balance delivery costs against rivals’ offerings.
Shifting Retail Behaviour
The surge in online grocery orders signals a deeper change in how South Africans shop. Delivery is no longer considered a luxury, but a standard expectation. Expanding to more than 800 stores could allow SPAR to reach underserved areas and meet growing demand for convenience.
The retailer is also upgrading its inventory systems and supply chain to support this hybrid retail model, blending physical stores with on-demand delivery.
A New Chapter for South African Grocery Delivery
SPAR’s Uber Eats expansion marks a strategic bet on the future of grocery retail. If the company maintains service quality while scaling quickly, it could significantly strengthen its position in South Africa’s fast-growing digital retail market.
The next phase will be defined by how well SPAR manages logistics, pricing, and customer experience, and how competitors respond to this aggressive push into online delivery.
