Shoprite has announced it is strengthening its offer of high-end consumer goods, despite the recent economic struggles in South Africa. According to CEO Pieter Engelbrecht, consumers looking for these products are already shopping at Shoprite, although not exclusively. The aim of the retailer is to better capitalize on these customers. To do this, Shoprite has invested in its food technology and development facilities and heavily increased the manpower in these departments.

In what concerns actual outlet expansion, Engelbrecht says we will not see any more Shoprite stores. Rather, the retailer will bet on its more high-end Checkers brand, which has actually seen its sales growing double digits in the past three years. Checkers stores are being refurbished and resembling Woolworth’s outlets and there are plans to open 23 new stores in the next year alone, bringing the total number of outlets in South Africa to 256 as per Trendtype data.

Beyond South Africa, there are Checkers stores in Namibia and Botswana but there is still no word on similar plans in these countries.