JOHANNESBURG, Mar 3 – Shoprite Holdings, South Africa’s largest grocery retailer, reported a 7.7% increase in first half profit, supported by resilient consumer spending during the festive trading period.
Headline earnings per share from continuing operations rose to 710.5 cents for the six months ended December 28, 2025, up from a restated 659.8 cents a year earlier.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased 6.7% to 12.4 billion rand, equivalent to about 767 million dollars. Group sales climbed 7.2% to 136.8 billion rand, with supermarket sales in South Africa advancing 7.1% as both food and non food divisions delivered growth.
Gross margin edged lower by 10 basis points to 23.8%, reflecting muted selling price inflation that shifted into mild deflation during the current trading period. Internal selling price inflation measured 0.7% in the first month of the second half, compared with 3.1% in January 2025.
Sales momentum has carried into the new reporting period. In the first month of the second half, South African supermarket sales increased by 7.5%, underscoring continued demand resilience despite a softer pricing environment.
Management indicated that low single digit selling price inflation is likely to persist through the remainder of the 2026 financial year, suggesting stable pricing conditions but limited margin expansion.
The retailer declared an interim dividend of 307 cents per share, up 7.7%, reinforcing confidence in cash generation and balance sheet strength.
