Shoprite has moved to buy the Vida e Caffè coffee brand, a chain with roughly 400 outlets across South Africa, according to Moneyweb. The deal comes as the grocery retailer reports an increase in profit.
Moneyweb reports that the acquisition covers the entire coffee chain. Business Day notes that the purchase extends Shoprite beyond its traditional grocery focus. The transaction signals a push into the food-service and coffee retail space, a sector where Vida e Caffè has built a strong local presence since its founding.
The news follows a period of growth for Shoprite, which has also been investing in technology for informal retail traders, as covered by TechCentral. The company’s move to buy a coffee chain with a significant footprint suggests it sees room to expand its customer base beyond supermarket aisles.
Vida e Caffè operates hundreds of stores, making it one of the larger coffee brands in the country. The deal is subject to regulatory approval, though no timeline for completion has been given in the reports.
Observers will be watching how Shoprite integrates the coffee chain into its existing operations and whether it plans to grow the brand further. The acquisition is expected to close pending standard competition reviews.
