South Africa’s online grocery landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, and Spar is making a bold move to catch up in the competitive on-demand delivery space. Once a late entrant in the digital grocery race, Spar is now leveraging its partnership with Uber Eats to expand its footprint and capture a larger share of the growing e-commerce market.
What began as a limited rollout in July 2025 has quickly evolved into a nationwide initiative. As of now, 275 Spar stores are live on the Uber Eats platform, with plans to onboard more than 800 outlets over time. This includes Spar’s various formats, Spar, Tops, and KwikSpar, many of which are independently owned. The partnership not only enhances Spar’s digital presence but also connects hundreds of local entrepreneurs to a broader base of online consumers.
Blake Raubenheimer, Spar’s Omnichannel Executive, said:
Spar’s roots are in community. Partnering with Uber Eats lets us carry that community connection into the digital economy.
A Shifting Retail Battleground
The move comes amid intensifying competition in South Africa’s online grocery sector. Shoprite’s Sixty60 app continues to dominate, setting the benchmark for speed and convenience in local e-commerce. However, Spar’s alliance with Uber Eats signals a strategic effort to challenge that dominance by combining retail reach with Uber’s delivery infrastructure and user base.
According to McKinsey’s State of Grocery Retail 2024 report, South Africa’s online grocery market has grown at an impressive annual rate of 54% since 2019, reaching R23 billion. More than 25% of consumers say they plan to increase their digital grocery spending, indicating strong momentum for retailers investing in e-commerce capabilities.
Online Retail Nears Double-Digit Share
The timing of Spar’s expansion aligns with broader trends in South African retail. A recent report by World Wide Worx, Online Retail in South Africa 2025, revealed that online retail now accounts for nearly 10% of total retail sales. In 2024, online sales represented 8% of total retail revenue, and that figure is expected to reach double digits in the coming months.
“Total retail sales reached R96 billion in 2024 and are projected to hit R130 billion in 2025,” said Arthur Goldstuck, CEO of World Wide Worx. The report also noted that online shopping grew by 35% year-over-year in 2024, maintaining the same growth rate as the previous year.
Looking Ahead
Spar’s aggressive expansion through Uber Eats positions it to capitalize on the digital shift in consumer behavior. By integrating convenience, local entrepreneurship, and technology, the retailer is not just catching up, it’s aiming to redefine how South Africans shop for groceries online. As the market continues to evolve, Spar’s success will depend on its ability to scale efficiently, maintain service quality, and differentiate itself in a space increasingly defined by speed, reliability, and user experience.
