Shoprite wants more than groceries — major coffee brand deal adds a shot of growth

Johannesburg – Shoprite Holdings has agreed to acquire Vida e Caffè (Vida), South Africa’s leading coffee brand, in a strategic move aimed at strengthening its presence in the coffee and quick-service restaurant (QSR) market.

The acquisition was announced as part of Shoprite’s reviewed financial results for the 52 weeks ended 28 June 2026. The retailer said the transaction would give it access to Vida’s established market presence and operational expertise in a fast-growing category.

“The second acquisition, Vida e Caffè (Vida), strengthens our presence in the coffee and quick service restaurant (QSR) category while adding deep operational expertise in this fast-growing market,” Shoprite Group CEO Pieter Engelbrecht said.

According to the Shoprite Group, Vida has been operating for 25 years and has established a network of approximately 400 corporate and franchise stores across South Africa.

The company operates across a range of locations and formats, including high streets, forecourts, drive-thrus, corporate offices and retail sites. It also has an increasingly integrated digital offering.

Major milestone

Shoprite said Vida’s “broad and demographically diverse customer base” and its variety of store formats provide a strong platform for future growth and customer engagement.

“Authentic, innovative and highly relevant to evolving consumer lifestyles, Vida is a business we greatly admire, and we look forward to learning from its success while supporting its next phase of growth,” Engelbrecht said.

According to BusinessTech, Vida e Caffè has reached a major milestone with the opening of its 400th store in Cape Town, marking the growth of the coffee chain from a single outlet in the Mother City into an international brand.

Founded in 2001, Vida e Caffè was inspired by the street cafés of Portugal while incorporating a distinctly African energy. The name Vida e Caffè translates to “coffee and life” in Portuguese.

What began as a neighbourhood coffee shop has expanded beyond South Africa, with the brand now operating in Ghana, Mauritius, Zambia, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia and Angola.

The company has also pursued several expansion initiatives in recent years, including the acquisition of healthy restaurant chain Sweetbeet in 2021. Sweetbeet operates outlets in the Western Cape and Gauteng.

Strategic partnering 

The deal follows Shoprite’s acquisition of an initial majority shareholding in South African technology and payments company R&A Cellular in August 2026, with both transactions forming part of the group’s strategy of partnering with or acquiring specialist businesses in adjacent growth markets.

Shoprite said it signed the Vida share purchase agreement in August 2026. However, the transaction remains subject to the fulfilment of conditions precedent, including regulatory approval, and is expected to become effective during the group’s 2027 financial year.

The acquisition comes as Shoprite reports continued growth across its operations. Group revenue from continuing operations increased by 7.1% to R274.8 billion, while the retailer opened a net 232 stores and created 5,491 direct jobs during the financial year.