Johannesburg – South Africa’s major supermarket chains are undergoing significant leadership and operational changes as Woolworths, Pick n Pay and SPAR respond to intensifying competition and pressure on consumers.
According to BusinessTech, the three retailers are turning to new leadership and restructuring efforts as they seek to improve growth, profitability and competitiveness against market leader Shoprite and the expanding Walmart presence in South Africa.
At Pick n Pay, former Woolworths executive Spencer Sonn has been appointed CEO-designate. As reported by EWN, Sonn will join the retailer in February 2027 and take over from current CEO Sean Summers in May 2028. The company described the move as a “planned and orderly leadership transition” aimed at ensuring continuity in its turnaround strategy.
Sonn spent 26 years at Woolworths, including five years as managing director of its food division. BusinessDay reported that his appointment comes as Pick n Pay continues efforts to restore profitability to its core supermarket business, with the retailer targeting break-even only later in the decade.
Enormous admiration
Summers said Sonn had expressed “enormous admiration for the values and founding principles that Pick n Pay was built on”, while Sonn said he was “looking forward to working closely with Sean” and continuing the turnaround.
At Woolworths, Sam Ngumeni has embarked on an organisational reset after taking over as group CEO. The company said in June that its new operating model was intended to bring “accountability closer to where value is created” and enable faster decision-making.
Woolworths has also placed greater emphasis on its food division, which has become the group’s “primary engine of value creation” as the retailer deals with weaker consumer demand and pressure on other parts of the business.
Meanwhile, SPAR is preparing for another leadership change. The retailer said it expects to appoint a new chairman and additional independent directors by early November following the resignation of chairman Mike Bosman and deputy chairman Shirley Zinn.
Daily Investor reported that SPAR’s 2026 financial performance is expected to be weaker than the previous year, with its Southern African grocery and liquor operations under pressure.
South Africa’s grocery market
The company said, “Consumer sentiment and consequently wholesale revenue continued to be under pressure with higher fuel, utility costs, and elevated interest rates.”
SPAR said its turnaround efforts include improvements to merchandising and pricing, marketing, technology, retailer profitability and its SPAR2U delivery platform. It is also working to strengthen relations with its independent retailers.
The leadership changes come as South Africa’s grocery market becomes increasingly competitive, with Shoprite maintaining an aggressive pricing strategy and Walmart expanding its branded stores.
Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Charles Allen, quoted by BusinessTech, said the arrival of Walmart and Shoprite’s pricing response meant the turnarounds at Pick n Pay and SPAR “need renewed impetus”.
For Woolworths, Pick n Pay and SPAR, the changes mark different stages of efforts to adapt their businesses to a retail market where consumers are increasingly sensitive to prices, while established chains face growing pressure to improve efficiency, convenience and value.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
