The deal, which is still subject to regulatory approval, will allow Shoprite to extend its Money Market services beyond its supermarkets and digital platforms to thousands of informal retailers, including spaza shops that serve as key neighbourhood stores across the country.
Small independent traders play a major role in South Africa’s local economies, particularly in townships and peri-urban areas where many residents rely on nearby shops for daily purchases and basic services.
These outlets often handle frequent transactions such as airtime purchases and electricity payments, making them important distribution points for financial and digital services.
R&A Cellular operates a point-of-sale platform that allows informal retailers to sell prepaid airtime and electricity, gaming and entertainment products, and accept card payments. By linking this network to Shoprite’s financial services ecosystem, the retailer aims to bring more everyday transactions closer to where customers live.
The companies already work together, with R&A Cellular’s devices enabling the sale of Shoprite vouchers through its merchant network.
“This partnership marks a transformational moment for R&A Cellular. By aligning with the Shoprite Group, we are combining deep retail scale with our technology and prepaid expertise to accelerate financial inclusion and unlock greater value for traders and communities across South Africa. Together, we are building a more accessible, digitally enabled retail ecosystem,” said Rui Campos, founder and CEO of R&A Cellular.
Shoprite said the investment forms part of a broader effort to expand the reach of its Money Market platform, which offers services such as payments, money transfers and other value-added financial products through its store network.
“R&A Cellular has built a sound business with a strong management team and a platform that is well regarded in the market,” said Jean Olivier, general manager for Financial Services at the Shoprite Group.
“By combining our scale in everyday financial services with R&A Cellular’s established presence in the informal retail space, we are creating a practical way to expand access to essential services, lower barriers to participation and support the communities that rely on informal retailers every day.”
Shoprite said integrating its services with R&A Cellular’s platform could help customers complete routine transactions closer to home, reducing the need to travel long distances to shopping centres or bank branches.
For informal retailers, the expanded offering is expected to increase the range of services available to customers, potentially driving more foot traffic while helping merchants manage transactions digitally and rely less on cash.
