Quick answer: Choppies is a Botswana-founded supermarket group that built a network of about 93 stores in South Africa before quietly exiting the country, according to a BusinessTech report dated 2 August 2026. If you are searching for Choppies specials in South Africa, check whether your local store is still trading and under which owner before you travel. Choppies still operates in other countries, including Botswana.

Last updated: October 2026. Facts come from Wikipedia (Choppies), Choppies' own history page, Mail & Guardian and BusinessTech. We only saw a summary of the exit report, so sale terms are not stated.

The Choppies story

Choppies began as a single general dealer in Lobatse, Botswana, founded in 1986 as Wayside Supermarket. In October 2003 the Choppies brand was restored and all stores consolidated under one name. It listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange in 2012 and took a secondary listing on the JSE in 2015. Its first South African store opened in Zeerust, North West, in 2008, and a distribution centre followed in Rustenburg in 2014. Store counts vary by source: Wikipedia lists 161 stores across Botswana, Zambia and Namibia, a 2019 Mail & Guardian piece cited about 250 stores in eight countries, and BusinessTech reports more than 240 stores at its peak across eight African countries.

YearMilestone
1986Wayside Supermarket founded in Lobatse, Botswana
2003Choppies brand restored
2008First South African store in Zeerust
2012Botswana Stock Exchange listing
2014Distribution centre in Rustenburg
2015JSE secondary listing
2018Shares suspended after accounting irregularities and missed reporting deadlines
2026BusinessTech reports a quiet exit from South Africa

What this means for shoppers

  • Former Choppies stores may now trade under another brand, so leaflets and loyalty cards may have changed.
  • Phone or check the store locator before you drive across town.
  • If you hold a Choppies loyalty card or gift voucher, contact the store about its status.

Where to find alternatives

Boxer - Latest circular - South Africa
BoxerLatest circular, valid until 8 November 2026
AlternativeModelLoyalty
BoxerDiscount supermarketBoxer Rewards Club
Shoprite and UsaveValue and low-income focusXtra Savings
SPAR SaveMorValue formatSPAR Rewards
Pick n PayFull-service supermarketSmart Shopper

How to find the best value in your area

  1. List the ten items you buy most.
  2. Check unit prices at two or three nearby stores.
  3. Record prices for three weeks.
  4. Pick the store that wins for your basket, and use a second store for specific specials.

Worked example: three-store comparison

The figures are invented to show the method.

ItemStore AStore BStore C
Maize meal, 5 kgR75R72R78
Cooking oil, 2 LR70R74R68
Eggs, dozenR45R44R46
TotalR190R190R192

Totals can be identical while individual items differ, so you might split your shop.

Your rights

Under the Consumer Protection Act, prices must be displayed accurately and goods must be of good quality. Keep your slip and ask for a price check if the till differs from the tag.

Frequently asked questions

Is Choppies still in South Africa?

BusinessTech reported on 2 August 2026 that it quietly exited the country; check your local store.

Where did Choppies start?

In Lobatse, Botswana, in 1986.

Did Choppies list on the JSE?

Yes, a secondary listing in 2015.

What happened in 2018?

Its shares were suspended from both stock exchanges after accounting irregularities and missed reporting deadlines.

Lessons for shoppers from a retailer exit

  • Gift cards and vouchers should be spent early; ask the store what happens if it changes ownership.
  • Loyalty points can disappear when a chain closes or rebrands, so redeem them regularly.
  • Keep receipts for warranty items bought from stores that may close.
  • Follow local community pages for announcements about store reopenings under new brands.

The 2018 suspension of Choppies shares after accounting irregularities is a reminder that even listed retailers can face trouble, so diversify where you shop and avoid prepaying large amounts to any single store.

Checking whether a store is still trading

Look for current signage, check Google Maps for recent reviews and opening hours, and phone the store. If the store has changed ownership, ask whether old vouchers and loyalty cards are still honoured.

How the exit worked, according to 2026 reporting

BusinessTech and Innovation Village report that Choppies' South African arm, which had more than 90 stores at its peak, was sold for R1, with Kind Investments assuming the retail liabilities, and that the exit was formally completed during the 2020 financial year. That let the group offload debt without its parent going into liquidation. Many viable stores and properties were gradually sold to established local retailers, including Shoprite and OK Franchise operators. Choppies said in FY2020 that it was discontinuing its operations in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa, with negative equity mainly due to losses and closure costs of BWP1.7 billion for those operations. An African Financials profile describes the group today as a southern African retailer in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia with 287 stores, but that page is about 280 days old, and we found no 2026 results announcement.

QuestionAnswer from 2026 reporting
Did Choppies exit South Africa?Yes; the exit was formally completed in the 2020 financial year
How was it sold?For R1, with Kind Investments assuming the retail liabilities
Who took the stores?Many viable stores went to established local retailers, including Shoprite and OK Franchise operators
Where does Choppies still trade?Botswana, Namibia and Zambia, per profiles
A catalogue site claims 218 retailers in South AfricaThis conflicts with the exit reports and is likely unreliable

Sources

  • Wikipedia: Choppies
  • Choppies Group: company history
  • Mail & Guardian: Choppies reporting (2019)
  • BusinessTech: international retailer that quietly exited South Africa (2 August 2026)
  • Innovation Village: global retailer Choppies dumps SA operations in symbolic sale, sells 90 stores for R1
  • African Financials: Choppies Enterprises Limited profile