Food Lover's Market New Stores: Reported Openings, the 50-Store Ambition and How to Check Your Area

Quick answer: Business Day reported in 2023 that Food Lover's Market aimed to open about 50 new stores over five years, around 10 a year, having 89 stores in South Africa at the time. Reported openings include a Castle Gate, Pretoria flagship on 30 May 2024 (R58 million, per the company's site) and a Tzaneen store on 18 September 2025 of about 3,000 square metres, with a coffee shop and liquor store planned. A Sandown flagship cost R80 million, and Longbeach, Bassonia and Ottery were mentioned as upcoming (year not shown). Check the official store finder for current openings.

Last updated: October 2026. Information comes from Business Day, Bizcommunity, BusinessTech and The Citizen coverage seen in search results; some items show no year. Worked numbers are invented.

Background: an expansion plan

Food Lover's Market has grown from a single fresh produce market into a chain with dozens of stores. The 2023 Business Day report framed its ambition: roughly ten new stores a year for five years. Store counts quoted elsewhere differ, with about 90 stores in South Africa in one source and 110 across seven countries in another, so treat any figure as approximate and date-sensitive.

Recent openings show the pattern. The Castle Gate flagship in Pretoria, opened on 30 May 2024, was described as a R58 million investment. A Cape Town flagship was described by BusinessTech as a R100 million solar-backed store. In Tzaneen, The Citizen reported a store of 3,000 square metres opening on 18 September 2025, with a Seattle Coffee Company cafe and a Market Liquors store planned before Christmas, pending licences. A Bizcommunity article on the Sandown store, described as an R80 million investment in sustainable shopping, said the next openings would be Tzaneen, then Longbeach, Bassonia and Ottery, followed by a River Quarter flagship in November, though the year was not visible.

Checking your area

Use the official Food Lover's Market website and its store finder to see current stores. Check the "coming soon" notes, if any. Follow local news and community groups, which often report on construction and opening dates. Check the shopping centre's website for its tenant list. Phone the centre's management office for the expected opening date.

If a store is opening near you, plan to compare it with your current shops. On invented numbers, a ten-item produce basket costs R180 at your current supermarket and R165 at a new Food Lover's; the R15 weekly difference is R780 a year. But if the new store is 8 km farther, extra fuel of R48 per trip at R3 per km cancels the gain. Test the store for freshness, range and queues over a few visits. Opening-week promotions can be good but are temporary. Beware of rumours: stores announced do not always open on schedule, and sizes and formats can change. Watch for job adverts: legitimate recruitment is free and goes through official channels. Opening a large store also affects traffic and parking around the centre, so allow extra time in the first weeks. If the Food Lover's Market offers are not quite what you need, it is worth comparing them with the latest Checkers catalogue and the current Pick n Pay catalogue before you decide.

Reported item	Detail
Ambition (2023)	About 10 new stores a year for five years; 89 stores then
Castle Gate, Pretoria	30 May 2024, R58 million
Tzaneen	18 September 2025, about 3,000 square metres
Sandown	R80 million flagship

Consumer tips and cautions

Under the Consumer Protection Act, prices must not mislead and goods must be of good quality; keep slips and raise problems with the manager of a new store, since teething problems are best reported early.

Beware of scams that use new-store announcements to offer jobs, franchises or vouchers for fees. Official information comes from the company's website. Never share one-time PINs or card details. Be careful with "grand opening" vouchers shared on messaging apps.

Support the local economy by shopping with a mix of retailers, and share your experience with neighbours. A new store is welcome, but the best choice is the one that meets your needs on price, quality and convenience.

Frequently asked questions

How many new stores is Food Lover's planning?

A 2023 report said about 10 a year for five years.

Which openings have been reported?

Castle Gate (May 2024), Tzaneen (September 2025) and a Sandown flagship, among others.

How do I check my area?

Use the official store finder and local news.

Sources

• Business Day (2023): Food Lover's aims for 50 new stores in five years; Bizcommunity; BusinessTech: new flagship stores; The Citizen: Food Lover's Market opens new store (as seen in search results)
• Consumer Protection Act