Sixty60 pulls further ahead as Pick n Pay online momentum slows

Pick n Pay’s online grocery business remained profitable during the 2026 financial year, although growth slowed as Checkers Sixty60 continued to extend its lead in the market. In results for the 52 weeks ended 1 March 2026, Pick n Pay reported online turnover growth of 32.7%. Its asap! platform, together with PnP Groceries and its offering on the Mr D app, delivered combined growth of 37.6%.

The retailer said upgrades made to its online platforms over the past year contributed to the increase. These included changes to the asap! app, such as Smart Shopper integration, scheduled deliveries, and a revised checkout experience. Pick n Pay CEO Sean Summers said the company also invested in improving shopping and payment processes, as well as operational efficiency.

This is the second year in a row that Pick n Pay’s online business has reported profitability. However, the growth rate has slowed from the 44.6% recorded in the previous financial year. Interim results released earlier in the year had already pointed to softer momentum, with online turnover growth of 34.4% for the six months ended August 2025.

Sixty60 continues to dominate on scale

While Pick n Pay does not disclose detailed online revenue figures, Shoprite’s latest numbers show the scale of the gap between the two retailers. Checkers Sixty60 generated R11.9 billion in sales in the six months to December 2025, with turnover up 34.6% over the period. The platform now accounts for more than 10% of Shoprite’s South African supermarket sales. The difference is also visible in store coverage and delivery operations.Pick n Pay’s asap! service is available through more than 620 stores and supported by over 2 500 drivers. The retailer added only around 20 net store integrations during the year. Sixty60, by comparison, was operating from roughly 875 stores at its last update and used close to 10 000 Pingo drivers. The service has also passed 100 million cumulative orders.

Pressure remains on the broader business

Throughout the broader business, Pick n Pay’s performance remained under pressure. Group turnover increased 1% to R120.3 billion for the year, while trading profit declined 4.2% to R1.69 billion. The retailer reported a headline loss of R386 million for the period. As part of its turnaround strategy, Pick n Pay recently sold a 12.5% stake in Boxer Retail through a R4.7 billion accelerated bookbuild. The transaction reduced its shareholding in Boxer from 65.6% to 53.1%. The retailer said the proceeds, together with cash already within the business, will support efforts to stabilise and improve the core Pick n Pay operation.