The retailer was also able to grow its market share in 2021 despite the pandemic.
One of Africa’s biggest retailers, the Shoprite group, continued to create and retain jobs, with a special focus on youth, despite high levels of unemployment in South Africa.
The retailer had 144,844 employees at the end of its 2021 financial year. Of these, 65 percent are under the age of 35, and 64 percent are women.
Shoprite has managed to create 4,608 new jobs in South Africa amid the effects of both the lockdown and the recent unrest on retail trade, which affected many of the group’s businesses.
This included the creation of 2,870 new jobs at Checkers Sixty60, the group’s on-demand delivery service, and 250 new jobs created by the ShopriteX innovation hub.
Shoprite was also able to grow its market share in 2021 despite the pandemic and has reported a strong set of results, with its gross profit margin improving to 24.5 percent.
Zakhele Sibiya, CHRO at the Shoprite group said, “The Shoprite Group prides itself on job creation and retention, as well as the provision of training to unemployed people to improve their chances of getting jobs and ongoing support for suppliers.”
He says Shoprite continues to innovate to create new businesses and job opportunities.
