Shoprite secures major stake in Mpumalanga-based R&A Cellular acquisition

JSE-listed Shoprite Group has announced a strategic expansion of its financial services ecosystem by acquiring a majority stake in Mpumalanga-based R&A Cellular.

The move, for an undisclosed amount,  is aimed to bridge the gap between formal retail and South Africa’s vibrant informal economy.

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Subject to regulatory approval, Shoprite says the investment signals its intent to embed essential digital and financial services directly into the community-based retailers that serve as the heartbeat of townships and peri-urban areas.

R&A Cellular operates a widely utilised point-of-sale platform that allows informal merchants and spaza shops to offer high-frequency products such as prepaid airtime, electricity, and gaming vouchers, as well as accept card-based payments.

By integrating its established Money Market capabilities with R&A’s platform, Shoprite aims to meet customers where they already live and transact, turning local traders into convenient access points for essential services.

Rui Campos, founder and CEO of R&A Cellular, described the partnership as a “transformational moment” for the business.

Campos noted that combining Shoprite’s retail scale with R&A’s technology will “accelerate financial inclusion” and build a more digitally enabled ecosystem for local traders.

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For the Shoprite Group, the acquisition is a natural evolution of its existing financial inclusion strategy.

Jean Olivier, general manager for financial services at the group, emphasised that the deal provides a practical way to lower barriers to participation and support the communities that rely on informal retailers daily.

The benefits for consumers are centred on accessibility and cost-saving. By completing transactions closer to home, residents in underserved areas can reduce the time and expense associated with traveling to centralised shopping centres or banking outlets.

Simultaneously, the platform provides informal retailers with a competitive range of services to improve cash-flow management and reduce a historical reliance on physical cash.

The acquisition builds upon an established foundation between the two entities, as R&A Cellular already enables the sale of Shoprite vouchers through its existing point-of-sale devices.

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