Checkers expands Sixty60 beyond groceries
A few weeks after Amazon began operating in SA, offering a broad range of products, Checkers has expanded its online shopping platform, Sixty60, beyond groceries, announcing on Friday that it would offer items from its Checker Hyper stores on the platform.
In recent years Checkers Sixty60 has become one of SA’s most popular e-commerce platforms, promising grocery shopping and delivery within an hour.
By offering its full range of products across Checkers and Checkers Hyper on Sixty60, the Shoprite business is likely to be looking to compete in the same space as Amazon, differentiating itself with quick deliveries.
On Friday, the retailer said it was beta testing the new version of its app, enabling customers to shop for more than 10,000 “larger Hyper products, with same-day delivery scheduled within a 60-minute time slot”.
As part of the rollout, the company is introducing a fleet of Hyper delivery vans, adding to its portfolio of delivery bikes.
“Checkers Sixty60’s product offering now extends beyond groceries to include larger items, ranging from camping and outdoor gear to small appliances, baby products, toys, kitchen and home electronics, gardening and pool equipment at supermarket prices,” the company said.
The company is using Cape Town as its testing ground for the new offering, with the new Sixty60 app already available to customers living in Kuils River, Brackenfell, Durbanville, Bellville, Goodwood, Edgemead, Milnerton, Century City, Table View, Blouberg, Parklands, Rondebosch, Observatory, Gardens, Sea Point and Camps Bay.
IT IS BETA TESTING THE NEW VERSION OF ITS APP, ENABLING CUSTOMERS TO SHOP FOR MORE THAN 10,000 LARGER HYPER PRODUCTS
Deliveries will be free during the beta testing phase and will remain free for its Xtra Savings Plus loyalty programme subscribers.
“We’re confident that the next iteration of Sixty60 will again disrupt online retail in SA. Our precision delivery promise means no more waiting at home all day for your general merchandise order to arrive,” said Neil Schreuder, chief of strategy and innovation for Shoprite.
“Customers can now choose the 60-minute time slot in which they’d like their Hyper delivery to arrive, with the same to-the-minute driver tracking they’ve become accustomed to on their grocery orders.”
Amazon officially launched its SA unit, Amazon.co.za, earlier in May, launching an onslaught against major retailers in the R1.3-trillion market.
The launch of the online store is widely seen as a direct challenge to the reigning champion, Takealot, which has the backing and deep pockets of its parent, Naspers.
According to a study by World Wide Worx in partnership with Mastercard, Peach Payments and Ask Afrika, SA online retail passed 6% of total retail in 2023. The report reveals significant growth in SA’s online retail sector, which surged to R71bn last year.
This growth represents a 29% increase from 2022, positioning the sector to break the R100bn mark by 2026.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, e-commerce has grown explosively in online grocery and clothing shopping, a big change from a time when products such as consumer electronics dominated the space.