U.S. retail giant Walmart enters Africa with South Africa launch

Walmart opened its first store in South Africa on Saturday, marking the U.S. retail giant’s debut on the African continent as it seeks a foothold in a competitive market dominated by local and regional retailers.

While Walmart has operated in South Africa for years through its fully owned subsidiary Massmart, which runs chains like Makro, Game, and Builders Warehouse, it has never launched stores bearing its own name.

The move is part of Walmart’s broader strategy to expand its global presence and tap into Africa’s growing consumer base.

Hundreds of shoppers queued for hours outside the Roodepoort store, eager to take advantage of Walmart’s “Everyday Low Prices” and access international products not widely available in South Africa, according to Reuters.

In addition to in-store shopping, Walmart is launching a sixty-minute online delivery service, placing it in direct competition with Checkers’ Sixty60 on-demand platform, operated by South Africa’s largest grocery chain, Shoprite.

The service aims to offer convenience to customers in a fast-paced retail environment, stressing Walmart’s commitment to affordability and accessibility.

“Opening the first Walmart store in South Africa is about much more than a business milestone; it is a commitment to helping customers save money and live better by consistently delivering the lowest total cost for the basket of products they need,” Andrea Albright, executive vice president of Walmart, said in a statement.

The Roodepoort store has created 80 new jobs and partnered with 15 local small- and medium-sized enterprises, the company said.