South Africa’s biggest retailer, Shoprite, has acquired a 100% stake in Vida e Caffè, taking control of South Africa’s biggest coffee chain.
**Shoprite **has acquired a 100% stake in Vida e Caffè, taking control of South Africa’s biggest coffee chain as the retail giant expands into the quick-service restaurant (QSR) market.
The acquisition was announced in Shoprite’s annual results for the 52 weeks ended 28 June 2026, released on Tuesday, 1 September.
The deal was signed on 20 August 2026 and includes Vida’s South African and international operations.
It remains subject to regulatory conditions and is expected to become effective during Shoprite’s 2027 financial year.
Vida e Caffè was founded in 2001 by Rui Esteves and Brad Armitage, who were inspired by European coffee culture.
The first store opened on Kloof Street in Cape Town.
Grant Dutton later joined the business as a 40% joint-venture partner, before he and his investment partners acquired Vida from the founders in 2006.
The brand has since grown into an international coffee business with 400 corporate and franchise stores across Africa.
Its footprint includes Ghana, Mauritius, Zambia, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia and Angola, alongside its extensive South African presence.
Vida has expanded beyond traditional coffee shops, with high-street, forecourt, drive-thru, corporate office and retail locations, as well as food trucks and digital ordering.
The company also acquired healthy restaurant chain Sweetbeet in 2021 and has partnerships with businesses including Lift Airline, SPAR and Exclusive Books.
Shoprite CEO Pieter Engelbrecht said Vida’s broad and demographically diverse customer base and variety of store formats provide a strong platform for growth.
“This combination provides a strong platform for future growth and customer engagement,” he said.
“Vida is a business we greatly admire, and we look forward to learning from its success while supporting its next phase of growth.”
Shoprite said the acquisition would strengthen its presence in the QSR industry and complement its existing food-service operations.
The retailer currently participates in the sector through in-store partnerships, private coffee and food-service labels, and B2B catering, but has not previously operated stand-alone food chains.
Shoprite also acquired an initial 51% stake in technology and payments company R&A Cellular on 14 August 2026.
The company provides devices that allow informal and semi-formal retailers to offer financial and everyday services.
Shoprite said the acquisition forms part of its financial services growth strategy and will help it expand its reach into the informal sector.
The Vida and R&A Cellular acquisitions were not categorisable under JSE listing requirements.
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