Pepkor Expands Retail Footprint with Acquisition of 462 Stores in Southern Africa

Pepkor Holdings has announced plans to acquire multiple retail brands from Retailability, adding 462 stores to its growing portfolio across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Eswatini.

The deal includes well-known brands such as Legit, Swagga, Style, and Boardmans, strengthening Pepkor’s presence in the adultwear and homeware segments. However, Edgars, Edgars Beauty, Red Square, Kelso, and Keedo are not part of the acquisition and will remain under Retailability’s ownership.

Strategic Expansion in Adultwear and Homeware

With this acquisition, Pepkor is set to bolster its Speciality division, which already includes Tekkie Town, Show City, Dunns, Refinery, CODE, SPCC, and Ayana. The company has been looking to expand its market share in the adult fashion category, where it believes it is underrepresented compared to its stronghold in kids’ and schoolwear.

The recent launch of the Ayana womenswear brand in February 2025 and the acquisition of Choce Clothing are part of this broader strategy.

“This acquisition will add scale to Pepkor Speciality, especially in women’s fashion through the Legit brand,” the company stated.

Additionally, Boardmans’ online homeware brand will be integrated into Pepkor Lifestyle, further expanding the group’s reach into the home retail market.

How the Acquisition Strengthens Pepkor’s Retail Strategy

According to Tyrone Vieira, CEO of Pepkor Emerging Businesses, this acquisition aligns with the group’s strategic vision:

“We are excited to welcome the Legit and other Retailability businesses into Pepkor Speciality. These businesses are a natural fit, and we look forward to unlocking the synergistic benefits they bring.”

Sean Cardinal, Pepkor’s COO, emphasized that this move accelerates growth in its core retail operations, helping drive strategies in:

• Financial Services & Connectivity

• Omnichannel Retail

• Supply Chain Efficiency & Cost Management

By leveraging its extensive supply chain, sourcing, and back-office capabilities, Pepkor expects to unlock substantial value from the acquisition.

Financial Details and Regulatory Approval

The total purchase price represents less than 2% of Pepkor’s R96 billion market capitalization and will be settled in cash. The finalization of the deal is subject to regulatory and commercial approvals, but once completed, it will significantly strengthen Pepkor’s dominance in the Southern African retail market.

As Pepkor continues to expand its footprint, the integration of these 462 stores marks a major milestone in its retail growth strategy, positioning the company as a key player in the adultwear and homeware sectors across the region.

{Source BusinessTech}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com