Checkers has taken the lead in South Africa’s fast-growing on-demand grocery delivery market, outpacing rival Pick n Pay’s asap! service.

Checkers was first to roll out a rapid delivery offering, launching its Sixty60 platform in 2019—just ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, which catalyzed a shift in consumer shopping habits. Pick n Pay followed in August 2021, reintroducing its delivery service under the new asap! brand. This was a revamp of its previous Bottles platform, which originally focused on alcohol deliveries from Pick n Pay Liquor stores.

While some initially believed Sixty60's popularity would fade post-lockdown, the opposite has proven true. The service has maintained momentum and even strengthened its market position.

According to Shoprite’s financial results for the latter half of 2024, Sixty60 posted a 47.1% jump in sales, building on 63.1% growth in the first half of the year. Meanwhile, Pick n Pay’s latest trading update revealed a 42.5% increase in online sales for the 45 weeks leading up to 5 January 2025—this includes orders through both PnP asap! and its offerings via the Mr D platform.

Shoprite also reported strong loyalty figures, with record-high customer retention and satisfaction scores, despite heightened competition. The average number of purchases per customer on Sixty60 increased by 1.3 times over the same period.

Expanding access to the service, Checkers recently launched a web-based version of Sixty60, previously only available through iOS and Android apps. This move is especially beneficial for Huawei smartphone users, who couldn’t access the app due to its absence from the Huawei AppGallery—impacting around 2.6 million potential users.

The new website allows users to shop from any web browser, synchronizing shopping carts and account details across devices. Customers can sign in or register using their mobile number.

Price Comparison: Who’s More Affordable?

A recent comparison of 15 grocery staples showed competitive pricing between the two services. Both platforms offered identical prices on eight products, including:

• Two-litre Coca-Cola bottles
• Six-packs of 330ml Castle Lite beer
• Lancewood Double Cream Plain Yoghurt
• One-litre Schweppes Tonic Water
• Nature’s Garden Frozen Country Mix (900g)
• Oetker Ital Pizza
• 2kg Omo Auto washing powder
• 18-pack of Baby Soft 2-Ply toilet paper

Checkers Sixty60 came out cheaper on five items, such as:

• Sasko Premium White Bread (700g)
• Clover Super M Chocolate Milkshake (1L)
• Eskort Back Bacon (200g)
• Eskort Red Viennas
• Thokoman Smooth Peanut Butter (1kg)

The most notable difference was the peanut butter, with Sixty60 pricing it at R74.99 compared to PnP’s R89.99. However, this lower price is part of a promotion running until 8 June 2025—outside of the promo, both retailers typically sell the product at the same price.

Pick n Pay asap! did have better deals on a few items. For example, its promotional price of R31.99 for a two-litre bottle of Clover Full Cream Fresh Milk beat Checkers’ regular price. Even when not discounted, Pick n Pay’s standard price of R35.99 remains R1 less.

While both platforms remain highly competitive, Checkers Sixty60 appears to be edging ahead—not only in user growth and platform accessibility, but also in overall pricing on key household items.

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