Boxer says it remains firmly on track to achieve its planned store expansion for the 2027 financial year, with dozens of new outlets expected to open across South Africa before the end of the reporting period.

The retailer has already launched 19 new stores during the first 20 weeks of the financial year, ending 19 July 2026, and indicated that additional openings are scheduled for the remainder of the year.

The update formed part of the company's trading statement released to shareholders on Tuesday, 28 July, outlining its latest financial and operational performance.

During the reporting period, Boxer increased turnover by 7.2%, while like-for-like sales rose by 2.2%. Although both figures remained positive, they were lower than the 10.9% turnover growth and 3.7% like-for-like growth recorded in the second half of the 2026 financial year.

Even so, the retailer maintained positive like-for-like volume growth for the third consecutive year and continued to expand its market share.

Boxer reported internal selling price inflation of -1.9%, a deeper level of deflation than the -0.7% and -1.6% recorded during the first and second halves of FY2026, respectively.

According to the company, the negative inflation rate reflects ongoing price declines across several key staple food categories. Products including maize meal, rice and flour all experienced double-digit deflation during the period.

Despite the deflationary environment, Boxer said it expects to preserve the trading profit margin achieved in the second half of FY2026 through the first half of FY2027. The retailer attributed this confidence to growth in other trading income together with disciplined margin management.

Store expansion also remains on schedule. Of the 19 outlets opened so far this financial year, six are Superstores and 13 are liquor stores.

Management said the retailer has a strong pipeline of new locations planned for the remainder of FY2027 and remains confident it will meet its previously announced expansion target of 25 Superstores and 35 liquor stores by year-end.

At the close of FY2026, Boxer operated a total of 576 stores across South Africa and Eswatini.

Looking ahead, the retailer expects sales growth to strengthen in the second half of FY2027, supported by a projected increase in selling price inflation and a greater contribution from newly opened stores.

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