1.As Africa’s largest FMCG retailer, with a strong footprint across multiple markets and a presence in Angola since 2003, what have been the most significant milestones in Shoprite’s trajectory in the country?

Mr. Salvador:

I believe there have been several important milestones. One of the most significant has been expanding supermarkets across the country and making basic food products accessible to everyone in Angola. That has always been extremely important to us.

Another major achievement has been ensuring affordable pricing and extending those benefits beyond Luanda to all regions of the country. Today, our footprint stretches from Cunene to Cabinda, which is something we are very proud of. Our products are available nationwide, and our intention has always been to grow in a way that serves the entire country rather than focusing only on a specific region.

That is what makes me proud of Shoprite. We are not a retailer for only one segment of society. We serve all communities, from lower-income consumers to higher-income customers, and we strive to make our food basket accessible to everyone.

Another point that truly stands out is our investment in people. We employ around 3,000 people, and many members of our management and store leadership teams have between 15 and 20 years of experience within the company. Many started in junior positions and worked their way up to senior leadership roles. We have employees who joined us after university and completed their development through the Shoprite system, and today they are senior managers. Others joined directly from school and gradually progressed into management positions.

What is particularly important to me is that Shoprite Angola is managed by Angolans. Investing in local human capital, especially the youth, has become essential. Angola’s economic landscape is evolving, and while the country has historically invested heavily in oil, there is a need for other sectors that can support young people and create opportunities. Retail is one of those sectors.

Today, we directly employ 3,000 people, many of whom are young Angolans who joined Shoprite after finishing school and have since become professional retailers and professionals in their field. It is very rewarding to witness that growth.

2. Could you share some operational indicators that illustrate the scale of Shoprite Angola, particularly in terms of number of stores, geographic coverage, and customer growth?

Mr. Salvador:

We currently employ approximately 3,000 people and operate 25 stores across Angola. Of those 25 stores, seven are located in Luanda, seven are in the south of the country, and the remaining stores are in the north. This gives us a very broad national footprint.

What is especially important for us is customer growth. While we do not disclose customer numbers, we are proud to say that we continue to grow our customer base every year. Last year, we achieved double-digit customer growth, which was a very important milestone for us, and this year we are still experiencing strong and positive growth.

This demonstrates the increasing demand from customers visiting our stores. Even with the arrival of new competitors and increasing competition in the market, we continue to grow steadily.

3. As of December 2025, Shoprite Angola entered into a partnership with Novagest to supply bakery and pastry products across its stores. What advantages has this collaboration delivered in terms of supply chain efficiency, local sourcing, and product quality?

Mr. Salvador: 

From the moment I started in this role, one of my priorities was to focus on local procurement — but not just any procurement. The objective has always been to work with the best local suppliers while maintaining the high standards expected from an international company.

Today, we support approximately 288 local suppliers, including Novagest. What excites me most about Novagest is their focus on innovation and their commitment to high-quality standards, which is something we value greatly.

This partnership has allowed us to deliver quality products while maintaining affordability and expanding the product range available to customers. Novagest brings significant expertise and international experience in the food sector, which has been extremely valuable.

The collaboration has also improved production efficiency. With finished products, it becomes easier to preserve quality and maintain consistent standards on shelves across our stores.

We are now working toward expanding this partnership nationwide so that customers across Angola can enjoy access to the same quality products.

4. Innovation and automation in the FMCG sector are rapidly transforming operations from manual systems into intelligent, data-driven environments. Could you elaborate on some of the innovation programmes implemented by Shoprite Angola?

Mr. Salvador:

One thing I truly enjoy about Shoprite is our commitment to investing in people and systems. I am very proud of the technology we have implemented.

Our systems are now fully live, which means that when a customer enters one of our stores looking for a product, we can immediately access the system and determine whether that product is available, in transit, on order, or out of stock.

We have also introduced mobile technology that allows us to scan products directly and provide customers with real-time information. This supports our stock efficiency targets, which are extremely important to us. Our shelves cannot be empty, and we cannot disappoint customers.

Investing in these systems gives us greater certainty and improves procurement planning, stock efficiency, and product distribution across the country. It also allows us to maintain better control over inventory because everything can be monitored online.

In fact, not only our teams in Angola but also colleagues in South Africa have access to the system. A team member in Cabinda can view product availability in Luanda, which makes coordination and distribution between stores much easier.

That is something I am extremely proud of. Shoprite continues to innovate, and while there are still areas where we want to improve further, there are many exciting projects and developments coming in the near future.

5. Shoprite Angola has also implemented ESG initiatives, including waste reduction programs, recycling projects, and renewable energy solutions. How are these initiatives being operationalised across the network?

Mr. Salvador:

Many of these projects were first implemented in South Africa. Many of our warehouses and stores already use solar power. These are initiatives that are gradually being aligned for Angola as well, although naturally they require time to implement across such a large network.

Sustainability and innovation are very important to us. We also focus heavily on reducing waste. For example, we work with an NGO that collects used cooking oil from our stores and transforms it into soap instead of allowing it to go to waste.

Another initiative we are particularly proud of is our mobile soup truck programme. Through this initiative, we provide meals to vulnerable communities and orphanages.

Currently, our soup truck in Luanda serves more than 1,000 cups of soup every week. Rather than operating randomly, we work with selected orphanages on a structured schedule so that children know they can rely on receiving meals from us every week.

These are initiatives we undertake quietly because they are fundamentally about giving back to the community and supporting vulnerable groups.

6. What are the company’s strategic priorities moving forward?

Mr. Salvador:

It is very important for people to understand that Shoprite is not in Angola for the short term. We are here for the long term, and we are here to stay. Every project we undertake must be sustainable, profitable, and capable of creating employment, job security, and community support.

One of the exciting developments we are introducing is our own prepared chicken brand, ChicRite. This is a completely new concept for us in Angola and will contribute to additional job creation for young people. We are very excited about launching it soon.

We are also introducing Shoprite Select stores, which will be a more premium retail concept with higher standards and a more upscale shopping experience aimed at customers looking for premium quality products.

The first Select Store will most likely be launched in Belas, and we are extremely excited about what this concept will bring to the market. As Angolan businesspeople, it is important for us to bring internationally recognised standards into Angola and demonstrate that the country can offer high-quality retail experiences that inspire confidence among investors and consumers alike.

We are also already actively involved in exports. This year alone, we exported approximately 1,000 tons of bananas to Namibia and South Africa.

We are also exploring opportunities involving products such as dragon fruit and papaya, with the objective of expanding our export portfolio further.

Another initiative we are very excited about is bringing high-quality locally produced products from Cabinda into Luanda and eventually distributing them throughout our supermarket network nationwide.

For us, it is important to support all provinces equally and encourage local production wherever it meets the standards we require.

Our objective is to place high-quality Angolan products on our shelves while also creating opportunities to export those products to neighbouring countries. Angola has fertile land, excellent agricultural potential, and abundant water resources, and we believe the country should take full advantage of those strengths.

7. Having spent more than two decades within the Shoprite Group and now leading operations in Angola, how has your leadership journey shaped your strategic vision?

Mr. Salvador:

One of the most important lessons I have learned is the value of investing in people. Shoprite provided me with leadership training and development opportunities that helped shape me into a stronger general manager. In business, you do not only need managers — you also need true leaders who can inspire people. I want to demonstrate that it is possible for Angolans to rise into senior leadership positions within large international businesses. That message is extremely important to me.

At the same time, leadership requires humility, hard work, commitment, and dedication. Nothing is possible without a strong team, and I am proud to work alongside highly experienced and senior Angolan managers who share the same vision for the company.

8. Is there a legacy you would like to leave one day at Shoprite?

Mr. Salvador:

I want to leave Shoprite in a stronger position for future generations. I want the company to continue thriving in Angola for the next 50 or 60 years.

For me personally, it was significant to become the first Angolan operational manager and later the first Angolan General Manager within the company. I want that legacy to demonstrate that Angolans have the capacity to become successful investors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. I also hope it inspires younger generations, including my own children, to believe that with hard work, commitment, and clear goals, anything is possible.

That is why I enjoy speaking with young people and encouraging them to remain focused and optimistic, even when circumstances seem difficult. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Once you set a clear goal and commit yourself to it through hard work and dedication, you can achieve it.