International giant launching new stores offering lower prices than Checkers and Pick n Pay

Following the successful launch of its first two stores in South Africa, Walmart plans to continue expanding across the Gauteng province, outpricing its competitors like Checkers and Pick n Pay. 

Walmart has announced that its third store will be located on the East Rand in Boksburg. The company has kept details such as the exact location and store format close to its chest.

“The intention is to increase our provincial representation, but we would prefer not to signal our specific intent to competitors at this time,” Walmart subsidiary Massmart told MyBroadband. 

This is after the first Walmart store in the country was launched in Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort, and the second was launched in Fourways Mall in Johannesburg in late 2025.

While the exact location has not been disclosed, the first two stores opened in properties that were previously Game stores.

Walmart has said it will be converting real estate within its own portfolio in other brands as well as expanding to new locations.

The company has also previously said that it has “very ambitious” expansion plans for South Africa. 

Walmart has plans to expand across the continent in the long-term, but is focusing on South Africa, and specifically Gauteng, for the short term. 

Massmart will reveal more about its strategy in the second quarter of 2026.

The retailer has reported that its first store openings have been a success, saying that Walmart is delighted by the incredibly high levels of customer interest. 

“Our Every Day Low Price philosophy is core to us building trust with customers, and to this end, we are pleased with the results of our regular shop-outs and price comparisons to key competitors,” it said.

“We have been able to maintain a consistent price gap on items that we have been tracking since launch.”

To date, the everyday low price philosophy has proven true, with analyses by BusinessTech and Daily Investor repeatedly proving that the cost of a variety of food items is cheaper at Walmart. 

Newsday compared the cost of a few core grocery items at Walmart, Pick n Pay and Checkers. 

Core food items, as defined by the Pietermaritzeburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) are food items prioritised by South Africans for survival. Thay are the items the group found South African buy first to stave off hunger. 

Newsday compared nine items from the PMBEJD list: all the items in which Walmart, Checkers and Pick n Pay were found to sell the same brand and the same quantity. 

A comparison between Walmart, Checkers and Pick n Pay prices for these items can be found below:

The cost of this food basket would amount to R890.18 at Walmart, proving to be cheaper than Checkers or Pick n Pay, where the same basket would cost R973.91 and R1,077.91, respectively.

Walmart was found to have the best price on almost every item, except for cooking oil, where Checkers had the cheapest item. 

Walmart is additionally challenging South African retailers with its 60-minute delivery promise. Those within a 5 km radius of the store can order free delivery that will take a maximum of 60 minutes.