Inside the new Spar Gourmet store taking on Woolworths Food in the luxury market
Newsday visited the new Spar Gourmet store in Zimbali Oasis on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, offering an up-market experience to high-end clients.
Spar launched the store in November 2025 in partnership with one of its independent retailers, Mark Anderson.
“This collaboration brought to life a bold, premium retail vision that redefines what modern grocery shopping can be in South Africa,” Spar said.
The new Spar Gourmet brand is designed to introduce a sophisticated retail environment characterised by luxury, craftsmanship, and convenience.
The store offers artisanal breads and patisserie, gourmet meals, a premium butchery offering specialised cuts, and a wine emporium.
Spar’s communications and sponsorships manager, Mpudi Maubane, said the launch marked a defining moment for the retailer.
Maubane said the opening signalled a step forward in Spar’s journey to grow its premium offering, targeting the Socio-Economic Measures (SEM) level 7 to 10 group.
She said that Spar Gourmet is intended to be more than just a store. It is envisioned to be an experiential destination.
“It allows customers to discover curated products, enjoy handcrafted flavours, and engage with food in a fresh and inspiring way,” she said.
The Zimbali Oasis shopping centre is located next to the exclusive 925-acre Zimbali Coastal Resort in Ballito.
The resort features a Tom Weiskopf-designed championship golf course and a private beachfront, and is a popular enclave for South African millionaires.
It is, therefore, a perfect location to test a new concept store aimed at the luxury end of the South African retail market.
Spar Gourmet’s plan to take on Woolworths Food
When the retailer announced its new Spar Gourmet store plans in early 2025, it said it planned to open 30 to 40 stores.
It is targeting South Africans with high access to resources, infrastructure, and amenities. Simply put, these are going after wealthy South Africans.
The retailer is actively evaluating sites in high-end residential and urban neighbourhoods to reach this market.
Spar said that the new Gourmet stores will give South Africans a reason to shop by offering high-end products through key strategic partnerships.
The new Spar Gourmet stores will all offer a standardised design and brand philosophy, which the group anticipates will allow for a high-margin retail model.
Through the Private Label Spar Signature Selection range and strategic supplier partners, it will offer differentiated product ranges and bespoke offerings.
Although Spar did not explicitly state that it was taking on Woolworths Food, it was clear that it was the strategy.
Newsday visited the new Spar Gourmet store in the Zimbali Oasis shopping centre, and we experienced exactly what was promised.
There was a Vida e Caffe coffee shop at the entrance, and the store felt luxurious, targeting a high-end clientele.
The store design is modern and inviting, with friendly staff ready to assist customers seeking fresh food, fruit, or other products.
There is a strong focus on prepared food when clients enter the store, with products ranging from samosas to wood-fired pizzas.
The store also features a rotating ‘Gourmet & Go’ menu curated by in-house chefs, focusing on scratch-made stocks, sauces, and freshly ground spices.
The deli offers a changing selection of four premium daily signature dishes alongside standard fast-food options.
The photos below provide an overview of the new Spar Gourmet store in the Zimbali Oasis shopping centre.
Inside the new Spar Gourmet store
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As usual more attention to detail , money , luxery and ofcourse splendour is spread to the wealthy . The less wealthy carry the rich , yet the rich are remonerated .