Well-known coffee shop opens new cafes in Spar stores across South Africa
Vida e Caffè has recently opened its 400th store and is rapidly rolling out new cafes in Spar stores across South Africa.
Vida e Caffè was founded in 2001 by Brad Armitage and Rui Esteves, who wanted to bring the European coffee culture to South Africa.
At the time, South Africa’s coffee landscape was dominated by traditional sit-down restaurants, which served standard filter-drip coffee.
Esteves and Armitage designed the concept for Vida e Caffè themselves, drawing inspiration from street cafes in Portugal and combining it with African style.
The first Vida e Caffè opened on Kloof Street in Cape Town in 2001, and started expanding gradually soon after.
By the time they opened their third store in Cavendish Square in Cape Town, Grant Dutton joined the company as a 40% joint venture partner.
Dutton and a consortium of investment partners bought out the original founders, Brad Armitage and Rui Esteves, in 2006.
The company showed exceptional growth over the next two decades and recently opened its 400th store at The Exchange.
Rael Levitt, CEO of Inospace, shared a tale of a discussion he had with Vida e Caffè CEO Darren Levy ten years ago.
Levy had just taken over the reins at the company, which had approximately 120 stores at the time. “The brand had soul, but business seemed broken,” he said.
“What Darren Levy and his team have built over the last ten years is nothing short of a machine,” Levitt said.
“I watched them fit out their 400th store. Days, nights, weekends. No shortcuts. No excuses. Just relentless execution.”
The store marked the launch of their new Vida e Caffè flagship format, which is bigger and bolder than anything they’ve done before.
“400 Stores. 8 Countries. 25 Years. This is a significant chapter in our journey built on great coffee, meaningful connections, and a community that inspires us,” Levy said.
He added that the achievement belongs to the thousands of individuals who have contributed to their success over the past 25 years.
These individuals range from franchise partners and store teams to suppliers, strategic partners, and loyal customers.
Vida e Caffè rolling out coffee shops in Spar stores across South Africa
Last year, Spar South Africa entered into a partnership with Vida e Caffè to introduce coffee and beverage shops in its stores.
This formed part of Spar’s plan to enhance its coffee credentials and offer customers a premium in-store coffee experience.
“We’re incredibly excited about our partnership with Vida e Caffè,” Aqeehl Najaar, head of convenience and partnerships at Spar South Africa, said at the time.
Levy said that partnering with Spar allows them to bring the Vida e Caffè experience to more communities across South Africa.
“Together, we’re raising the bar for convenient, quality coffee that fits seamlessly into our customers’ busy lives,” he said.
The first Vida e Caffè shops opened in Spar Weltevreden, KwikSpar Ottery, Spar Groote Schuur, KwikSpar Dowerglen, and Spar Strubensvalley.
Since then, the rollout accelerated. In June 2026, Vida e Caffè opened new stores in Spar Langebaan, Spar Keimoes, and SuperSpar St Francis.
“We’re proud to keep growing our valued partnership with Spar and excited to see our footprint expand,” the company said.
“There’s something special about bringing the Vida e Caffè experience to even more communities. We are excited to welcome you to our newest locations.”
Vida e Caffè store photos
Loading ...