Amazon South Africa is finally selling groceries, pet food and vitamins because yes, even tech giants need to feed the dogs.
Nearly a year after launching in South Africa, Amazon’s long-awaited expansion into everyday essentials is finally here. As of today, South Africans can order thousands of non-perishable grocery items, pet food products and supplements from the e-commerce giant with free same-day or next-day delivery on items shipped by Amazon. It’s a big move that says one thing loud and clear: Amazon wants your pantry.
Until now, Amazon South Africa has focused on electronics, beauty products, books and homeware. Nice-to-haves, sure, but not exactly what most people shop for on a weekly basis. Groceries, on the other hand, are where the real daily spend happens. And Amazon knows it.
“We’ve been listening closely to customer feedback,” said Robert Koen, Amazon’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa. “Groceries, pet supplies and health supplements have consistently been among their top requests.” Translation: we noticed everyone still shops at Checkers.
The new categories feature a mix of international brands (Nestlé, Red Bull, Starbucks) and local staples (Simba, Beacon, Koo), plus a wide range of pet food and wellness products. In other words, you can now buy your cat’s food and your kid’s cereal in the same cart you use to impulse-buy that Bluetooth speaker.
And while this isn’t a full fresh-food rollout yet, the selection hits the sweet spot of middle-class pantry stocking: coffee, pasta, cereals, cooking oils, supplements and bulk-buy multipacks. The site’s already seeing traction in categories like dog food and multivitamins, which speaks volumes about how South Africans shop: practical, price-conscious and convenience-driven.
Philile Mabolloane, Retail Head for Consumables, says the range is “carefully curated with South African customers in mind.” The goal is to become a one-stop shop that’s as useful as it is ubiquitous.
Of course, that raises the stakes for local e-commerce players. Takealot has long offered pantry staples and essentials, often with same-day delivery in major metros. Then there’s Checkers Sixty60, Woolworths Dash and Pick n Pay’s growing on-demand delivery game. Amazon’s entry could either shake things up or drown in a sea of app clutter. But it’s betting on brand loyalty, tight logistics and a promise that it will actually deliver when it says it will.
It’s also banking on over 4,300 pickup points across the country, making collection just as easy for customers who aren’t home all day. And with 24/7 customer support, Amazon is trying to tick every box before it even asks for your business.
But let’s be honest. It’s not just about tins of Koo beans. This expansion is a clear signal that Amazon South Africa wants long-term market share, and it’s willing to start with the basics to get there. First groceries, then everything else?
You can browse the new Everyday Essentials categories and try out that free shipping promise via the Amazon app or at www.amazon.co.za.