Choppies
Choppies is a Botswana-based multinational supermarket retailer serving mass-market grocery and fast-moving consumer goods customers.
Last updated October 28, 2026
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Overview
Choppies is a Botswana-origin supermarket and discount retailer headquartered in Gaborone. The business began in 1986 when the Chopdat family opened Wayside Supermarket in Lobatse. It operated with only two stores for much of its early period, adding a second location in 1993, before entering a more rapid expansion phase after 1999. In 2003, operations that had previously been conducted under different franchise names were consolidated under a single group structure and the Choppies identity. The retailer's original proposition centered on food and everyday fast-moving consumer goods. Its assortment included fresh groceries, packaged and shelf-stable foods, household products and other frequently purchased necessities. The model was built around serving value-conscious customers through a broad physical store network, centralized sourcing and distribution, and purchasing volumes designed to support competitive pricing. The company later developed logistics capabilities through distribution centers and its wholly owned Welldone subsidiary, which supports store operations and supply-chain activity. Choppies expanded beyond Botswana in 2008, opening a store in Zeerust in South Africa's North West province. A distribution center in Rustenburg followed in 2012 to support South African operations. The group established a distribution center in Zimbabwe in 2014 and completed a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2015. Its regional growth program also took it into Zambia, South Africa's Durban market through the Jwayelani acquisition, Kenya through the Ulkwala acquisition, and new stores in Tanzania and Mozambique. The company subsequently closed its operations in South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania in 2020, reflecting a retreat from several markets and a greater concentration on its remaining footprint. Choppies became a public company on the Botswana Stock Exchange on January 26, 2012. Its initial public offering and private placement involved 1.2 billion shares, with 25 percent offered to the public. The offering was reported as the largest in the exchange's history at that time and was substantially oversubscribed. The company became a constituent of the BSE Domestic Company Index. The group remains associated with Botswana's fast-moving consumer goods sector and, according to the cited Wikipedia reference, had 161 stores across four countries by 2024. Its operating infrastructure includes two Botswana distribution centers, one at International Commerce Park in Gaborone and another in Lobatse. Choppies' historical growth has been linked to founding management figures Farouk Ismail and Ramachandaran Ottapathu, who are identified in the reference material as a deputy chairman and chief executive respectively. The company has also faced public criticism over the perceived gap between the compensation of lower-paid store employees and senior executives. The available reference material does not establish a formal regulatory finding or a specific legal judgment concerning that criticism.
History
Choppies traces its origins to 1986, when the Chopdat family established Wayside Supermarket in Lobatse, Botswana. A second store opened in 1993. The business remained relatively small through 1999, when it operated two stores, but subsequently entered a sustained period of expansion as it developed into a significant participant in Botswana's fast-moving consumer goods market. In 2003, the group consolidated operations that had previously been conducted through various franchise names. This created a more unified corporate and retail structure under the Choppies identity. The company's founding management included Farouk Ismail and Ramachandaran Ottapathu, identified in the reference material as major shareholders and senior leaders. The retailer's business was initially concentrated on food and other fast-moving consumer goods, including fresh groceries and long-life packaged products. The first major international step came in 2008, when Choppies opened a store in Zeerust in South Africa's North West province. To support its South African network, the company opened a distribution center in Rustenburg in September 2012. It later established a distribution center in Zimbabwe in 2014. Choppies broadened its corporate-market presence through a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on May 27, 2015. The company pursued additional regional expansion during the middle of the 2010s. Its Zambian operations began by the end of 2015. In early 2016, Choppies acquired the Jwayelani group in Durban, South Africa, and also acquired the Ulkwala group in Kenya. In 2017, it opened its first stores in Tanzania and Mozambique. These moves reflected an effort to build a southern and eastern African supermarket network rather than remain focused solely on Botswana. The expansion was followed by retrenchment. In 2020, Choppies closed stores in South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania. The closures left the group with a more concentrated operating footprint. By 2024, the cited reference stated that Choppies had 161 stores in four countries. Supply-chain infrastructure has been an important part of the group's operating model. Choppies uses distribution centers as central sourcing and replenishment points for stores. Its highest-volume products are delivered in bulk to the centers and then redistributed, while other goods may move directly from suppliers to stores. The group operates distribution centers in Botswana at International Commerce Park in Gaborone and in Lobatse. Welldone (Proprietary) Limited, described in the reference as a wholly owned subsidiary, provides logistics support for day-to-day retail operations. Choppies became a public company on the Botswana Stock Exchange on January 26, 2012. The initial public offering and private placement listed 1.2 billion shares, with one quarter offered to the public. The offering was described as the largest in the exchange's history at the time and was reported to have raised BWP 350 million. The shares were reportedly oversubscribed by as much as 400 percent. Choppies was also included in the BSE Domestic Company Index. The company has attracted criticism over the perceived disparity between compensation for frontline workers and senior management. The available source describes complaints from cashiers and packers regarding low pay compared with the reported annual compensation of senior executives. This is documented here as public criticism rather than as a confirmed scandal, because the supplied material does not identify a formal finding, court judgment or regulatory action.
- 2024
Reported 161-store network
[1]The cited reference reports 161 Choppies stores across four countries.
- 2020
Exit from four regional markets
[1]The company closes stores in South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania.
- 2017
Entry into Tanzania and Mozambique
[1]Choppies opens its first stores in Tanzania and Mozambique.
- 2016
Jwayelani and Ulkwala acquisitions
[1]The group acquires the Jwayelani group in Durban and the Ulkwala group in Kenya.
- 2015
Johannesburg Stock Exchange secondary listing
[1]Choppies completes a secondary listing on May 27.
- 2014
Zimbabwe distribution centre established
[1]The group develops its first distribution center in Zimbabwe.
- 2012
Botswana Stock Exchange listing
[1]Choppies lists on the Botswana Stock Exchange on January 26.
- 2012
Rustenburg distribution centre opens
[1]A South African distribution center is established to serve the country's stores.
- 2008
Entry into South Africa
[1]Choppies opens its first South African store in Zeerust.
- 2003
Operations consolidated under one structure
[1]Businesses previously operating under various franchise names are brought together under a unified group structure.
Products and positioning
A mass-market, value-oriented supermarket chain focused on food, groceries and everyday fast-moving consumer goods, supported by a regional store network and centralized distribution.
Food retail
Fresh groceries
Fresh grocery products form part of Choppies' core supermarket assortment. They are sold alongside packaged foods and other everyday necessities through the group's store network. The available reference identifies fresh groceries as an original component of the retailer's food-focused business but does not provide a detailed category breakdown.
Food retail
Long-life packaged foods
Choppies sells shelf-stable and other long-life food products as part of its mass-market grocery proposition. These products are suited to high-volume replenishment and centralized distribution, with the company's top-selling items moved in bulk through distribution centers before being allocated to stores.
Everyday consumer goods
Fast-moving consumer goods
The retailer's broader assortment includes frequently purchased household and consumer products in addition to food. The range supports Choppies' positioning as a one-stop, value-oriented supermarket for routine shopping.
Controversies
2020
Choppies directors sue PwC
In a legal action reported in December 2020, Choppies chief executive Ramachandra Ottapathu and executive director Ismail Farouk sued PwC and its director Rudi Binedell for R600-million. The claim alleged that PwC used unethical tactics to pressure Choppies to hire Binedell. The dispute centered on the conduct of the audit firm and one of its directors in relation to the retailer's hiring decisions.
Brand decisions
2020
Withdraw from South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and TanzaniaStrategyBackground
After a period of regional expansion, the group revised its geographic footprint.
Action taken
Choppies closed its stores in South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania.
Aftermath
The company concentrated its operations in four remaining countries, with the cited reference reporting 161 stores by 2024.
2015
Complete Johannesburg Stock Exchange secondary listingOtherBackground
Choppies was expanding its regional presence and had established operations outside Botswana.
Action taken
The company completed a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on May 27, 2015.
Aftermath
The listing provided an additional public-market venue for the group during its regional expansion phase.
2012
Proceed with Botswana public listingOtherBackground
Rapid growth after 1999 created demand for Choppies to access the national capital market.
Action taken
The group listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange, offering 25 percent of the shares to the public as part of an IPO and private placement.
Aftermath
The offering reportedly raised BWP 350 million and became the largest listing in the exchange's history at that time. The financial information is specific to the 2012 offering and is not a current valuation.
IPO and private-placement proceeds. BWP 350 million raised (2012 listing)
Recent events
- 2020
Choppies withdraws from four regional markets[1]
Other
The retailer closed stores in South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya and Tanzania, substantially reducing its geographic footprint.
- 2015
Choppies completes Johannesburg Stock Exchange secondary listing[1]
Other
Choppies completed a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as part of its regional corporate and expansion structure.
- 2012
Choppies lists on the Botswana Stock Exchange[1]
M&A
Choppies became listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange on January 26, 2012. The offering and private placement involved 1.2 billion shares and reportedly raised BWP 350 million, with 25 percent of the shares offered to the public.
- 2012
Choppies opens a South African distribution centre[1]
Other
The group launched a distribution centre in Rustenburg to supply its South African stores after entering the country in 2008.
Public criticism over pay differences[1]
Other
The company has faced public criticism from employees and commentators over reported differences between the pay of cashiers and packers and the compensation of senior executives. The available reference does not provide a dated formal investigation or legal determination.
Sources4 sources
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