Takealot Group

Takealot Group is a South African e-commerce company headquartered in Cape Town and controlled by Naspers. Its principal retail platform is Takealot.com, an online marketplace and retailer serving customers throughout South Africa. The group has also operated or owned businesses in food delivery, fashion e-commerce, fulfilment, and last-mile logistics, making it broader than a conventional online store. The business traces its origins to the acquisition of the South African e-commerce company Take2 in October 2010 by Kim Reid and Tiger Global Management. The operation was renamed takealot.com and launched publicly in June 2011. Its development coincided with the expansion of online shopping in South Africa, where a relatively concentrated retail sector, uneven physical access to specialist goods, and growing internet and mobile adoption created opportunities for a large national digital retailer. A major turning point came in 2014, when Takealot acquired a majority interest in the food-delivery business Mr Delivery, later rebranded Mr D, and acquired Superbalist, a prominent online fashion retailer. These transactions expanded the group into on-demand delivery and specialist fashion. In the same year, Takealot announced a merger with Kalahari.com, then one of South Africa's leading online retailers. The merger was completed in May 2015, when Naspers acquired a 46.5% stake in Takealot for R1.2 billion. Naspers later increased its holding to 96% in 2018. Takealot.com combines first-party retail with a third-party marketplace. Customers can purchase products across categories such as electronics, appliances, computers, household goods, personal care, books, toys, sporting goods, and other consumer merchandise. Marketplace sellers can list products for sale to Takealot customers, with fulfilment arrangements varying by seller and service. The platform had more than 11,000 active marketplace sellers in 2024, according to the referenced material. The group also operates delivery and fulfilment capabilities. Mr D provides restaurant and selected grocery delivery through its app and has worked with partners including Pick n Pay. Takealot's logistics operations provide metropolitan delivery, collection points, distribution-centre services, and faster delivery options for selected products. The company has used electric bikes, three-wheeled electric vehicles, and electric commercial trucks in its delivery network, while solar installations have been deployed at facilities in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. Takealot introduced TakealotMORE in May 2024, an optional subscription service with two tiers that provides a recurring customer proposition similar in broad concept to other retail membership programmes. In September 2024, Superbalist was sold to a South African consortium led by Blank Canvas Capital, reducing the group's direct exposure to online fashion while allowing it to focus on its principal retail, delivery, and logistics activities. Takealot for Business, a business-to-business service, was announced in September 2025. The group also announced a new depot at Inospace's Powder Mill Park in Cape Town, planned to open in January 2026 as part of a proposed e-commerce logistics park. Takealot.com reported profitability in 2024, while Mr D was also reported to have reached profitability by that point; the wider group remained loss-making at the time. Naspers reported that Takealot.com revenue increased 17% to R12.9 billion in the 2025 financial year and that Mr D revenue rose 8% to R2.1 billion. The referenced material states that the group reported its first full-year earnings-before-tax profit in June 2026, although the associated financial information should be treated as time-specific. Takealot therefore occupies a central position in South African digital retail, competing with established retailers, delivery platforms, and newer international e-commerce entrants.

Takealot Group developed from Take2, an earlier South African online retailer acquired in October 2010 by Kim Reid and Tiger Global Management. The business was renamed takealot.com and formally launched to the public in June 2011. Its early strategy centred on building a national online store capable of offering a wide assortment of products beyond the reach of many specialist physical retailers. In 2014, Takealot broadened its scope through acquisitions. It acquired a majority stake in Mr Delivery, a South African food-delivery pioneer, and brought the business into its growing digital commerce ecosystem. Mr Delivery was subsequently rebranded Mr D. Takealot also acquired Superbalist, then a leading online fashion retailer. These transactions added on-demand delivery and fashion capabilities alongside general merchandise retail. Takealot's competitive position strengthened further through its combination with Kalahari.com. Announced in 2014 and completed in May 2015, the merger joined two significant South African online retail operations. As part of the transaction, Naspers acquired a 46.5% stake in Takealot for R1.2 billion. Naspers increased its shareholding to 96% in 2018, making the group a controlled investment within the media and internet company's portfolio. The business has since operated as a multi-part platform. Takealot.com functions as both a retailer and marketplace, allowing third-party merchants to sell to consumers. Mr D provides restaurant and selected grocery delivery, including services connected with retail partners such as Pick n Pay. Takealot has also developed distribution centres, delivery capabilities, customer collection points, and fulfilment services. Its delivery network covers major metropolitan areas and uses a mixture of contracted and in-house or affiliated logistics resources. In April 2019, Takealot introduced Takealot Pickup Points. By March 2020, more than 50 collection points were reported across all nine provinces of South Africa, giving customers an alternative to home delivery. The company's logistics operations have also incorporated electric bikes, electric three-wheeled vehicles, and electric trucks. Distribution facilities in Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg have used solar power, while packaging and inbound transport initiatives have been described as efforts to reduce environmental impact. The group began reporting improving economics in the 2020s. Takealot.com was reported to have reached profitability in 2024, and Mr D was also profitable, although the consolidated group remained loss-making at that time. In May 2024, Takealot launched TakealotMORE, a two-tier optional subscription programme. In September of the same year, it sold Superbalist to a South African consortium led by Blank Canvas Capital, narrowing the group's direct operating portfolio while retaining its core retail and delivery focus. Takealot continued to extend its commercial and logistics proposition. In September 2025 it announced Takealot for Business, aimed at business customers. It also announced a depot at Inospace's Powder Mill Park in Ndabeni, Cape Town, planned to open on 15 January 2026 as part of a proposed e-commerce logistics park. In December 2025, the company began a limited Get it Now trial using Mr D couriers for rapid delivery of selected products in Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg. The referenced material reports that Naspers recorded 17% revenue growth for takealot.com in the 2025 financial year, to R12.9 billion, while Mr D revenue increased 8% to R2.1 billion. It further states that Takealot Group achieved full-year earnings-before-tax profitability in June 2026, after reporting a R214 million loss in the preceding year and a R181 million profit for the 2026 financial year. These financial figures are tied to the cited reporting period and should not be treated as timeless company statistics. Takealot has faced criticism as its marketplace expanded. Labor unions drew attention to worker protests in 2022. In 2026, merchants alleged that some foreign sellers had cloned products and listings, used intermediaries, or benefited from lower costs and tax treatment. Takealot denied an increase in counterfeit goods and said it bans sellers found marketing counterfeit products. The episode illustrates the governance and trust challenges associated with a large third-party marketplace, particularly as South African e-commerce faces competition from international platforms.

• 2025

  Takealot for Business announced

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Takealot announced a business-to-business commerce service.

• 2025

  Get it Now delivery trial begins

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  A limited rapid-delivery pilot began in three South African metropolitan areas.

• 2024

  TakealotMORE launched

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group introduced a two-tier optional subscription service.

• 2024

  Superbalist divested

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Superbalist was sold to a South African consortium led by Blank Canvas Capital.

• 2019

  Pickup Points introduced

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Takealot opened its first branded customer collection points.

• 2018

  Naspers increases ownership

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Naspers increased its shareholding in Takealot to 96%.

• 2015

  Kalahari.com merger completed

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The merger between Takealot and Kalahari.com was completed in May, with Naspers acquiring a 46.5% stake.

• 2014

  Expansion into food delivery and fashion

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Takealot acquired a majority stake in Mr Delivery and acquired Superbalist, expanding into food delivery and online fashion.

• 2011

  takealot.com launches publicly

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The renamed online retailer launched to the public in June 2011.

• 2010

  Take2 acquired and renamed

  [1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Kim Reid and Tiger Global Management acquired the existing South African e-commerce business Take2 and renamed it takealot.com.

A broad South African digital commerce ecosystem combining national online retail, marketplace access, on-demand delivery, and fulfilment infrastructure.

• Online retailer and marketplace · 2011

  Takealot.com

  Takealot.com is the group's principal online retail platform. It offers a broad assortment of consumer goods, including electronics, appliances, computers, household products, personal care items, books, toys, sporting goods, and other merchandise. The platform combines inventory sold by Takealot with third-party marketplace listings, allowing independent merchants to reach customers nationally. It supports home delivery, collection points, and selected faster-delivery services.

• Food and grocery delivery · 2014

  Mr D

  Mr D is the group's on-demand delivery service, developed from the Mr Delivery business acquired in 2014. Its app connects customers with restaurants and selected grocery services, including a grocery partnership with Pick n Pay. Mr D also supports parts of Takealot's rapid-delivery and last-mile logistics activity and competes with services such as Uber Eats in South Africa.

• Third-party seller marketplace

  Takealot Marketplace

  Takealot Marketplace enables independent sellers and suppliers to list products for sale to Takealot customers. Fulfilment arrangements may be handled by the sellers or through Takealot-related services, depending on the offering. The marketplace expands product selection and supports the group's platform model, while also creating responsibilities around seller standards, counterfeit prevention, product authenticity, and fair competition.

• Retail subscription service · 2024

  TakealotMORE

  TakealotMORE is an optional subscription service launched in May 2024 with two tiers. It is intended to add recurring membership value to Takealot's retail proposition and encourage repeat purchasing and customer retention. The referenced material does not specify the complete benefits or pricing of each tier.

• Business-to-business e-commerce · 2025

  Takealot for Business

  Takealot for Business is the group's announced business-to-business service. It is intended to extend Takealot's product catalogue and digital purchasing infrastructure to organizational buyers. Detailed features, customer segments, and commercial terms were not specified in the reference material.

• Warehousing and fulfilment

  Takealot Fulfilment Services

  Takealot Fulfilment Services is the group's logistics and fulfilment operation. The referenced material states that it provides warehousing and distribution services to local retail businesses, including Woolworths and a subsidiary. It represents an extension of Takealot's internal distribution capabilities into third-party commercial logistics.

• Online fashion retail · 2014

  Superbalist

  Superbalist was an online fashion retailer acquired by Takealot in 2014. It operated as a specialist fashion platform within the wider group until its sale in September 2024 to a South African consortium led by Blank Canvas Capital. It is therefore a former group offering rather than a current Takealot-owned product.

• 2026

  Marketplace allegations about cloned goods

  Local merchants alleged that some foreign sellers had copied products or listings and undercut local sellers. They also raised concerns about intermediaries, tax treatment, and the use of imported goods. Takealot said it had not observed an increase in counterfeit products, described its anti-counterfeit controls as robust, and stated that sellers found guilty of offering counterfeit goods were banned.

  Source

• 2022

  Labor protests and union scrutiny

  Takealot workers protested in July 2022, attracting attention from South African labor unions and criticism concerning labor practices.

  Source

Read more

• 2024TakealotMORE membership launch

  South Africa

  Takealot introduced its two-tier optional subscription service as a customer-retention and loyalty initiative for the South African market.

  Outcome. The service became part of the group's effort to increase recurring customer engagement; the reference material does not provide standalone subscriber or campaign-return figures.

  Source

• 2026

  Expand fulfilment and logistics servicesStrategy

  Background

  Takealot sought to use its distribution capabilities beyond its own retail platform.

  Action taken

  Takealot Fulfilment Services was reported to be providing warehousing and distribution to Woolworths and a subsidiary, while Mr D delivery services were partnered with Pick n Pay, Nespresso, Frozen 4 You, and Absolute Pets.

  Aftermath

  The move positioned the group as a potential third-party logistics and last-mile service provider as well as an online retailer.

  Source

• 2025

  Announce Takealot for BusinessProduct launch

  Background

  Takealot aimed to extend its consumer e-commerce infrastructure to organizational and business buyers.

  Action taken

  The company announced Takealot for Business as a B2B service.

  Aftermath

  The announcement signalled an expansion into business purchasing, but detailed operating results were not provided.

  Source

• 2025

  Trial Get it Now rapid deliveryProduct launch

  Background

  Fast on-demand retail delivery was becoming a competitive feature in South Africa, including through rival grocery and retail services.

  Action taken

  Takealot began a Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg pilot in which selected products could be ordered through a Get it Now option and delivered by Mr D couriers within minutes.

  Aftermath

  The service remained a limited trial in the referenced material, covering approximately 1,000 products.

  • Checkers Sixty60 — The trial was described as competing with the rapid-delivery model popularized by Checkers Sixty60; no direct competitor statement was provided.

  Source

• 2024

  Launch TakealotMOREProduct launch

  Background

  The group sought to increase customer loyalty and recurring engagement as competition in South African e-commerce intensified.

  Action taken

  Takealot launched an optional subscription programme with two tiers.

  Aftermath

  The subscription service became part of Takealot's customer-value strategy, although the reference material does not provide detailed subscriber results.

  Source

• 2024

  Divest SuperbalistM&A

  Background

  Takealot reviewed its portfolio of digital commerce businesses and chose to exit direct ownership of its online fashion platform.

  Action taken

  Superbalist was sold to a South African consortium of retail and private-equity investors led by Blank Canvas Capital.

  Aftermath

  The transaction reduced Takealot's direct exposure to online fashion and left Takealot.com, Mr D, and logistics activities as central parts of the group.

  Source

• 2018

  Increase Naspers ownershipM&A

  Background

  Naspers continued consolidating its interest in Takealot after becoming a significant shareholder through the Kalahari.com transaction.

  Action taken

  Naspers increased its shareholding in Takealot to 96%.

  Aftermath

  Takealot became a company overwhelmingly controlled by Naspers while continuing to operate as a South African e-commerce group.

  Source

• 2015

  Complete Kalahari.com mergerM&A

  Background

  Kalahari.com was a major South African online retailer, and combining the businesses offered a route to greater scale in a developing national e-commerce market.

  Action taken

  Takealot completed its merger with Kalahari.com in May 2015, alongside Naspers's acquisition of a 46.5% stake.

  Aftermath

  The combination strengthened Takealot's position as a leading South African online retailer and deepened its relationship with Naspers.

  Naspers consideration for a 46.5% shareholding. R1.2 billion (May 2015 transaction)

  Source

• 2014

  Acquire Mr Delivery and SuperbalistM&A

  Background

  Takealot sought to expand beyond general merchandise e-commerce into on-demand food delivery and specialist online fashion.

  Action taken

  The group acquired a majority stake in Mr Delivery and acquired Superbalist, later operating the food-delivery business under the Mr D name.

  Aftermath

  The transactions broadened Takealot's digital commerce portfolio and added delivery capabilities alongside its core online retail platform.

  Source

• 2026

  Takealot Group reports first full-year earnings-before-tax profit[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The referenced material states that Takealot Group reported a first full-year earnings-before-tax profit, following a loss in the preceding year, while revenue continued to grow despite competition from Amazon South Africa.

• 2025

  Takealot announces Takealot for Business[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The company announced a business-to-business e-commerce service called Takealot for Business.

• 2025

  Takealot trials near-instant delivery[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Takealot began testing a Get it Now service in Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg, using Mr D couriers to deliver a limited range of products within minutes.

• 2024

  Takealot.com reaches reported profitability[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Takealot.com was reported to have become profitable, while Mr D was also profitable; the wider Takealot Group remained loss-making at that stage.

• 2024

  Takealot launches TakealotMORE[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The group launched an optional two-tier subscription programme intended to increase customer retention and add recurring-value benefits to its retail proposition.

• 2024

  Superbalist sold to South African investment consortium[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Takealot sold online fashion retailer Superbalist to a South African consortium led by Blank Canvas Capital.

• 2019

  Takealot opens its first Pickup Points[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Takealot introduced a branded collection-point network. By March 2020, the network had expanded to more than 50 points across all nine South African provinces.

• 2018

  Naspers raises ownership of Takealot[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Naspers increased its ownership of Takealot to 96%, strengthening its control of the South African e-commerce group.

• 2015

  Naspers acquires a major stake in Takealot[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Following the Kalahari.com merger, Naspers acquired a 46.5% shareholding in Takealot for R1.2 billion.

• 2014

  Takealot announces merger with Kalahari.com[1]Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Takealot announced a merger with Kalahari.com, a major South African online retailer. The transaction was completed in May 2015.

1. 1Takealot Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Takealot official websitetakealot.com
3. 3Takealot appoints Illovo Sugar boss as new CEO | News24news24.com
4. 4Takelot appoints Mamongae Mahlare as CEOiol.co.za