Shoppers buying more as grocery prices fall, Boxer says, but food inflation could return
Boxer's selling prices fell 2.4% as customers bought more goods, although the retailer expects food inflation to return in the coming months.
South African shoppers are buying more groceries at Boxer Retail while paying lower prices, but the discount retailer warns that food inflation could return after months of declining prices. In its interim results for the 26 weeks ending August 30, 2026, Boxer reported that selling prices fell 2.4%, compared with national food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation of 2% over the same period.
CEO Marek Masojada, who has been with the retailer for over three decades, announced his retirement at the end of February 2027, with Justin Galloway, who has been with Boxer for 14 years, appointed CEO-designate to take over on March 1.
Masojada attributed the turnover increase of 6.3% to R24.1 billion, which slowed from the 10.9% growth recorded in the previous financial year, partly to fuel price increases from May and deeper selling-price deflation. While Boxer's prices continued to fall, the pace of those declines is now slowing, with a 3.1% selling-price deflation in August compared to 2.1% in September.
Boxer expects improved turnover growth in the second half of the year, supported by new stores and stronger recent trading, but cautions that the short-term outlook for food inflation remains uncertain due to elevated oil and diesel prices and uncertainty around food inflation.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
