Takealot: 10 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

In case you did not know, Takealot is South Africa’s leading e-commerce platform, known for transforming online shopping in the region. It started from humble beginnings and has grown into a powerhouse with diverse services.

There’s probably a lot that you don’t know about Takealot, but today my aim is to change that…

Here are 10 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know About Takealot

1. Takealot originated in 2010 when former MWEB CEO Kim Reid and US investment firm Tiger Global Management acquired the existing e-commerce site Take2, rebranding and launching it publicly in June 2011.

2. In 2014, fueled by a $100 million investment from Tiger Global, Takealot bought Mr Delivery (rebranded as Mr D Food for on-demand delivery) and fashion site Superbalist.com; it also merged with rival Kalahari.com in 2015, boosting Naspers’ stake to 46.5%.

3. Naspers, a major media conglomerate, now owns nearly all of Takealot Group (96% by 2018), which employs over 7,300 people and operates across South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana as Africa’s largest online retailer.

4. Takealot turned profitable in 2024, contributing 12.3% to Naspers’ revenue that year, with the full group targeting profitability by 2026 despite past losses like R407 million in 2023.

5. The platform offers over 9 million products across numerous categories, from electronics and appliances to groceries, books, and fashion.

6. In recent years it has achieved massive scale: around 4.8 million active shoppers (as of late 2025), double-digit customer growth, and monthly visits often exceeding 25–30 million.

7. The company creates substantial economic impact: the company has reported creating around 20,000 direct jobs and over 13,000 indirect employment opportunities, while contributing billions of rand to South Africa’s GDP annually.

8. Takealot has helped drive the overall growth of e-commerce in South Africa, holding a significant share of online retail (around 2% of the total retail sector in some estimates) and competing fiercely against potential entrants like Amazon.

9. Its subscription/loyalty offerings, AI improvements, and focus on faster delivery (including same-day in some areas) continue to evolve the experience for South African shoppers.

10. To reach underserved areas like townships and rural regions, Takealot has recruited thousands of personal shoppers who help non-tech-savvy customers place orders – a clever move to counter competition and boost inclusion.

Well, there you have it, 10 interesting facts about Takealot. If I’ve left out something important, feel free to comment below.

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