Lewis Try To Stop Pepkor Buying Shoprite’s Furniture Business
Big Court Case Brewing in 2026
Pepkor has announced plans to buy the furniture businesses of Shoprite for R3.2 billion.
The deal includes well-known brands such as OK Furniture and House and Home. The transaction was first announced in 2024.
The Competition Commission has recommended that the deal be approved, as long as there are no job losses and more furniture is bought from local suppliers.
But not everyone is happy and the deal has been opposed at court many, many times.
Lewis Says No!
Furniture retailer Lewis is opposing the deal and has taken the matter to court many times.
Lewis says the merger would create a very large furniture group with too much power in the market. According to Lewis, this could lead to higher prices, fewer choices for consumers, and weaker credit terms. Lewis says these effects would be felt most strongly in smaller towns and rural areas where there are limited alternatives.
Pepkor Says Yes!
Pepkor disagrees with these claims.
It says Lewis is using the legal process to delay or block a deal between competitors. Pepkor argues that long legal delays make it harder to complete major business transactions in South Africa. It also says this kind of uncertainty can discourage local and international investors.
All the Way To Constitutional Court
The matter is now before the Constitutional Court, which is expected to deal with it urgently.
The court’s decision will determine whether Lewis can continue its challenge. It may also influence how similar merger disputes are handled in future, especially where competitors try to intervene in large transactions.
