The Shoprite Group of Companies, comprising several iconic brands, is the largest retailer in Africa. It started out as a group of eight grocery stores in 1979, and has grown into a technologically-advanced, continent-wide business selling items from food, liquor and medicine, to concert tickets and furniture. Today the Group is at the forefront of retail innovation. It operates thousands of stores in 14 countries, has a network of high-tech automated distribution centres, and employs more than 140,000 people.