Shoprite was originally founded in 1964 by a small group of entrepreneurs led by Roomer Leigh and the Rogut family, who purchased an initial string of eight grocery stores operating in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Over subsequent decades, under the legendary visionary leadership of long-serving CEO Whitey Basson, the small regional business expanded aggressively through strategic acquisitions—such as Checkers and OK Bazaars—transforming into Africa's largest and most successful food retailing corporation.