South African-founded food delivery platform Spaza Eats is coming to your nearest township as it expands nationally.
Business Day reported today that Spaza Eats’ vision is to achieve a nationwide rollout by June 2025, followed by expansion into Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Spaza Eats currently operates in Gauteng, Cape Town, Limpopo, Durban, Rustenburg, East London, and Mbombela.
Rising young entrepreneur Talifhani Banks, founder of Spaza Eats and parent company AnalyticsX, confirmed to TechFinancials that the company is expanding nationally.
Why are you expanding nationally?
Spaza Eats
“Our decision to expand nationally stems from our commitment to bridge the gap between local eateries and consumers, particularly in underserved areas,” said Banks.
“Since our inception, Spaza Eats has focused on connecting township residents with local traditional cuisine sellers, spaza shops, fresh produce vendors, and electronics providers.
“By broadening our reach, we aim to empower more local businesses, stimulate economic growth, and provide consumers across the country with convenient access to a diverse range of products and services.”
He added that Spaza Eats’ initial focus will be on extending its services to every small town in South Africa by June 2025.
“This phased approach allows us to ensure the quality and reliability of our services as we scale.”
Spaza Eats was founded in June 2023 and is morphing into a merchant bank.
At just 21 months old, Banks’ food delivery platform has already signed up 60,000 customers and 4,500 merchants, competing against giants such as Checkers Sixty60 and Pick n Pay’s ASAP.
Business innovator Talifhani Banks, who shot to fame when he launched Spaza Eats in July 2023 through his company. Image:REUTERS/SIPHIWE SIBEKO
Business innovator Talifhani Banks, who shot to fame when he launched Spaza Eats in July 2023 through his company AnalyticsX, is still holding his own. With a background in statistics and econometrics and years of experience in retail, Banks identified a critical gap in the market: the underserved township and rural economies.
Despite fierce competition from established players like Checkers Sixty60 and Pick n Pay’s Asap, Spaza Eats has attracted more than 60,000 customers and 4,500 merchants in its first 14 months, a remarkable feat given the challenges of operating in these areas.
But Banks isn’t stopping there.
He envisions Spaza Eats evolving into something far greater: a “Township Amazon” that integrates point-of-sale (POS) machines, wallet-as-a-service, and loans for merchants and riders directly into the Spaza Eats app. His goal for AnalyticsX is not just to own a delivery service but to create a community marketplace and, eventually, a merchant bank.
Last year, AnalyticsX received a Third-Party Payment Provider (TPPP) licence, a significant milestone that allows it to process payments and enable customers to save their bank cards on the app. “We were approved midyear … and it was exciting to get the news,” Banks recalled.
His team is currently integrating this solution into the Spaza Eats app, laying the groundwork for Spaza Pay, a potential merchant bank tailored for township and rural economies.
In another bold move, Banks announced the launch of Spaza Eats’ own POS machines, designed specifically for township shops. “Our Spaza Eats enterprise resource planning software allows shop owners to manage walk-in customers and online orders seamlessly,” he said.
These POS machines will record all transactions, enabling Spaza Pay to accumulate data and provide lending solutions to higher-performing businesses.
“Over time, Spaza Pay could evolve into a merchant bank. As we speak now, we’re waiting to be approved by the National Credit Regulator to become a lender for merchants,” Banks added.
