Shoprite's latest Food Security Index shows progress, but hunger in South Africa endures. Retailers cut prices and food rescue groups fight waste, yet without coherent policy the system remains fragile.

Shoprite's 2025 Food Security Index climbed to 56.5 in 2024 from a record low of 44.9 the previous year, signalling a return to "relative security." Anything above 50 means the country is, statistically speaking, more food secure than not.

It's a hopeful rebound after the pandemic years, but still a long way from the pre-Covid peak of 65.8 in 2019.

Sanjeev Raghubir, Shoprite's chief sustainability officer, said the index served as a "proxy for the economy getting better", as it would signal more people gaining access to food and job stability.

He said the rise offered "a glimmer of hope in the sense that [the score] can improve, but also in that it can change from collaborative efforts".

Economics of the plate

The biggest reason for the rebound was the sharp fall in food inflation, down from 14% in March 2023 to 1.7% by November 2024. That stability helped lift what the index calls "availability", one of its four core pillars, alongside access, diversity and stability.

Price relief...