Massmart quietly trials small-format Makro inside Game stores shoppers to benefit, company says

Massmart is testing a small-format Makro concept inside existing Game stores, a move the company says is intended to make Makro’s range more accessible to mall shoppers rather than to replace Game.

What the trial involves

Massmart has been piloting Makro stores of about 3,000 square metres by converting parts of in-mall Game locations and merchandising and branding those areas as Makro, the group said. The concept was first revealed in April 2024, when Massmart outlined its plan to situate the smaller Makro outlets within Game store sites.

Planned conversions and current status

One early planned conversion targeted the Game store at East Point Shopping Centre in Boksburg. That specific site has remained closed since July 2025, and the promised Makro conversion has not materialised, the reporting notes.

Massmart’s position on Game and jobs

Massmart has denied that the small-format trial signals a phase-out of Game. Group corporate affairs head Brian Leroni said the objective is to “make Makro stores more accessible to a wider market through a small, mall-based Makro store concept,” and he added that there would be no job losses tied to the project. Massmart also said customer demand for the small-format concept has been stronger than initially expected.

Lingering uncertainty

The rollout faces additional uncertainty following Walmart’s entry into South Africa, which has already replaced some former Game locations. Reporting cites former Game sites in Roodepoort and Fourways that Walmart has taken over, complicating which sites will become Makro, Walmart stores, or remain Game.

Progress and public communication

Related reporting from MyBroadband noted that Massmart was silent on timelines and locations. The company described the project as “progressing well” in July 2024, but there has been no substantive public update since.

What this could mean for shoppers

By placing smaller Makro outlets inside malls, Massmart aims to give shoppers easier access to Makro’s range without requiring a full-sized standalone store nearby, the company said. Beyond that stated aim, Massmart emphasises the trial is not intended as a straight replacement of Game.