Woolworths has announced that it will increase the delivery fee for its Woolies Dash on-demand grocery service from R35 to R45, effective 10 November 2025 – marking a 29% hike and the first major change to its pricing since the service launched.
In a statement to customers, Woolworths said the decision was made “to keep delivering our unrivalled quality and freshness, and to ensure we keep elevating your online experience in the face of rising costs.”
The increase ends a near six-year period during which all major players in South Africa’s on-demand grocery delivery market – including Checkers Sixty60, Pick n Pay asap!, and Spar2U – maintained a flat R35 delivery fee.
Rising costs and slower growth
Retail analysts note that the ability to keep the delivery fee stable for so long was largely due to the rapid growth of online grocery services.
As order volumes increased, retailers were able to spread costs such as picking, packing, fuel, and staff over a greater number of deliveries, improving efficiency.
However, with order growth now moderating across the sector, these efficiencies are no longer enough to offset rising operational costs – including fuel prices, higher wages, and property rentals.
Technically, Checkers Sixty60 “blinked first”, quietly increasing its delivery fee by R1 to R36 in July, a subtle change that likely went unnoticed by most shoppers.
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