TFG Africa Online Sales Jump 53% as Stores Close
TFG Africa's e-commerce growth offset a net loss of stores in the six months to 30 September.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Retail
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TFG Africa's online sales grew 53.3% in the six months to 30 September, driven by the Bash platform, while the retailer closed 120 stores and opened 41. Overall sales in the region rose 3.8%, but group revenue was flat at R31.4-billion.
Why it matters
The shift shows retailers moving spending online as physical store footprints shrink under constrained consumer demand. TFG expects spending to remain constrained, suggesting the pivot is likely to continue.
Online now contributes 10.9% of TFG Africa's sales, up from 7.4% a year earlier, while headline earnings per share fell 6.8% to 272.8c. Store count stands at 3,585 across six countries after the period's net closures.
The players
TFG Africa
TFG Africa is the African arm of The Foschini Group, a South African apparel retailer operating multiple fashion brands across the continent.
The details
TFG Africa closed 120 underperforming stores during the half, mostly as leases expired, and opened 41 new ones. Demand on the Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles websites was 30.2% lower in the five weeks to 31 October, following a cyberattack on TFG London.
Timeline
30 September 2026: Six-month reporting period ended for the interim results.
11 October 2025: TFG identified a cyberattack on TFG London.
31 October 2026: Five-week trading period ended with sales down 0.7%.
Second half of the financial year: TFG plans to close another 60-80 stores.
Industry Landscape
TFG Africa's 3.8% sales growth outpaces the 1% market growth reported by the Retail Liaison Committee, indicating share gains even as the retailer shrinks its physical footprint. The divergence points to a sector where e-commerce is taking a larger proportion of growth while store networks contract.
Shoppers in TFG's African markets are seeing more purchasing shift online as physical locations close. Online demand is growing fast, but the retailer's broader sales and earnings show that consumer spending remains under pressure.
The takeaway
Retailers are rebalancing toward digital channels as store networks shrink, so online growth figures now matter as much as traditional sales. Watch whether e-commerce gains can sustain profitability once the planned store closures take effect.
What happens next
TFG plans to close another 60-80 stores in the second half of the financial year, a process that will continue to shape its store footprint.
Further reading
Explore more Retail coverage for context on how store closures and online shifts are reshaping the sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TechCentral.
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