Explainer: What is Shoprite’s R5 toiletries range and why it matters in South Africa

As millions of South Africans battle the high cost of living, retail giant Shoprite has stepped in once again with a game-changing solution: R5 Toiletries. This new product category is part of the retailer’s long-running R5 value programme, designed to provide everyday essentials at extremely affordable prices. The latest addition focuses on basic hygiene items, helping address a growing but often overlooked crisis: hygiene poverty.

Below, we break down what the R5 Toiletries range includes, how it works, and why it’s so important for South African families today.

What Products Are in Shoprite’s R5 Toiletries Basket?

The Shoprite R5 Toiletries basket includes a variety of basic personal care items sold for just R5 each. These products have been carefully selected based on the daily hygiene needs of South Africans, especially those in low-income households.

As of July 2025, the following products are available under this campaign:

• Bar Soap – for regular hand and body washing

• Toothpaste (travel size) – sufficient for daily oral hygiene

• Toothbrush – a basic yet essential item for dental care

  
  
  

• Shampoo Sachets – affordable, single-use haircare options

• Sanitary Pads (individual or mini pack) – promoting menstrual hygiene

• Body Wash Sachets – compact and convenient for cleansing

These products are sold in usable but minimal quantities to ensure value, and are available at selected Shoprite stores nationwide. The goal is to allow customers to walk into a store with R20 or less and leave with multiple essentials.

Shoprite’s R5 Toiletries: A Solution to Hygiene Poverty in South Africa

Hygiene poverty refers to the inability to afford everyday hygiene items such as soap, toothpaste, sanitary pads, and deodorant. In South Africa, it is estimated that 1 in 5 households face this harsh reality. This affects not only physical health but also emotional well-being, school attendance, and workplace opportunities.

By launching the R5 Toiletries range, Shoprite is responding directly to this social challenge. The company recognises that for many families, toiletries are often pushed to the bottom of the budget, with food, rent, and transport taking priority. Yet without hygiene, people—especially children, women, and job seekers—face stigma, missed opportunities, and long-term health risks.

This initiative ensures that hygiene is no longer a privilege, but an affordable right. It marks a powerful step forward in Shoprite’s mission to restore dignity and improve daily living for vulnerable communities.

The History of Shoprite’s R5 Campaign in Retail Affordability

The R5 Toiletries initiative is part of a broader R5 affordability campaign launched by Shoprite over the past decade. It began with R5 bread in 2016, followed by R5 hot meals in 2017, and R5 sanitary pads in 2021. Each offering was carefully chosen based on essential daily needs, and all were made available without profit margin.

Shoprite says it now sells more than 1.8 million R5 products every week, demonstrating just how deeply this campaign resonates with South African consumers. The company has publicly committed to absorbing the costs of these items in order to fight hunger, poverty, and now—hygiene exclusion.

In doing so, Shoprite isn’t just reinforcing its reputation as a budget-friendly brand, but also positioning itself as a key player in South Africa’s social development landscape.

READ ALSO

Will Shoprite’s R5 hygiene products change lives in South Africa?

How R5 Toiletries Support Low-Income South African Families

The Shoprite R5 Toiletries campaign is already proving to be a lifeline for many low-income households. A parent with only R20 to spare can now buy essentials like soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and shampoo—a previously unimaginable feat in today’s economy.

For schoolchildren, being clean and confident can reduce bullying and improve attendance. For job seekers, access to basic grooming can improve interview outcomes. And for the elderly and chronically ill, maintaining hygiene is essential for health.

This means Shoprite’s R5 toiletries aren’t just a business tactic—they’re a public health tool and a dignity restorer. In a country where economic exclusion affects millions, small initiatives like this can create big ripple effects.

Could More Affordable Hygiene Products Be Coming Soon?

Given the popularity and necessity of the R5 Toiletries range, many are asking: What’s next for Shoprite? While the retailer hasn’t confirmed future additions, some potential products could include:

• Laundry detergent sachets

• Body lotion

• Razor blades or grooming kits

• Disinfectant sachets

• Hygiene kits for children or the elderly

Such expansions would further empower vulnerable communities, especially in informal settlements, townships, and rural areas. If past trends are anything to go by, Shoprite will continue to innovate within the constraints of affordability, keeping the customer at the centre of its impact-driven strategy.

Why Shoprite’s R5 Toiletries Matter

In a time of rising prices and widespread hardship, Shoprite’s R5 Toiletries campaign is more than a marketing strategy—it’s a mission. It reflects what is possible when big business thinks beyond the bottom line and focuses on social equity and access.

The R5 product line, especially in hygiene, empowers South Africans to live with cleanliness, confidence, and dignity, regardless of their financial standing. As the country continues to grapple with inequality and poverty, initiatives like this are a welcome and necessary step toward a more inclusive society.