ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Through targeted investment, zero-interest funding and skills development, bpSA is strengthening Black-owned fuel retail businesses and building a new generation of industry leaders nationwide.
By Hamlet Morule, Executive Head of Communications & External Affairs, bpSA
Starting a small business in South Africa is tough, particularly in an economy growing at only 1 % or less each year. The Sacci Small Business Growth Index report for the first half of 2025 showed that only one in four small businesses is growing and one in 10 faces potential closure.
Despite the difficulties, there are still opportunities. One of the best ways for aspiring entrepreneurs to get started and hone their business skills is through operating or owning a fuel retail outlet. Fuel is indispensable to growing the South African economy, and there’ s strong competition among industry players for market share. Fuel retailers are pursuing a range of initiatives, such as expanding the number and size of forecourts in hightraffic areas, with a particular emphasis on transforming historically skewed patterns of ownership.
While the local fuel retail sector has become more competitive in recent years, bpSA has managed to maintain our market share in this tough environment. In the wake of the Group’ s announcements that we intend to continue to make investments in this country, we will be prioritising the development of new sites alongside growth areas, such as high-volume highways and junction sites, especially in formerly underserved areas.
bpSA’ s market share growth has been achieved partly through the strength of our brand – we have had a presence in SA for over 100 years – and partly by continuously introducing new initiatives such as the bpRewards loyalty programme. bpRewards attracted almost a million members in its first year, ensuring repeat visits by customers and providing useful data insights.
With this support, new bpSA fuel station owners are entering a growing market under the umbrella of a strong brand and structure.
42 sabusinessintegrator. co. za