Africa’s temperature-controlled logistics leaders will strengthen the industry’s shared voice when they gather at the GCCA (Global Cold Chain Alliance) Africa Cold Chain Conference at the Fairway Hotel Resort in Johannesburg, South Africa on September 2-3 2026.

The annual GCCA event is a keenly anticipated feature of the continent’s logistics calendar. It is unique in bringing together third party logistics providers with supply chain partners, customers, politicians and other key stakeholders to address pressing challenges and to discover new opportunities in temperature-controlled logistics.

Conference delegates will join GCCA President & CEO Sara Stickler and GCCA Africa Chairman Dr Newton Matope (CEO of Cold Solutions Kenya) to steer discussions in line with the conference theme, “It’s Time for Dialogue”.

GCCA President & CEO Sara Stickler says: “As Africa’s cold chain navigates ongoing regional and global uncertainty, opportunities to share insights and form new relationships at this year’s GCCA Africa Cold Chain conference are invaluable. So too is the industry’s shared voice, empowering cold chain businesses to help shape Africa’s future at a time when supply chain logistics are evolving in response to regional needs and global change.

“GCCA’s work in Africa has built a new foundation for finding solutions to shared temperature-controlled logistics challenges, for collaborating to access new opportunities, and for advocating for the industry’s needs with governments and key stakeholders. This all starts with two-way dialogue and we look forward to fortifying the shared voice of Africa’s cold chain at the GCCA Africa Cold Chain Conference 2026.”

GCCA will welcome Mohammed Mahomedy, Head of Infrastructure and Rail for Africa at DP World, as the conference’s keynote speaker. He will take to the conference main stage on September 3 to share insights into DP World’s approach to integrated logistics at scale, in practice.

Main stage sessions and panel discussions will be delivered throughout the conference by a high quality rostrum of renowned experts including:

• Chris Hattingh, Executive Director, CRA (Centre for Risk Analysis) onthe business trading climate in Africa and the role of geopolitics
• Dr. Martin Cameron, Managing Director, Trade Research Advisory (Pty) Ltd on how trade policy meets reality
• Dr. Juanita Maree, CEO, SAAFF (Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders) discussing freight forwarding in a new era of dialogue
• Dr Ikechukwu Opara of the University of the Western Cape exploring sustainable food systems
• Cassandra Potteiger, Head of Strategy, Marketing and Communication at SA Harvest on people and partnerships.

Find out more and register to attend at www.gcca.org/events/gcca-african-cold-chain-conference/.

We placed two identical orders one minute apart through the SPAR2U app and Uber Eats app to compare the purchase experiences. Using the same SPAR store (SUPERSPAR Sunninghill), basket and delivery location, we compared everything from the final price to live updates, fulfilment and delivery times to see how each platform performed.

App Testing: The Order and Price

To keep the test as fair as possible, we made sure that none of the ordered items were on special – in order to keep the comparison in price as close as possible.

The basket contained a mix of everyday household and baking essentials:

Items	SPAR2U	Uber Eats	Substitutes
Brown Bread	R16.59	R23.00
Butter 500g	R99.99		Butter 250g: R144.40
Peppermint Crisp	R61.99	R68.00
Heavy Cream	R59.99	R68.99
Tennis Biscuits x2	R59.98	R69.00
Caramel	R46.99		Condensed milk: R49.80
Dish Washing Liquid 750ml	R39.99		Dish washing liquid refill 750ml: R37.00
Dog Treats	R29.99	R34.50
Total:	R415.51	R494.69
Service Fee		R15.90
Driver Tip	R10.00	R10.00
Delivery Fee	R37.00	R25.00
Total Purchase Order:	R462.51	545.59

Final Price: Uber Eats vs SPAR2U

The SPAR2U order came to R462.51 and the Uber Eats order cost R545.59. This left us with a difference of R83.08, making the Uber Eats order 18% more expensive than the SPAR2U order.

Real-Time Updates and Communication

After placing both orders, the apps provided live updates throughout the shopping and delivery process; from when the shopping started through to the final delivery time and driver tracking.

SPAR2U sent shopping updates and updated invoices showing the items being picked, packed, and eventually dispatched via email. On the other hand, Uber Eats sent push notifications to keep us updated on the progress of the order.

Both apps kept us in the loop throughout the shopping experience.

Delivery Times

With both orders placed, we began tracking the progress of the deliveries.

The following times were recorded:

Stage	SPAR2U	Uber Eats
Order time	09:30	09:31
Time the shopper started	10:06	09:33
Time the shop was completed	10:13	09:45
Time order was dispatched	10:30	09:54
Delivery time	10:50	10:07

Both orders were placed practically at the same time, just one minute apart, but Uber Eats started shopping way faster – their shopper started picking items just two minutes after the 09:31 order went through. SPAR2U took 36 minutes just to get started at 10:06.

Interestingly, SPAR2U was actually faster once they were in the aisles, taking only seven minutes to finish shopping compared to Uber’s 12 minutes.

The real gap opened up during dispatch and delivery, though. Uber Eats had the items out the door nine minutes after picking (09:54) and delivered them in 13 minutes flat at 10:07. SPAR2U sat waiting 17 minutes for dispatch, followed by a 20-minute drive.

All in all, Uber Eats crushed it: total time was 36 minutes end-to-end, while SPAR2U took 80 minutes. Uber beat SPAR2U to the doorstep by 44 minutes.

Final Time Comparison: SPAR2U vs Uber Eats

Overall, Uber Eats completed the order-to-door process in 55% less time than SPAR2U.

Order Fulfilment

When both deliveries arrived, we unpacked everything and compared the orders with our shopping list. The SPAR2U order was completed to a T, with all eight items delivered as ordered.

The Uber Eats order was a little different. We specifically ordered the same 500g butter from both apps, yet the Uber Eats order arrived with a 250g pack from a different brand instead and was more expensive. The same happened with the 750ml dishwashing liquid, which was suitably substituted with a 750ml refill bag.

Finally, the caramel, which wasn’t available on the Uber Eats app, was replaced with condensed milk.

Usually, the Uber Eats shopper is meant to contact you before making a substitution or replacement, but for this order they did not do so. So we only saw the replacements when the order arrived.

Our Final Take

Now that the groceries have been unpacked, here’s what we took away.

1. Shopping Time

The first big difference was how long it took for each order to get moving. The Uber Eats shopper started picking the order just two minutes after it was placed while the SPAR2U shopper only started 36 minutes later.

Interestingly, once shopping began, SPAR2U had the edge. The shopper completed the SPAR2U order in 7 minutes, compared with 12 minutes for Uber Eats.

2. Order Completion Time

The biggest difference came down to the overall delivery time. The Uber Eats order arrived 36 minutes after it was placed, while the SPAR2U order took 80 minutes to reach the door, but was still delivered within the allocated time 10–11 a.m. time slot.

The Uber Eats order arrived 44 minutes before the SPAR2U order.

3. Speed Isn’t Everything

Getting your groceries to the door quickly is great, but it’s not the only thing that matters. Price, product availability, substitutions, and updates from the app and shopper all play a massive role in the overall experience.

The Verdict Is In: Which Ordering Experience is Better?

After testing both ordering experiences, the choice of which delivery app to use for your next order ultimately comes down to your personal preference.

If speed is your priority, Uber Eats takes the cake for a quick and convenient shopping and delivery experience.

Or, if you are a bit more savvy about specials, price, promotions and combo deals, SPAR2U is your go-to platform.

What the test did show us is that the ordering experience is about much more than getting groceries to your door. From finding products and spotting promotions to watching an order move from confirmed to shopping to dispatched and finally delivered, every step contributes to the experience.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) will bring leaders from Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe together at Automechanika Johannesburg for its Regional Conference 2026, taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on 28 and 29 October 2026.

Held under the theme ‘Driving Innovation, Bridging Borders for an African Future’, the conference will examine how transport, logistics and automotive ecosystems can support connected economies across the continent. The programme places collaboration at the centre of discussions on trade corridors, harmonised systems, safety, skills and the changing mobility landscape.

Elvin Harris: President – CILT South Africa

Elvin Harris, President of CILT South Africa, says the conference offers a meeting point for sectors whose success increasingly depends on coordinated action. “Transport and logistics connect every part of the economy. This gathering will create space for discussion on the infrastructure, standards, technology and people needed to move goods and opportunities efficiently across the region.”

Connecting Corridors and Enabling Trade

A central conference focus will be the future of Africa’s strategic road and rail corridors. Delegates will explore ways to reduce border delays and non-tariff barriers, strengthen one-stop border posts, and improve links between ports, dry ports and inland terminals.

Discussions will also consider investment approaches for corridor infrastructure, including public-private partnerships and blended finance, alongside the relationship between transport networks, the African Continental Free Trade Area and regional industrialisation.

Dr. Tapiwa Mujakachi: President – CILT Zimbabwe

Dr Tapiwa Mujakachi, President of CILT Zimbabwe, states that efficient cross-border systems are essential to prosperity. “Regional trade depends on reliable routes, predictable processes and a commitment to solving operational challenges. The conference will bring attention to the work required to make corridors serve businesses, communities and national development priorities.”

The agenda will further address harmonisation across borders, including vehicle standards, roadworthiness, weights and dimensions, customs documentation, permits and professional qualifications. Delegates will consider the development of common regulatory frameworks for new vehicle technologies, as well as the importance of aligning systems across regional economic communities.

Innovation, Safety and the Workforce of the Future

The conference will also examine the safety and security of people, cargo and freight corridors. Key themes include reducing road fatalities, promoting driver wellbeing on long-haul routes, countering cargo crime, strengthening fleet compliance, and using technology for tracking, monitoring and incident response. Cooperation among operators, regulators and law-enforcement agencies will feature as a foundation for safer regional supply chains.

Conversations will cover electric and new-energy vehicles, supporting infrastructure, local manufacturing opportunities, digital freight and last-mile platforms, smart logistics, data and artificial intelligence. Attention will also be given to policy support, funding and incubation for start-ups and small enterprises, together with the role of special economic zones in automotive and component innovation.

Dr. Tapiwa Mujakachi: President – CILT Zimbabwe

Prisca Mayumbelo, President of CILT Namibia, says the programme recognises regional opportunities. “Africa’s mobility future will be shaped by innovation that is relevant to local conditions and supported by capable institutions. Sharing experience across countries can help turn promising ideas into practical improvements for industry and society.”

Education, training and skills development will complete the programme’s core themes. Sessions will consider new-energy vehicle and digital logistics careers, technical and vocational pathways, industry-academia partnerships, work-integrated learning and professional development. The agenda will also highlight approaches to attracting young people and women into transport, logistics and automotive careers, while addressing funding for scarce-skills training.

Formal conference sessions will be followed each day by opportunities for delegates to visit the Automechanika expo floor and engage with exhibitors. CILT expects the event to encourage durable regional relationships and help shape solutions that support an African future built on connected African systems.

More information can be found at: https://www.ciltsa.events/cilt-conference-at-automechanika-johannesburg/