Clicks has introduced an instant 10% discount on more than 2 500 health, beauty and wellness products as part of a refreshed ClubCard loyalty programme, according to a MoneyWeb report dated 15 October 2026. The change is aimed at ClubCard members, a base that now totals 12.9 million active holders and accounts for 83.7% of Clicks’ sales.
ClubCard members already receive a 2% cashback on qualifying purchases, with higher rates for Baby Club and senior shoppers on Wednesdays. The new instant-10% saving sits alongside that core benefit and applies at the point of sale, meaning shoppers see the discount reflected on their receipt without needing to claim later.
The move follows Dis-Chem’s October 2025 relaunch of its loyalty programme, Better Rewards, which also offers a 10% instant discount on more than 180 brands covering over 10 000 products. Dis-Chem’s CEO Rui Morais has explained that Better Rewards is funded collectively by participating suppliers and the retailer, repurposing money that would otherwise be paid out under a benefits scheme.
How the discount is funded
Clicks has not disclosed the exact financing mechanism for its new discount. The MoneyWeb article notes that Dis-Chem’s model relies on vendor contributions, and suggests that Clicks is likely using a comparable approach. If suppliers agree to subsidise the discount, the cost is spread across the supply chain rather than absorbed entirely by Clicks.
Clicks has also added two new banking partners, Standard Bank and Absa, to its rewards ecosystem. Standard Bank uCount Rewards and Absa Rewards members can earn up to 30% on health and beauty purchases, while Clicks continues its long-standing partnership with FNB’s eBucks programme.
In the six months to February, Clicks added 800 000 new ClubCard members and paid back R527 million to members. ClubCard shoppers tend to spend roughly twice as much as non-members, and their basket composition is heavily weighted toward female shoppers, who make up nearly 70% of the segment.
The similarity between the two programmes, down to the yellow discount logo, signals a sharpening rivalry between the two pharmacy groups. Both have been encroaching on each other’s traditional strengths: Dis-Chem has opened smaller format stores, while Clicks is courting dispensary clients and expanding its health-focused offering.
For suppliers, the shift toward instant discounts changes the calculus of promotional spend. Brands that join the discount basket receive higher visibility and volume growth, Dis-Chem reported participating brands saw value growth rise from 6.1% to 11.8% and volume increase from 5.7% to 18.7% after launching Better Rewards. Clicks has not released comparable figures, but the scale of its ClubCard base suggests a similar incentive for vendors.
From a strategic perspective, the enhanced ClubCard proposition is designed to protect Clicks’ market share as Dis-Chem accelerates its own loyalty push. By offering an immediate price reduction, Clicks hopes to retain price-sensitive shoppers who might otherwise switch to Dis-Chem for the same discount.
Retail analysts note that loyalty programmes have become a key battleground in South Africa’s pharmacy sector, where price competition is intense and consumer loyalty is fragile. The success of Clicks’ new discount will depend on how well it can sustain the funding model without eroding margins, and whether suppliers see enough benefit to continue supporting the programme.
For shoppers, the practical impact is straightforward: ClubCard members can now enjoy a 10% instant saving on a broader range of products, on top of existing cashback rewards. For the retailer, the change is a defensive move designed to keep its loyalty engine humming in a market where rivals are rapidly copying successful tactics.
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