French Retailer Leroy Merlin Announces Major South African Expansion into Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal

French DIY giant Leroy Merlin confirms its expansion into Durban and Cape Town. Discover the retailer's plan to triple its South African store count by 2030.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 5:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from BusinessTech

Breaking the Gauteng Boundary

After establishing a solid footprint in Gauteng since its 2018 arrival, French home improvement retailer Leroy Merlin has confirmed a significant geographic expansion. CEO Frank Dufourq announced that the company is moving beyond the country’s economic hub, with its first stores in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape currently in the pipeline. This move follows the recent launch of the brand's sixth South African store in Alberton, Ekurhuleni, joining existing locations in Boksburg, Centurion, Fourways, Greenstone, and Little Falls.

The Cornubia Investment and Job Creation

The first step in this regional expansion is a R220 million flagship facility currently under development in Cornubia, Durban. Scheduled to launch by the end of 2026, the 10,000-square-meter retail facility is expected to serve as a major economic catalyst for the eThekwini Municipality. Local officials have welcomed the investment, noting that the construction phase is set to create 2,500 jobs, followed by 1,200 permanent positions once the store is operational. The Durban site is the anchor investment for the broader Cornubia Business Park precinct, a node projected to reach a development value of over R2.5 billion.

Strategic Vision for 2030

Leroy Merlin’s long-term strategy involves tripling its South African store count over the next four years. While KwaZulu-Natal will see its first branch this year, the company has scheduled its entry into the Cape Town market for 2027. This aggressive physical rollout is being complemented by a digital transformation; the retailer successfully launched a localized mobile app in September 2025 to capture the growing DIY e-commerce market.