Shoprite Holdings, Africa's largest supermarket group, which is partly owned by South African billionaire Christo Wiese, has launched its first apparel store in South Africa, Uniq, as it seeks to diversify its operations and boost its earnings. The first Uniq outlet, located at Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, marks the leading supermarket group's sixth entry into categories other than its core supermarket business. In reaction to the news of the group's entry into the clothing business, its shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange rose 17 basis points to R222.63 ($12.5), pushing the group's market capitalization above $7.4 billion. The opening of the apparel store, which is expected to be followed by ten more across the country, will increase competition in South Africa's apparel market, which is currently dominated by Shoprite's rival Pick n Pay.