Goldy Bytes Sales Review 2025

Interactive Dashboard | January - November | Year-End Analysis & 2026 Outlook

Executive Summary

2025 was a transformational year for Goldy Bytes, marked by 237% revenue growth from $4,451 in January to $15,013 in November. The business shipped 226,213 units (+25% YoY), with October setting a monthly record at 32,640 units.

However, this growth came with a structural shift that demands attention: Pick n Pay exploded from 9% to 42% market share, fundamentally reshaping channel dynamics. While this diversified revenue away from Spar, it also increased concentration risk to 85% across just two partners. The collapse of OK Zimbabwe (ceased trading, $25M losses) and the informal market (ZIMRA crackdowns, fire damage) eliminated two channels entirely.

The key question for 2026: Can growth continue while reducing the dangerous dependence on two retailers? The data suggests yes—if Spar's November decline is addressed and Bhola is developed as a third pillar.

$104,247
Total Revenue
226,213
Units Sold
+25% YoY
32,640
Peak Units
October 2025
+237%
Revenue Growth
Jan to Nov
85%
Concentration
Spar + PnP

Monthly Revenue & Volume Trend

The chart below reveals two distinct growth phases: a volatile H1 with month-to-month swings of up to 48%, followed by a more consistent H2 acceleration. Notice how May and July dipped before strong recoveries—this "sawtooth" pattern suggests supply or demand seasonality worth investigating. The critical insight: H2 generated 41% more revenue than H1, indicating the business found its footing mid-year.

Strongest Month
November
$15,013 revenue, 1,011 cases. 3.4x January's performance.
Biggest MoM Drop
May (-21%)
Revenue fell from $8,229 to $6,462. Followed a similar pattern in July.
Average Monthly Growth
$965/mo
Linear trend suggests ~$15,500 for December if pattern holds.

What the Data Tells Us

  • Consistent H2 acceleration: Four consecutive months of growth (Aug-Nov), with each month setting new highs
  • Mid-quarter dips: May and July both saw ~20% drops, possibly indicating end-of-quarter stock depletion or seasonal demand shifts
  • Volume vs. revenue divergence: October had peak volume (924 cases) but November had peak revenue (1,011 cases at lower average price)
  • Price stability: Average revenue per case remained steady at ~$15, suggesting no significant discounting to drive volume

So what? The growth trajectory is sustainable—this isn't a one-time spike. However, the mid-quarter dips warrant investigation: are they supply-side (stock-outs) or demand-side (customer ordering patterns)? Solving this could unlock another 10-15% annual revenue.

Market Share Evolution

This visualization tells the story of 2025's most dramatic shift. Drag the slider to watch Pick n Pay's meteoric rise from minor player (9%) to near market leader (42%). This wasn't gradual—PnP gained 28 points between January and June alone, then added 5 more by November. Meanwhile, Spar lost 11 points despite remaining the largest YTD contributor. The question isn't who's winning—it's whether this concentration is sustainable.

January 2025 June 2025 November 2025
Winner: Pick n Pay

+366% share growth (9% → 42%). Overcame October payment issues to post +101% YoY in November. Now within 1 point of Spar. This is the comeback story of 2025.

Declining: Spar

-11 share points (54% → 43%). Still #1 in YTD volume (57%), but November saw -36% MoM drop. Urgent investigation needed—is this pricing, stock availability, or relationship issue?

Lost: OK Zimbabwe + Informal

Two channels eliminated. OK ceased trading ($25M losses, 11+ store closures). Informal collapsed under ZIMRA crackdowns and fire damage. Combined, these were 15%+ of January share—now zero.

Strategic Implications

  • Concentration has increased, not decreased: Despite losing two channels, concentration went from ~63% (Spar alone) to 85% (Spar + PnP). This is more fragile, not more diversified.
  • PnP momentum suggests untapped potential: Their 366% growth indicates either pent-up demand or successful category management. Can this be replicated with Bhola?
  • Spar's trajectory is concerning: The largest partner by YTD volume is the only one losing share month-over-month. November's -36% MoM is a red flag requiring immediate attention.
  • Bhola held steady at 13%: Neither grew nor lost significantly. They're the obvious candidate for third-pillar development—reliable, growing geographically, zero payment issues.

So what? The business is more dependent on fewer partners than at year start—despite growth. Every 1% shift in Spar or PnP now equals ~$1,000/month in revenue. A 10% drop in either would be catastrophic. Bhola must become a 20%+ partner in 2026.

Channel Performance

H2 growth varied dramatically by channel. TM Branch led at +80%, while Other channels collapsed -59%. This divergence explains the concentration increase—strong performers got stronger, weak performers disappeared.

Channel-by-Channel Analysis

  • TM Branch (+80%): Fastest-growing channel. If "TM" is Pick n Pay (TM = Trade Market?), this explains their share surge. Worth confirming and doubling down.
  • Spar (+46%): Still grew in absolute terms, but share loss means others grew faster. Growth is masking a relative decline.
  • Bhola (+16%): Modest growth but critically consistent. Zero payment issues all year. The "boring" partner is often the best partner.
  • Other (-59%): This includes OK Zimbabwe (ceased) and informal (collapsed). Not recoverable—write these off and reallocate resources.

So what? Resources should flow to winners: TM Branch and Bhola deserve increased allocation. "Other" channels should be formally exited to stop wasting sales time on dead ends.

Product Mix

Lightly Salted dominates at 48% of revenue. This isn't a balanced portfolio—it's a single-flavor business with variants. Hover over segments to see revenue breakdown. The opportunity: Lightly Salted growth, not new flavor development.

Product Insights

  • Lightly Salted (48%, $50,339): Clear winner. Peanut Mix Lightly Salted 50S alone is $14,618—14% of total revenue from one SKU.
  • Chilli (28%, $29,278): Solid #2. Appeals to different taste profile. Stable, not growing as fast as Lightly Salted.
  • BBQ (24%, $24,567): Smallest category. May indicate consumer preference—or may indicate underinvestment in promotion.
  • Pack size insight: 50S packs (57%) outsell 20S (43%). Customers prefer larger packs—are 20S SKUs worth maintaining?

So what? Don't dilute focus by developing new flavors. Double down on Lightly Salted distribution and visibility. Consider rationalizing 20S SKUs if margin is lower.

Customer Concentration Analysis

The Pareto chart below reveals a classic 80/20 imbalance—but worse. The top 10 customers generate 43% of revenue, meaning 120 other customers split the remaining 57%. The orange line shows cumulative percentage: note how it curves steeply then flattens. This shape indicates high dependency on a small customer base.

Critical Concentration Risk

Top 10 customers = 43% of revenue. If your #1 customer (SPAR Greensfields, $7,283) stopped ordering tomorrow, you'd lose 7% of annual revenue instantly. If your top 3 left, that's 20%.

#CustomerRevenueCumul %
1SPAR Greensfields$7,2837.0%
2SPAR Athienitis$6,76413.5%
3SPAR The Bridge$6,64119.9%
4SPAR Montagu$4,10323.8%
5Bhola Megamart$4,05427.7%

What This Means

  • 7 of top 10 are Spar stores: Channel concentration AND customer concentration within that channel. Spar's November -36% drop likely hit these stores.
  • Only 2 Bhola stores in top 10: Despite being 11% of channel revenue, Bhola's customers are smaller but more numerous. This is actually healthier distribution.
  • 35 H1 customers went inactive: $9,639 in prior revenue at risk. These aren't in the top 10—they're the "long tail" that collectively matters.

So what? Lock in the top 5 with annual agreements or volume incentives. Meanwhile, re-engage the 35 churned customers—recovering half would add $4,800/year.

2026 Forecast with Confidence Intervals

The forecast below projects 2025's trajectory into 2026, showing three scenarios based on different assumptions. The shaded area represents the range of likely outcomes. Note how uncertainty widens further into the future— this is honest forecasting, not false precision. The base case assumes current momentum continues without major disruptions.

Conservative $150,000

+44% vs 2025

Assumes: Spar continues decline (-5% more share), PnP stabilizes at current levels, no new channels added, 35 churned customers not recovered. This is the "do nothing" scenario.

Base Case $175,000

+68% vs 2025275K units

Assumes: Spar stabilized (flat share), PnP continues +20% growth, Bhola expands to 15% share, half of churned customers recovered. Requires action but achievable.

Growth $210,000

+101% vs 2025

Assumes: Spar relationship repaired (+10%), PnP accelerates (+30%), Bhola reaches 20% share, new channel (Food Lovers/N&R) adds 5%. Aggressive but not impossible.

Projected 2026 Channel Mix

Mix Shift Explanation

  • PnP to 47%: Becomes #1 if momentum continues. Their November +101% YoY suggests this is conservative.
  • Spar to 40%: Loses top spot but stabilizes. Requires resolving November's -36% MoM drop.
  • Bhola to 14%: Modest growth from 13%. Could be 20% with dedicated focus and geographic expansion support.
  • Other to <3%: Informal and OK Zimbabwe losses are permanent. Van sales likely to be exited.

Key Assumptions & Risks

Upside Driver: PnP Momentum

If PnP maintains November's +101% YoY growth rate, they alone could add $40,000+ in 2026. This is the most likely source of upside surprise.

Key Uncertainty: Spar Stabilization

November's -36% MoM is unexplained. If this continues, base case drops to conservative. If resolved, growth scenario becomes achievable. This is the swing factor.

Downside Risk: Concentration

If either Spar OR PnP relationship deteriorates significantly, all scenarios fail. There is no hedge against losing a 40%+ partner. Bhola development is insurance, not just growth.

Risk Assessment Matrix

This matrix plots risks by likelihood (how probable) vs. impact (how damaging). Bubbles in the top-right are critical—high probability AND high impact. Note that Channel Concentration sits in the danger zone: it's both likely to cause problems (85% in two partners) and would have severe impact if either partner left.

Risk Prioritization

  • Channel Concentration (Critical): Impact 5, Likelihood 4. The #1 risk. If Spar or PnP cuts orders by 50%, that's ~$25,000/year lost with no backup. Mitigation: Bhola development + new channel exploration.
  • Spar Decline (High): Impact 4, Likelihood 3. November's -36% MoM could become a trend. Mitigation: Immediate relationship review, competitive pricing audit, stock availability check.
  • OK Zimbabwe Loss (High): Impact 3, Likelihood 5 (already happened). Can't be reversed—$25M company losses, 11+ closures. Accept and move on.
  • Customer Churn (Medium): Impact 3, Likelihood 3. 35 inactive customers = $9,639 at risk. Mitigation: Win-back campaign in Q1 2026.
  • Informal Collapse (Lower priority): Impact 2, Likelihood 5 (already happened). Small share, unreliable. Exit formally and reallocate resources.

So what? The risk profile is dominated by concentration. Every other risk is either already realized (OK, Informal) or manageable (Churn). The strategic imperative is clear: reduce dependence on Spar + PnP from 85% to below 70% by developing Bhola and exploring new channels.

Strategic Recommendations for 2026

Based on the analysis above, these eight recommendations are prioritized by urgency and impact. Critical items (red) should begin in January. Urgent items (amber) should be completed in Q1. Strategic items (purple) are medium-term initiatives for Q2-Q4.

CRITICAL PRIORITY (January)

1

Stabilize Spar Relationship

Investigate November's -36% MoM drop within 2 weeks. Check: pricing competitiveness, stock availability, buyer relationship changes. Spar is 57% of YTD volume—this cannot wait.

2

Lock In PnP Momentum

Schedule partnership review meeting. Propose: volume commitments for 2026, expanded SKU range, promotional calendar. They overcame October payment issues—reward loyalty with commitment.

URGENT (Q1 2026)

3

Develop Bhola as Third Pillar

Target: 20% share by end of 2026 (from 13%). They're reliable (zero payment issues), growing geographically (Masvingo, Beitbridge), and have 200%+ YoY growth. Assign dedicated account management.

4

Re-engage 35 Churned Customers

$9,639 in prior revenue at risk. Launch win-back campaign: special pricing, new product samples, sales visit blitz. Target: recover 50% ($4,800) by end of Q1.

STRATEGIC (Q2-Q4 2026)

5

Exit Informal Channel Formally

Collapsed to 0% (ZIMRA pressure, fire damage). Stop allocating sales time. Formally close accounts and reallocate resources to winning channels.

6

Explore Food Lovers & N&R

New retail partners reduce concentration risk. Initial meetings in Q2, pilot by Q3. Target: 5% share from new channel by Q4. Even small diversification helps.

7

Double Down on Lightly Salted

48% of sales from one flavor profile. Don't dilute with new development—increase distribution and visibility of existing Lightly Salted SKUs. Consider rationalizing underperforming 20S packs.

8

Capacity Planning for 275K Units

Base case = 22% volume growth. Audit: production capacity, raw material supply, packaging inventory, logistics partners. Constraint now is better than stockout later.

The Bottom Line

The Good: 2025 delivered exceptional growth—237% revenue increase, 25% volume growth, and successful navigation of two channel collapses (OK Zimbabwe, Informal). Pick n Pay's emergence as a near co-leader (+366% share) provides a powerful growth engine for 2026.

The Concern: Growth came at the cost of increased concentration. 85% of volume now flows through just two partners. Spar's November -36% MoM drop is unexplained and worrying. The loss of OK Zimbabwe and Informal eliminates any safety net.

The Path Forward: Target $175,000 revenue and 275,000 units in 2026 (+68% and +22% respectively). Achieve this by: (1) stabilizing Spar immediately, (2) formalizing PnP partnership, (3) developing Bhola to 20% share, and (4) exploring Food Lovers/N&R as new channel. The goal isn't just growth—it's resilient growth that doesn't collapse if one partner sneezes.