KENYA – QuickMart, Kenyan retailer majority owned by Mauritius-based private equity firm Adenia Partners, has opened a new branch in Kisii town as part of its expansion strategy that targets to have a store in all leading towns in the country.
The retailer has taken up the space that was vacated by struggling super market chain Tuskys, stepping up competition with rival Naivas that has a presence in the town.
Situated at the heart of Kisii Central Business District, the branch is the retailer’s 46th in 12 counties across Kenya, reports KBC.
The launch of the outlet comes at a time when the supermarket is celebrating its 15th anniversary and celebrating the milestone by rewarding customers for their loyalty through the ’Sherehe Ibambe’ consumer promotion.
Speaking during the official opening of the branch, Quickmart Head of Marketing Betty Wamaitha said the retailer’s expansion targets to bring their unique offering, which includes its Fresh & Easy concept, closer to its consumers across the country.
“Our business strategy is consistency in serving the domestic market and bringing our fresh and daily offering closer to the Kisii community and all travellers enroute via Kisii town.
“We guarantee safety for our staff and shoppers that our stores adhere to the Ministry of Health protocols,” said Wamaitha.
The 46th store adds to the current strong workforce of 5000 employees spread across the branches, who represent Quickmart as the main ambassadors, serving well over 3 million customers per day.
A tier 1 supermarket, Quickmart Kisii will also create a platform for farmers within the region and its environs to regularly supply over 30 percent of fresh produce to the store.
This increases the current supply network of over 600 businesses with over 24,000 farmers as beneficiaries of market access for their farm produce.
More familiar Quickmart offerings will include a full-service bakery with skilled workers for specialty breads, patisserie, cakes and ready-to-eat hot meals. The store will also include fresh cuts at their butchery segment.
Quickmart expansion network begun in 2006 with its first store in Nakuru town, growing its footprint to Nairobi and gradual presence in Kiambu, Kajiado, Nakuru, Laikipia, Machakos, Trans Zoia, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, Kilifi and Mombasa, and the newest Kisii branch.
This has been fuelled by the merger between Quickmart and Tumaini Supermarkets in August 2020 that was approved by the Competition Authority of Kenya.
Meanwhile, Shoprite’s Checkers opened its new world-class supermarket at Chartwell Corner in Dainfern, elevating the customer experience through the introduction of brand-new in-store services and greater convenience.
Named the most reputable brand in South Africa in Brand Finance’s 2021 annual report, Checkers continues to introduce more and more customers to a world-class shopping experience and is growing its share of the premium grocery sector through innovation and its increasingly sophisticated understanding of customers’ needs.
Some of the attractions at the new FX Chartwell Corner include fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts; a selection of handcrafted, premium beverages available from the in-store Starbucks; an in-store Kauai serving its popular salads, wraps and smoothies, a sit-down sushi bar; freshly-made artisanal breads, delicious pastries and luxury cakes.
The store also features more than 400 local and international cheeses, wines from over 100 leading estates as well as authentic French champagne and the widest range of Italian prosecco, premium quality meat including South Africa’s best boerewors, South Africa’s favourite supermarket steak brand with more than 19 cuts, Simple Truth Certified Natural Lamb and Farmstead Pork endorsed by the South African Chefs Association (SACA).
More than 40 new jobs were created with this store opening, and Checkers FX Chartwell Corner has 103 employees, of which 61 are women.
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