KENYA – Naivas Supermarket, Kenya’s largest locally owned retail store has announced plans of opening new branches in Githurai 44 and Kisumu, as it seeks to strengthen its hold as a top retailer in the country.

The Githurai outlet, set to be opened before end of July will be situated on Kamiti Road, targeting hundreds of shoppers around the region.

Meanwhile, the Kisumu branch will be opened at Simba Club Hall, next to United Mall targeting hundreds of shoppers around the region.

The new outlets will be Naivas’ 74th  and 75th branches in the country, reports Business Daily.

“Other stores lined up for opening include an outlet at Githurai 44 and a foodmarket in Kisumu City both of which are expected to start operations before end of July,” Naivas’ chief commercial officer Willy Kimani said during the opening of the retailers 73rd branch along Mundi Mbingu street in Nairobi.

The opening of the city center outlet comes barely a month after the retailer opened its 72nd branch in Eldoret town.

Naivas is currently racing against time to defend its market leadership against top retailers such as Quickmart and Carrefour that have also been opening new branches in the last few months, filling voids left by collapsed and beleaguered supermarkets.

“Other stores lined up for opening include an outlet at Githurai 44 and a foodmarket in Kisumu City both of which are expected to start operations before end of July.”

Naivas Chief Commercial Officer – Willy Kimani

Shoprite readies to vaccinate workers

In other related news, the region’s leading retailer Shoprite Group is urgently calling on the Government of South Africa to allow its more than 140 000 employees, who serve over 25 million people a month, to receive vaccinations as the third wave of COVID-19 increases in severity.

The supermarket group is the country’s largest private sector employer, and believes it is critical that Government prioritises the allocation of vaccines to its frontline workers, which it will source and administer at its own cost and through its own logistics and pharmaceutical infrastructure.

Announcing new Level 4 restrictions due to the third wave on 27 June, President Cyril Ramaphosa focused on “mining, manufacturing and the taxi industry” for the fourth stream of vaccination programmes. 

“Our frontline workers, including cashiers, merchandisers and line management retail workers, have been at work every day since the onset of the pandemic, working tirelessly to ensure we provide food, essential groceries and medicine to the nation.

“Our people interact with 25 million customers coming into our stores every month, and it is critical that they be vaccinated,” said Pieter Engelbrecht, Shoprite Group CEO.

The company indicated that it is ready to roll out vaccinations on behalf of government to its employees who continue to go the extra mile in challenging conditions to keep serving customers.

The Group has a significant logistical and pharmaceutical distribution network to roll out vaccines to employees through Transpharm Pharmceutial Distributors and pharmacy chain MediRite. 

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