KENYA – QuickMart, Kenyan retailer majority owned by Mauritius-based private equity firm Adenia Partners, has opened its 50th outlet across the country in Machakos town, Eastern of Kenya.

The new outlet targets hundreds of shoppers around the region and steps up competition for customers with retailers such as Naivas that also operate in the area.

“Situated at the heart of Machakos, the pioneer branch will also mark an entry of the supermarket’s chain of stores into the Eastern region expanding its presence to 14 counties across Kenya.

“The launch of the stores will greatly promote the local farmers and other suppliers since the chain of stores sources for its fresh produce and most of the other products locally,” the retailer said in a statement.

The retail chain, which was established in Nakuru in 2006, so far has spread its footprints across 14 counties including Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Nakuru, Laikipia, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, Kisii, Kilifi, and Mombasa.

Meanwhile, its competitor, Naivas has opened a new branch at Nairobi’s Imara Shopping Mall.

The new branch comes as the retailer races to defend its market leadership position in the local market, now boasting of having 81 branch counts with the new opening.

“With retail shopping having taken a different dimension with the growth and expansion of malls, Naivas has been on an aggressive expansion trajectory with its 81st outlet having been launched at the Imaara Shopping Mall which coincided with the mall’s official launch,” said Naivas Chief Commercial Officer Willy Kimani.

The new outlet covering more than 34,000 square feet of trading space will now be the anchor tenant at the mall.

It will be the 3rd largest Naivas store by store size and the 8th outlet in the greater Mombasa Road region, according to Kimani.

“We are delighted to have been the Supermarket of choice for this new addition to the Mombasa Road topography. We are glad that we get to bring a world-class shopping experience to the region” Kimani said.

The new store is will be stocked with fresh produce, commodities, electronics and other general products.

The expansion by the new generation of retailers is in pursuit to fill the void left by the veteran players such as Nakumatt Holdings, Uchumi and Tuskys.

Troubled retailer Tuskys can now momentarily breathe a sigh of relief as he has earned reprieve in the courts following the stoppage of a planned auction of its property in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD).

Equity Bank had reportedly sought to sell the building in a bid to recover a Ksh.650 million loan owed by the beleaguered supermarket chain through auctioneers – Antique Auctions.

In a High Court ruling, the judge stopped the planned auction with only hours to the auctioneer’s hammer.

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