Shoppers outside a Shoprite outlet in Kano, northern Nigeria. AFP FILE PHOTO | AMINU ABUBAKAR
Summary
- Westgate Mall is one of seven prime spaces that Shoprite has secured at shopping malls in Kenya.
- The maiden outlet, which starts trading by August 1, will serve residents in Westlands, Peponi and parts of Lower Kabete.
- It will be in close proximity with Carrefour, which will take up the Sarit Centre space left by Uchumi, and Naivas supermarket at The Mall.
South African retailer Shoprite will take up the Westgate and
Garden City spaces left by Nakumatt Supermarkets as it guns for a slice
of Kenya's retail pie.
According to real estate firm Knight Frank, the company's entry will hot up competition in Kenya’s retail sector.
“Shoprite’s
entry is expected to stiffen competition in the shopping centre market,
which experienced a tough year in 2017 as some household brands faced
financial difficulties. Shoprite brings a new offering into the market
and retail property landlords will have more choices for anchor
tenants,” said Knight Frank Kenya managing director Ben Woodhams in a
statement Thursday.
Garden City Mall's management,
while revealing that Shoprite will be its anchor tenant, said the
retailer will open its doors before the end of the year.
"We are excited to announce that we have finalised our lease
agreement with Shoprite, which has chosen Garden City Mall as home to
one of its first supermarkets in Nairobi," Chris Coulson, MD of Garden
City said today.
Westgate and Garden City are two of seven prime spaces that Shoprite has secured at shopping malls in Kenya.
The Westgate outlet, which starts trading by August 1, will serve residents of Westlands, Peponi and parts of Lower Kabete area.
It
will be in close proximity to Carrefour - which snapped up the Sarit
Centre space left by Uchumi - and Naivas supermarket at The Mall.
The
SA retailer is setting up in Kenya at a time when local supermarket
chains such as Nakumatt and Uchumi continue to struggle with stockouts,
rent arrears and delayed salaries for their staff.
Shoprite
is set to compete with other retailers for the middle class's
disposable income as it expands to other malls following the signing of
leases with building owners.
It already operates in Tanzania and Uganda with a strong presence in Central, Southern and West Africa.
“Its
offering includes butchery, bakery, deli, fresh food and groceries. We
are filling the gap in Westlands and its environs and believe shoppers
will be delighted with the diversity and product range that Shoprite
will bring them,” Ashmi Shah, retail portfolio manager at Knight Frank
said.
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