Pick n Pay opens first supermarket in Zimbabwe

The supermarket‚ the first Pick n Pay-branded store to open in Zimbabwe since it took control of 49% of TM Supermarkets‚ is situated in the Kamfinsa shopping centre in eastern Harare and will stock a full range of local and imported products.

"We are proud to be opening our first Pick n Pay at Kamfinsa‚" said Dallas Langman Director Group Enterprises Pick n Pay. As the anchor tenant of the centre - which has been rebuilt and refurbished by Pearl Properties - we've seen the transformation that has already taken place in the suburb of Greendale."

The store comprises a Pick n Pay Supermarket‚ as well as stand-alone Pick n Pay Liquor and Clothing stores. "These will offer world-class merchandise to customers at the best possible prices‚" said Langman.

Mark Vickery TM Chief Executive Officer said: "This development will offer a similar experience to our shoppers to that of any southern African Pick n Pay supermarket‚ it's a real 'taste' of what we have planned for Zimbabwe over the next two years."

The PnP outlet is the anchor tenant‚ coupled with a collection of supporting services‚ in the refurbished shopping centre.

PnP has provided operational support to TM Supermarket‚ through a skills development programme designed to equip the Zimbabwean local team with international best practice in a variety of retail disciplines that will ultimately result in a unique‚ new and fresh shopping experience for the customer.

"The customer has always been at the centre of all we do‚ and we believe that our partnership will result in a productive sharing of ideas that will mean service delivery to the customer‚ comparable to anywhere in the world‚" Vickery added.

A number of Pick n Pay branches will be opened‚ many of them at sites where TM Supermarkets have been operating.

Langman said the supermarket would emphasise the "fresh" concept with a minimum of 40% of floor space being dedicated to fruit and vegetables‚ deli‚ and confectionary. "This is our response to the fact that people want to eat more healthily; and we will be offering an infusion of traditional health food‚ as we have seen high turnover in traditional lines of fresh food."

The TM chain currently has 50 stores in Zimbabwe and the Kamfinsa Pick n Pay store will be the first in its strategy of offering the best brands to customers. Pick n Pay currently operates 17 stores in Namibia‚ 12 in Botswana‚ seven in Swaziland and one in Lesotho‚ together with the its first Zambian store.

"We pledge that the shopping experience in all our Pick n Pay stores will be second to none‚ both in terms of store ambience and most importantly giving customers real and great value for their hard earned money".

As at financial year end (February 2012) Pick n Pay operated 94 stores in Africa.