New Makro in Free State, Game in Groblersdal

Bloemfontein to attract out of province shoppers

As Makro's 17th store in South Africa, it is the fourth such store for the Moolman group, which, with its partners, has built four other Makro stores: Silver Lakes, Wonderboom and Vaal, in Gauteng and most recently in Polokwane, Limpopo.

"Makro Bloemfontein is an important investment in the city. It reflects the region's growing consumer market and will better meet local retail needs," says Pieter Lombaard, CEO of Moolman Group.

Makro is the trading name for the Masswarehouse division of Massmart Holdings Limited. US giant Wal-Mart recently purchased a 51% stake in Massmart.

The 17000sqm Makro is on a landmark site west of the city, at the junction of two major national highways - the N8 to Kimberley and the N1. Lombaard explains the location serves Bloemfontein's business district and growing residential nodes, but will also draw shoppers from across the province and neighbouring Lesotho. Besides the 840 parking bays, surrounding roads will be developed to ensure safe, easy access to the store to the benefit of all road users and Makro shoppers.

Work on Makro Bloemfontein has already started. It will comprise its distinctive big-box warehouse club format. It will also include a separate liquor store and butchery with chillers and an office supplies section. Lombaard explains more goes into the design and development of a Makro store than at first meets the eye.

Besides the highest level of functionality, energy efficiency and green building are a major focus of development and operation beyond construction. As a low-cost, low-margin, high-volume business, the group seeks to improve efficiencies. Lombaard notes, "Each new store we develop is more efficient than the last and this is no exception."

The store has been specifically designed to use less water and electricity in its operations, produce fewer emissions and to incorporate an increasing number of natural elements, from natural light to water-wise planting.

"This is good environmental practice. It also saves costs which ultimately benefit customers," says Lombaard. Makro Vaal has become the blueprint for all new Makro stores.

Game on

The modern Groblersdal Game Centre, with Game as the anchor tenant, is scheduled to open in November 2012, in time for the festive rush.

"This is a tenant driven development, as the group has wanted to be closer to the Groblersdal community for some time," explains Lombaard. "We helped it by sourcing suitable land and securing the best available position to meet the needs of local consumers."

Construction has started on the new shopping centre, which is in the heart of central Groblersdal, close to schools, the municipal offices and other prominent retail amenities, on the corner of Barlow Street and Groblers Lane. It enjoys easy access, generous parking and is near to public transport.

"It will be an extension of the existing CBD and will strengthen the entire CBD node. Shoppers will get more from their local shopping experience and be better served by retail overall."

Game will trade from a substantial 4500sqm shop, complemented by more than a dozen stores, which will meet the community's everyday shopping needs.

As well as drawing shoppers from Groblersdal and its districts, it is expected to see shoppers coming from the economically sustainable markets from Jane Furse, Marble Hall, Dennelton, Tafelkop, Siyabushwa, Sehlakwane and smaller surrounding rural areas.