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Business Times reports that Shoprite has big expansion plans that will see hundreds of new outlets open and could create up to 10,000 direct jobs.
Shoprite CEO Pieter Engelbrecht said last week the group was looking to increase the number of USave stores - its basic-goods brand - from 398 to 1,000 over the next three to four years, with 30 of the new stores opening in financial 2022. Boosting the group's strategy to increase its footprint in areas that target lower-income consumers is the acquisition from Massmart of Cambridge Food, Rhino, Massfresh and Cash & Carry. The 68 stores, 43 liquor outlets and other facilities in these chains will be relaunched under Shoprite's various brands. This transaction, which still needs competition authority approval, includes Shoprite taking onto its payroll about 7,000 people now working for the Massmart chains. Currently the group has 1,734 outlets in SA across all its brands. It plans to increase the number of upmarket FreshX stores from 41 to 80 over the next two years, while in financial 2022 it will boost the tally of Checkers stores from 230 to 247 and add 47 LiquorShop outlets to the 537 it now has. Shoprite, which employs more than 140,000 people in SA and the rest of Africa, estimates that the USave and FreshX expansion strategy alone could generate up to 10,000 direct job opportunities over time. Far more jobs are likely to be created indirectly. But, the group says it is difficult to be precise about job creation potential because not all the FreshX stores will be "brand new builds", with many being conversions of existing Checkers stores.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
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