South African grocer Checkers, which is part of the Shoprite Group, has unveiled a smaller-format 'neighbourhood store' concept, Checkers Foods.
The first Checkers Foods outlet opened this week at the Weltevreden Park Shopping Centre in Roodepoort, Gauteng, set across a sales area of 1,200 square metres.
The store has created 71 new jobs, and boasts an 'expanded fresh food offering with solution-based convenience ranges curated to meet specific customer needs, including lunch, braai, dinner or emergency purchases', according to the retailer.
Further Checkers Foods Openings
Three more Checkers Foods outlets are scheduled to open in early 2022, in Westlake, Franschhoek (both in the Western Cape) and Ballito (in KwaZulu-Natal), the retailer confirmed.
“We have spent a great deal of time to understand what our customers want and how they like to shop, and the new format Checkers Foods neighbourhood store was designed with the customer at the forefront," commented Willem Hunlun, chief operating officer at Checkers.
"The result is an improved shopping experience with fantastic fresh foods on offer, together with the convenience, quality, value and competitive pricing customers have come to expect from Checkers.”
Exclusive Brands
The first Checkers Foods outlet also boasts a range of exclusive brands, including Forage & Feast and Simple Truth, a wine cellar, and a Starbucks concession.
In September, Shoprite reported a 9.3% increase in full-year sales in its core South African business, with its Checkers and Checkers Hyper arm seeing a 10.9% sales gain.
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