By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
SHOPRITE has added value to the retail industry and has for the last 20 years maintained its position as the most competitive chain store in Zambia in terms of pricing.
The multinational chain store came to Zambia in 1995, a few years after the country transformed itself into a liberalised market economy.
Shoprite has continued showing resilience in competition in the industry, which is healthy.
Competition brings a lot of benefits in areas of product packaging,labeling and customer service efficiency among others.
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), an institution charged with the responsibility of encouraging competition and consumer safeguards, has noted Shoprite’s contributions.
It has observed that Shoprite has considerably contributed to competition in the retail sector since it started operating in Zambia 20 years ago.
In October this year, Shoprite cerebrated 20 years of operating in Zambia.
CCPC public relations officer, Hanford Chaaba says the multinational chain store has contributed significantly to the competition in the retail sector.
“Yes Shoprite has contributed significantly to the competition currently obtaining in the retail industry in Zambia, being one of the pioneer retail stores in Zambia after liberalisation of the economy,” Mr Chaaba said.
Mr Chaaba maintains that competition is healthy in the retail sector just like any other sector because it contributes to better service delivery such as good packaging and competitive pricing of items.
“You have seen sales promotions in trying to up their game to maintain customers which was not the case before we liberalised our economy,” he said.
The chain store has 26 outlets in Zambia and that has increased the number of local suppliers of commodities from five to 80 in Ndola alone.
Shoprite is also planning to open outlets in Mongu and Lusaka’s Makeni area in the near future.
In random interviews in Lusaka, residents who buy from Shoprite described it as the most competitive store in Zambia in terms of pricing.
“It is one of the well stocked outlets and the pricing of items are very fair and competitive, that is what I like most about it,” Agness Phiri said as she left Lusaka’s Cairo Road store.
She said the store was one of the most competitive outlets in Zambia in terms of pricing.
Another Lusaka resident, Albert Chomba, said Shoprite had changed the Zambia’s retail landscape in terms of competition as well as job creation.
“I have been shopping at Shoprite for the past 20 years,” Mr Chomba, who was found at Manda Hill outlet, said.
Kasama District Commissioner Kelly Kashiwa said at the celebration of 20 years at a local Shoprite outlet that, Government was keen to protect investments such as that of Shoprite.
“Be assured that Government will continue to protect your investment in Zambia because it was contributing to the economic development of the country through employment generation and the much needed competition in the retail industry in the district,” Mr Kashiwa said.
He urged Shoprite to increase outlets in the district for the people in townships to access its services.
Mr Kashiwa also commended the chain store for engaging local suppliers as this will greatly contribute to the economy of the district especially that local farmers are the biggest economic players in the area.
He hoped that Shoprite would increase the number of local suppliers to enable as many farmers as possible get supply opportunities.
Government will continue relying on the private sector for it to grow the economy and create the much needed jobs for youths in the country.