• THE first customer being served at Choppies Enterprises Limited Chimwemwe outlet which opened its doors to the public on Friday last week. Picture by KENNEDY MUPESENI

By KENNEDY MUPESENI –
CHOPPIES Enterprises Limited, one of the largest multinational supermarkets in the Sub-Sahara Africa, has invested more than K7 million to establish a mega store in Kitwe’s Chimwemwe Township.
The company which has been in the country for 13 months now has opened 11 stores dotted around Lusaka and the Copperbelt and plans to roll-out 10 more before the end of 2017.
The supermarket which operates more than 200 stores in the Sub-Sahara African region also intends to open about 45 more in the country in the next four years.
Operations director Jyothish Canhiradan said more K7.5 million has been pumped in to establish the Chimwemwe outlet and that about four sites have been identified in Kitwe.
“We have spent K7.5 million to put up everything here and our intention is open for more here in Kitwe, about 10 outlets before the end of the year and going forward our plan is to do 45 more in the next four years,” Mr Canhiradan said.
He said this in interview on the sidelines of the official opening of the store which was graced by Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe alongside District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu at the weekend.
The company has since employed about 40 locals at the outlet.
Mr Kang’ombe and Mr Mpundu reiterated Government’s call for supermarkets to stick to local content.
“There is need for outlets such as Choppies to procure agro products locally if the City is to benefit economically from retail investments in the country,” they said.