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Oliver Kazunga Acting Business Editor—
FAST expanding regional retail chain, Choppies Enterprises has grown its branch network in the country to 29 following the opening of two branches in Gweru last week. Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko officially opened the two branches. Choppies Zimbabwe director Siqokoqela Mphoko yesterday said the retail chain which now employs over 2,000 people opened the two branches in Mkoba and the Central Business District of Gweru.
“We’ve added two more branches by opening two branches in Mkoba and the CBD in Gweru bringing our branch network to 29 across the country. VP Mphoko officially opened the shops. The two branches have created 120 jobs in addition to 1,900 that we already have from other branches across the country,” he said.
This year, Choppies has rolled out 10 new branches across the country in Bulawayo, Gwanda, Gweru, Chitungwiza, Bindura and Harare. Mphoko said plans were afoot to add 10 more outlets in 2016.
“Choppies is doing this (roll out) as part of poverty eradication in line with Zim-Asset which also seeks to create employment. We’re eradicating poverty by supporting 540 small-to medium enterprises who are our suppliers. We’re doing this to show that the economy as enunciated in Zim-Asset does work and we’re also proving it by opening shops throughout the country,” he said.
In May, Choppies Enterprises announced that it had secured $15 million from Barclays Bank of Botswana for its business expansion operations in Zimbabwe. The Botswana-headquartered retail group which has also announced a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, aims to open 50 stores in Zimbabwe in the medium term.
The retail chain made a grand entry in Zimbabwe in 2013 when it acquired 10 stores which were being operated as Spar Franchises by Sai Enterprises (Private) Limited through its subsidiary Nanavac Investments Private Limited for a consideration of $22,5 million.
Sai Enterprises was owned by Bulawayo businessman Raj Modi.
The Choppies group operates 125 retail outlets in southern Africa, comprising 72 stores in Botswana, 35 in South Africa and 29 in Zimbabwe and inclusive of Zimbabwe, the group intends to add 200 stores in five countries by the end of next year.
Online Reporter