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Prosper Ndlovu Business Editor
BULAWAYO-headquartered retail giant Choppies Zimbabwe has intensified its countrywide expansion plan after opening its 17th outlet in the city yesterday.
The new Jason Moyo branch is the sixth in the central business district of Bulawayo and 30th in the country as the thriving company continues to expand its presence in the country.
Three years after its grand entry into Zimbabwe, Choppies already has a footprint in Harare where it has seven outlets.
It also has branches in Gweru, Bindura, Mutare and Gwanda.
Choppies Zimbabwe director, Siqokoqela Mphoko, said another branch will be opened in Gokwe next month while plans were underway to penetrate Victoria Falls, Mutoko, Hwange, Ruwa and other areas in Harare.
“We’ve created 55 jobs from this new outlet alone and altogether our workforce now hovers around 2,100 countrywide,” said Mphoko.
“We’re a Bulawayo company and our drive is to lead the revival of this city’s economy and creation of jobs. Plans are underway to construct the biggest warehouse in Zimbabwe, which will be in this city.”
He said the opening of more retail outlets was good for business as it creates healthy competition.
“With competition prices will go down, which is good for our customers. Our desire is to spread as much as Zimbabwean people allow us. We’re also keen to offer the best service to satisfy the customer who is our king,” said Mphoko.
As part of its drive to assist local industry revival, he said Choppies was buying 75 percent of its products from local producers.
“We largely buy from local producers and all our brands are done locally. For instance, our dairy brands are done by Alpha and Omega. We want to promote local manufacturing,” he said.
“Our desire is to ensure that the 30 percent we import also goes to local firms.”
Mphoko said the new branch would be officially opened by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko on a date to be advised.
Choppies Zimbabwe is a subsidiary of the Botswana and Johannesburg-listed regional retail group.
The Mphoko family are the shareholders in the business. Choppies operates 125 outlets in southern Africa, 72 stores in Botswana and 35 in South Africa.
The group plans to open 50 outlets in Zimbabwe in the medium term. In 2015 Choppies announced that it has secured about $15 million from Barclays Bank of Botswana for its business expansion drive in Zimbabwe.
The group targets to have 200 stores in five countries by the end of next year.
Online Reporter