Massmart’s Makro opens its 23rd store on Wednesday in Gonubie, East London with a host of exclusive promotions and in-store customer experiences to celebrate the grand opening.
This is Makro’s first new store since 2019, and the expansion brings the retailer’s signature value, selection and convenience to a thriving local business hub already known for its family-friendly atmosphere and holiday appeal for travellers.
“We are thrilled to launch our newest Makro store in Gonubie, and in East London,” said interim vice president Duval van Rhyn.
“This is a move that we have been working on for some time, and one that has been requested by many shoppers in the area.
“We’re proud to have created well over 250 new permanent jobs within this store, further contributing to the local economy.
“We will host as many as 800 independent suppliers and merchandisers to serve the store, with Verimark having their own staff, who are employed by them but who work in our store.
“With Makro and the outside employees combined, our headcount will be between 800 and 1,000.
“This makes Makro one of the biggest direct and indirect employers in the area.”
Van Rhyn said to bring the staff up to the service speed that Makro’s customers should expect, the company has been running several “train the trainer”sessions in Johannesburg and the people attending the courses have been assisted with training Gonubie’s new employees on a two-month learning programme.
A big focus is energy conservation, and he reckons there is an energy saving of about 30% compared to most stores.
The store is a bit smaller than the typical Makro store, and ceilings are lower, meaning less power needed for cooling and more natural light. Solar panels reduce energy costs further.
“The savings can be ploughed back into price reductions on purchases — and better prices are our ongoing aim,” he said.
The new store, located at the entrance to one of the Eastern Cape’s fastest-growing business hubs, Gonubie, is set to become a key retail destination on the eastern coastline, extending the brand’s presence in the province.
Its market is broad, serving a large farming and rural community, suburban families, urban entrepreneurs and local businesses, as well as holidaymakers, sport event visitors and conference participants.
Having been ranked most affordable retailer on an essential grocery basket for most of 2024, according to independent research, Makro brings its offering of fresh and pantry food items to the greater East London community without compromising on quality.
Other key departments include clothing, electronics and appliances, outdoor and sports, homeware and furniture, DIY and toys.
Liquor will be sold through a standalone store adjacent to the main premises.
As an omnichannel retail destination, customers in the area can also shop through Makro’s app and website, with the option of ordering online and picking up the next day or requesting delivery in two days.
Free delivery comes with large items within a 20km radius of the store for in-store purchases, Van Rhyn said.
Daily Dispatch
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