Companies

Naivas opens new Lang’ata outlet Tuesday

NAIVAS

Naivas Supermarket chief operating officer Willy Kimani. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Kenyan retail Chain Naivas will start operations on a new outlet at Freedom Height Mall in Langata on Tuesday as it continues to buck the trend in the troubled sector.

The store is located opposite Uchumi Hypermarket, behind 1824 Whiskey Bar on Lang’ata Road.

The new outlet brings to 24 the number of Naivas branches in Nairobi and 46 countrywide.

“Our aim is to be in all main arteries of Nairobi and Lang’ata road has been missing,” said Naivas Supermarket chief operating officer Willy Kimani yesterday.

The store, he said, would occupy 18,000 square feet and employ about 80 people. It will stock packed foods, fresh vegetables, electronics and fast-moving goods such beverages except furniture.

“Our focus is fast moving consumer goods,” he said.

The retail chain this year hired an operations consultant, UK-based Andreas von Paleske, to guide its expansion plan as local and international firms rush to fill the gap left by ailing Nakumatt and Uchumi Supermarkets.

Naivas recently opened several new branches including at Ciata City Mall on Kiambu Road and two more stores in the Nairobi’s central business district.

Uchumi and Nakumatt have lost many of their major prime spaces due to financial woes.