Quickmart to open outlets in Ruiru and Lavington

Emerging retailer Quickmart Supermarkets is set to open two new stores, bucking the trend in the retail sector that is currently showing signs of financial strain.

The retail chain will open a branch in Ruiru by the end of the month and another in Lavington’s Valley Arcade before the close of the year.

These two new stores will grow the upcoming retailer’s total outlets to 10, adding to the two in Nakuru, and one each in Kahawa Sukari, Waithaka, Eastern Bypass, Ruaka, Ruai and another at Thindigua on Kiambu Road.

“We are doing final touches on the Ruiru branch and it should open at the end of the month.

“Construction of the Lavington branch has started and we anticipate that it will be open before end of the year,” said Betty Wamaitha, Quickmart head of marketing.

“Our expansion strategy is anchored on two factors, first our branches have to be accessible to a population with the spending power. A location has to be positioned strategically, to mean an outlet has to be located in an area not overly congested by competitors,” she added.

Late businessman John Kinuthia, who died in 2016, started Quickmart in Nakuru.

The supermarket chain, which his family now runs under the guidance of his son Duncan Kinuthia as its managing director, opened its first Nairobi branch in 2010 in Ruai.

Quickmart’s expansion in Nairobi is a positive development in a sector that has in recent months been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.