It’s been 20 years since Shoprite launched in Zambia with the opening of its first Cairo Road store in Lusaka on 26 October 1995. Today it is the largest supermarket chain in the country, employs almost 3 000 Zambians and sources 78% of its fruit and vegetable supplies from local farmers.
“Our business is built on a promise of lower prices,” commented Shoprite Zambia General Manager, Charles Bota. “It’s been a privilege to be able to bring Shoprite’s world class shopping experience to the people of Zambia.”
“Zambia is one of the Shoprite Group’s largest businesses outside of South Africa, and we’re very thankful for the support we have enjoyed here. In 1999 we were only able to source produce from 20 different Zambian farmers,” Bota continued. “We’ve worked hard to increase this number, and although there remain a number of challenges around both procurement and food safety, we’re incredibly proud of the fact that Shoprite today supports 81 different local farmers.”
In order to assist emerging farmers, Shoprite has invested heavily in food safety training. The supermarket chain also has planning and growing programmes in place, in order to assist farmers to produce year-round fruit and vegetable supplies.
To this end there have been some remarkable success stories, most notably with local potato growers who set up state-of-the-art storage facilities to extend the supply season of their produce. This means that, as from 2015, potato growers have been able to supply Shoprite with 7 million kg potatoes per year – even during the rainy season, when production is usually a challenge.
20 years = 20 brand new Renault KWID E1’s
In honour of Shoprite’s 20th anniversary in Zambia, the supermarket chain is running one of the country’s biggest competitions ever: over a period of 10 weeks, the brand will be giving away 20 brand new Renault KWID E1’s!
The competition runs from 22 October to 31 December 2015. Consumers can enter at any Shoprite store during this period by writing their personal details on the back of their till slip, and dropping it into the entry box. There is no minimum spend or limit on the number of entries allowed.
“We’re delighted to be able to offer Shoprite’s customers a competition that truly does justice to our 20th anniversary,” said Bota.
Of what benefit has shoprite been to Zambia apart from cheap labor force it employs? All the money and product go to and come from SA respectively. Even the same potatoes they are boasting about just a few months ago used to come from SA. With a 20yr tax holiday what more can Zambia ask for?
kci, you are very right.
infact the head line is misleading.
it read ‘shoprite celebrates 20 years of stealing in zambia’.
I agree with you 100%. Benefits must be seen to be trickling in no matter how small. The chainman of Shoprite Holdings is reportedly earns 25 million rands in bonuses each year. While he enjoys tax breaks in Zambia at the same time. We are such dull people indeed.
Bangwele muletasha
Twenty years of slave wages to local workers!