Supermarket fuels up in PE

FUEL giant BP’s forecourt expansion has hit Nelson Mandela Bay, with the Greenacres franchise to become the first in the metro to house a 24hour Pick n Pay Express store.

Construction is due to start in June and the store could open to the public at the end of July.

The franchise will be the second in the Eastern Cape, following BP Jeffreys Bay, where an express store opens to the public today.

Excited about the development, Greenacres station owner Leroi Grimbreek said the development boded well for his goal to increase foot traffic in the forecourt since taking over the site in February last year.

“This is an exciting time for us. We are happy to be able to offer our customers convenience and quality,” he said.

“Customers will be able to come in and fill up their cars, while picking up a few grocery items.”

The existing Greenacres BP Express shop will close on June 6 – with only the kiosk counter still operating – until the completion, due on July 28.

The Greenacres fuel station employs 26 people – 10 in the express shop, 12 attendants in the forecourt and four car washers.

Grimbreek said while the development could have job prospects in future, the existing staff would run the new express store.

The BP-Pick n Pay partnership dates back years, with the first express shops opening in 2008 in Hout Bay and Tokai in Cape Town.

The stores, to replace the BP Express shops, will stock up to 2 500 products and convenience items and will include a Wild Bean Cafe.

More stores are expected to open across the Eastern Cape, but BP spokeswoman Janet Sithole said she was not in a position to publicly comment on BP’s strategic plans for the Eastern Cape.