21 Jwayelani outlets acquired

LEADING Botswana supermarket chain Choppies Enterprises is acquiring 21 retail outlets owned by Jwayelani in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, according to a newspaper report yesterday. Zimbabwean newspaper, Bulawayo24News, reported that Choppies has filed an application with the Competition Commission, but did not disclose any further information. According to the newspaper, Choppies Group marketing manager Otsile Marole confirmed the planned acquisition to the Botswana Stock Exchange, noting that it was part of the strategy to expand the group’s regional footprint. “I can confirm that we’ve acquired Jwayelani stores in KwaZuluNatal and the Eastern Cape,” she said. The acquisition will add to the 39 stores that Choppies operates in South Africa, which are located in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State and North West. According to Deloitte’s African Powers of Retailing 2015 report, Choppies was the fastest-growing retailer of the top 25 African retailers of 2015, recording a 24.4 percent year-on-year growth for financial year 2013 compared with 2012. – ANA