SPAR Zimbabwe has opened its 40th store: a SPAR Express with a sales area of 165m². Opened on 14 June, the store is located on a fuel service station forecourt in the busy border town of Beitbridge, the main gateway from Zimbabwe into South Africa.

SPAR Express South Beitbridge is situated just off the main Harare-Bulawayo highway, a transport hub for several local and regional destinations.

As a result, the area is busy at all hours of the day and frequented by a mixed demographic. The store features extensive dairy, bakery, bulk, chilled and ready-to-eat departments, and a kiosk. The state-of-the-art refrigeration units instore are critical for dealing with Beitbridge’s year-round high temperatures.

Despite COVID-19 precautions limiting festivities on the opening day, customer turnout was good. Customers were enthusiastic about the new store, with over 650 transactions on opening day. SPAR team members and customers observed strict social distancing and COVID-19 protocols.

SPAR Express South Beitbridge is run by Rudolf and Annemarie Van Der Merwe, who own three other SPAR stores in the area. Seven new jobs were created locally, ensuring knowledge of the local community and dialect.

Source: SPAR Zimbabwe

Read more about SPAR Zimbabwe.

About SPAR Zimbabwe

In 1967, Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) became the 13th country to join the SPAR network after signing a licence agreement with SPAR International.

In 2015, an independent retailer, Darren Lanҫa, took over the licence for the SPAR Brand in Zimbabwe after the previous licence holder divested this retail division.

Despite the challenging economic environment, SPAR Zimbabwe continues to grow its store network. It also remains actively involved in the local community, helping to make a difference through charitable sponsored events.