Staff busied themselves tidying up product arrangements ahead of the official opening of a store meant to offer food market services to shoppers within the upper CBD.
Naivas has taken over the space at the building owned by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which was once occupied by Nakumatt Supermarket.
Its location near the University of Nairobi is regarded as an advantage as students stream in throughout the day.
“We realised that at the upper CBD there was no retailer serving clients there,” Naivas Chief Commercial Officer Willy Kimani said, but noted that the chain was ready for another branch.
Mr Kimani also told the Nation that the opening was strategically set to coincide with the festive season when numbers of shoppers increase.
‘No blind investment’
The branch is Naivas’ fourth within the CBD and also the fourth one to be opened in less than six months.
Regarding the opening of several stores in a short period, the chain insists it is not investing blindly and will not suffer the same fate as those that have collapsed or left the market, including Nakumatt, Choppies and Tuskys.
“We have the right model but do we know our customers’ rights? Do we expand without tripping or expand out of the country before serving our market, which we fully understand?” Mr Kimani said during the opening of the 66th shop at the Waterfront Mall in Karen.
Tuskys, one of Naivas’ biggest competitors, is undergoing critical financial problems that have resulted in closure of branches, salary delays, rent arrears, huge debts and protests by employees.
