Bereng Mpaki
THE introduction of the Woolworth’s foods section into the Lesotho market will give customers the convenience of holistic shopping is meant to give clients the convenience of a holistic shopping experience.
The store, whose groceries range from fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy products, confectionary, fresh meat, toiletries, wines and other beverages, opened on 19 November this year.
It is part of the pre-existing Woolworths clothing store located at Pioneer Mall in Maseru.
Woolworths Group management this week told the Lesotho Times that the addition of the food section in the Lesotho market was part of their overall strategy on the African continent.
“The food section in our Pioneer Mall store will allow our customers the convenience of a one stop shopping experience,” the store management said.
“Our customers are now able to buy a wide range of quality Woolies Food items for all occasions be it ready-made-meals, groceries, frozen items, beverages, fresh fruit and vegetables while shopping for their favourite Woolies fashion items.
“The introduction of foods in our Pioneer Mall store is part of our overall growth strategy in the rest of Africa to ensure that we are able to offer our customers a complete shopping experience of our wide range of quality Woolworths Fashion, Beauty, Home and Food products.”
The management is confident of positive support from the Lesotho market.
“Our target market covers our existing customer base which already shops for our wide range of quality fashion, beauty and home items as well as new customers we looking forward to welcoming… We are confident that the Lesotho market is ready for the foods offer we have opened that carries competitively priced items.”
The store expansion has generated 11 new jobs and the management said this was part of their drive to support the local economy. The company now employs 40 people in Lesotho.
While the store sources its products from South Africa and other parts of the world, the management said they were exploring the possibility of sourcing some products locally.
“We will be looking at opportunities to source selected products locally. Our products are sourced from South Africa and other parts of the world where we have suppliers that conform to our standards.
“Our food items are competitively priced and produced under our own private label, Woolworths. All our Woolies products conform to our high-quality standards and production requirements. For example, our yoghurt is preservative free and contains live cultures that contribute to a balanced digestive system. We work directly with our suppliers as part of our good food business journey, (https://www.woolworths.co.za/cat/_/N-jqydeh) to ensure that they implement sustainable farming practices that use fewer natural resources and promote soil health. This is all part of our vision as Woolworths, being the brand that inspires and cares,” the management said.
