Quickmart has opened a 24-hour branch in Lavington, Nairobi. The supermarket is located at the Valley Arcade.
Quickmart is one of the top supermarkets in Kenya and seems to taking advantage of the void left by the fallen giant, Nakumatt.
It is the first store under this chain of supermarket that will be offering 24-hour service to customers, a service other supermarkets have been unable to provide, except for Naivas chain of supermarkets which has three 24-hour supermarkets in Kenya.
This is what Quickmatt’s head of marketing Betty Wamaitha told Shopaxo after the lauch, “When we studied the area, we discovered it is populated by high-income shoppers who require the flexibility of shopping at any time. The people in this neighborhood remain underserved. With the opening of this new branch we are trying to fill this unmet shopping need.”
With the opening of this branch, this bring to four the number of supermarkets that operate on a 24-hour schedule. Naivas, one of the largest supermarkets in Kenya, own the other three.
Quickmart has other branches in Kahawa Sukari, Ruiru, Waithaka, Eastern Bypass, Ruaka, Ruai and another at Thindigua along Kiambu Road. There are also two more branches in Nakuru, a town known to be the birthplace of major supermarkets in Kenya.
With the opening of this branch, Quickmart seems to announcing itself as a major player in the supermarket in Kenya. Especially after the fall if Nakumatt and the woes that are currently troubling Uchumi.
As to whether this move will be a success, time will tell. Especially with other major players in the industry watching.
Quickmart’s latest strategic spot will serve customers in the Kileleshwa and Lavington neighbourhood and surrounding areas, which are currently under-served. The new Valley Arcade branch will create 150 jobs.