The Sunday News
THE coming in of dollarisation in the country brought with it a number of retail shops. These were propped up by an economic opportunity that saw the traditional supermarkets failing to provide basic items.
A number of them however, were short lived. They folded as quickly as they came and the traditional supermarkets took their pole places once again, gaining the support of the customers as stability in the dollarised economy sunk in.
However, a few remained in business and are now competing so well with the so called big retailers.
One of the few that stood the test of time and cut throat competition in the retail business is Zapalala Supermarket that, like an eagle, has continued to soar high and has proved by any measure that it was not part of the bunch of opportunists who capitalised on the confusion that gripped the economy after dollarisation.
Established six years ago, the retail shop started small but has now spread its tentacles and currently boasts of 13 branches across the country, something the national marketing manager Mr Jacob Chisema attributed to their business vision to become a centre of excellence in the provision of consumer goods and services at an affordable price and to become a leading consumer goods and service provider in Zimbabwe and beyond.
He said the vision which is shared with the employees had spurred growth in the business and had enabled them to launch a promotion tomorrow in collaboration with some of their suppliers.
“You see when a storm is coming, all other birds seek shelter. The eagle alone avoids the storm by flying above it. We have weathered the storms of instability and national economic challenges which were a real test of character. I think we have so far managed to pull through and soar above,” said Mr Chisema.
He said they started with a single shop in Bulawayo’s Herbert Chitepo Avenue and Leopold Takawira St before opening the Jason Moyo branch in Bulawayo. They then went on a spree, opening more branches in Hwange where there are two branches, Chegutu, Gwanda, Karoi, Chinhoyi, Kadoma and Maphisa, Lupane, Kariba, Binga Sanyati and two branches in Tsholotsho.
Zapalala now have a staff complement of about 250 employees in all the shops that are currently operating.
He said the goal was to open 20 shops in the country by 2020. According to Mr Chisema the strength of the retail shops lies in the location of their businesses where they target resort outlying areas.
“If you look at our supermarkets you will see they are located where there is not much competition. We target resort outlying areas where there is a market for our services but are somehow shunned by big retailers.”
He said they were also working on their standards, cleanliness and class as well as having a number of brands where they package goods in their name.
This, he says, will be just an addition of goods under the brand names as they already have rice, mealie-meal, popcorn and sugar beans. These are packaged under their brand names such as Sativa, Suta suta, Bwana and Osina.
He said tomorrow’s promotion was a way of giving back to the community for the support that they have shown all the years. He said certain goods would be having prices drastically reduced.
Mr Chisema added that they have engaged suppliers such as Proton Bakery, Baker’s Inn, Bright Birsir, Gango Traditional Foods, United Refineries and Schweppes. They are also supported by Drummond, Quality Foods, National Foods, Arenel, Datlabs, Medtech and many other companies that they do business with.
