This is a historic moment in Kenyan as this is a feat that no other supermarket in Kenya, local or international, has managed to achieve.
The outlet which carries this great honour is Naivas Foodmarket King’ara Road in Lavington.
Opening the store in this neighbourhood is a testament to the truly national brand that Naivas has become. From a general store founded in the rural town of Rongai in Nakuru county, to the leading retailer in the country, is nothing short of a success story punctuated by commitment and resilience.
Despite the challenges in the retail sector, Naivas has continued to scale new heights and set new records with each passing year.
“As we set up the general store, it was not for any other reason but to take care of our basic needs and never did I ever imagine that I would be here today talking about store number 100. It is truly an emotional moment for me, from just seeking to take care of my family to now having over 10,000 directly employed by the company is something I would never have dreamed of. As a Kenyan homegrown family business, we thank you for the trust you have placed on the brand and we shall ensure that we continue to diligently serve Kenyans as you are the reason for our being. My promise is, store number 100 is just the beginning as we now are focused on the next big step, hitting 200 stores,’’ said David Kimani, Naivas Managing Director.
“It may have taken 33 years 2 months and 12 days to hit this great milestone, but it means that the founding family, the Mukuhas, had set the right foundation to ensure that the business grows. It is because of this right foundation that the business was able to attract foreign investment. Thanks to our investors, a consortium led by IBL which includes Proparco and DEG, have been instrumental in strengthening our corporate governance ensuring that the business has the right foundation for the next level of success’’ remarked Andreas Von Paleske, Naivas Chief of Strategy.
“As IBL we are glad to have found a partner in Naivas, a homegrown Kenyan family business that has enabled us to expand into the Kenyan market. We assure Naivas of our unwavering support to see to it that it continues to expand and reach even greater heights. I want to wish Naivas a happy 100 branches celebration,” said Arnaud Lagesse.
IBL Executive Director and Group CEO.
The journey beyond one hundred has just begun and the business is committed to reaching every community in the country one store at a time.
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