Makro Pietermaritzburg announces plans to open new store

Retail 14 October 2022

Makro Pietermaritzburg announces plans to welcome its customers back on 23 November 2022. The retailer has over a year of preparations - rebuilt its new store with a unique customer shopping experience.

The local retail sector represents almost 14% of South Africa's total GDP and almost a million people are employed in many stores throughout the country – yet the industry has undergone the toughest economic conditions between 2021 and 2022.

“Most of the brands CSR efforts have gone into collaborating with key stakeholders to re-build KZN not only for businesses but for the communities that keep these businesses open. Our Early Childhood Development partner - Hope Worldwide is currently assessing the suitability of enrolling an ECD centre near the store to help cater for the community’s children. Our holding company, Massmart also played a key role during the floods that affected the larger KZN community earlier on this year with donations of non-perishable food, personal care items and approximately 35 tonnes of bottled water for distribution to those displaced by the downpours,” said Strini Naidoo, Makro General Sales Manager

The store promises to showcase a variety of changes for the customers with the addition of a butchery, Fresh produce sections, and an extended range of general merchandise. The 12,000 square metres store will also boast the retail giant's newly introduced e-commerce pickup department and express checkout.

“Makro has been working collaboratively with our building partners to ensure that we turn things around within the set times and open the store on the 23^rdof November 2022, our on-site teams have made exceptional progress from breaking ground to making sure that all the enhancements are added with great care," added Naidoo

Operating hours will be affected as follows from the official opening:

Official opening: Opening 23 November 2022 – trading from 8 am to 6 pm (Wednesday)

24 November 2022 – trading from 8 am to 6 pm (Thursday)

25 November 2022 – trading from 8 am to 6 pm (Friday)

26 November 2022 - trading from 8 am to 5 pm (Saturday)

27 November 2022 – trading from 9 am to 4 pm (Sunday)

Customer safety is at the forefront of the plans going forward with a more substantial committed presence from SAPS, the Traffic Department and Fidelity Security Services. “Pietermaritzburg, get ready! Keep on the lookout for more details closer to the date.” said Naidoo.

Supplied by: Makro.

Guzzle Media