Pick 'n Pay to open franchise in S/Phikwe

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Tuesday August 24, 2010 00:00

The guests will include the Member of Parliament Nonofo Molefhi, Palalani Moitlhobogi of BOCCIM and business community leaders. 

The franchisee, Ruth Krupavaram, told Mmegi Business over the weekend that the supermarket has taken over the old Score Supermarket building in the mall. Pick 'n Pay has three branches in Gaborone, two in Francistown, and one in Lobatse, Palapye Serowe and Mahalapye respectively.

'This town is about to have one of the best supermarkets in Botswana,' she said. 'The store will change the landscape of this town and the shopping experience for the residents will never be the same again. Pick 'n Pay will provide fresh products and quality service.'

The supermarket will have 80 trained employees, some of whom are inherited from Score while others are new.The franchisee said the store intends to give back to the community. 'We will be doing a lot of charity work for the Selebi-Phikwe community,' she said.  Krupavaram is not new in business, having started since 1982 here in Selebi-Phikwe. She created employment for more than 100 people at her Pioneer Group of Companies and contributed considerably to the local economy and the entire region.

'I have even gone the extra mile by donating a two-roomed house to a destitute family in Botshabelo this year,' she said.

Krupavaram said contrary to the popular view that Selebi-Phikwe could become a ghost-town soon, she believes there is considerable business potential here.