Retail Supermarket Nigeria Limited (RSN), the owners of Shoprite Nigeria, said it will be opening more stores in the Country as the Company reopened one of its store in Lagos after a 24-month long closure.
The decision to close the mall came following a series of looting incidents which occurred on the heels of the nationwide #EndSARS protest in 2020.
RSN also added that the commencement of its expansion project with plans to launch stores in new locations across Nigeria amongst others in the coming months.
This reopening is in line with RSN’s quest to make formal retail formats accessible to more Nigerians while rebuilding the economy. The Circle Mall store is one of 24 nationwide outlets currently bridging the gap between local businesses and consumers.
Speaking on the reopening in Lagos, the chief executive officer, RSN, Hubertus Rick, said: “two years ago, we made a tough decision to shut down operations at the Shoprite Circle Mall in response to the insecurity situation. The closure was in the interest of our customers as well as our staff as we had to prioritise the safety of lives and properties ahead of other interests. Today we’re happy to commence operations again as we have put measures in place to ensure the safety of all who will walk through our doors.”
Rick stated that “over the years, Shoprite Nigeria has made significant contributions to the nation’s economy. Currently, Shoprite Nigeria boasts of 10,000 staff; directly and indirectly employed. While expanding the retail industry in Nigeria, Shoprite invests heavily on its local supply chain involving more than 300 leading Nigerian suppliers, and partnership with many small businesses, farmers, suppliers of an assortment of local brands.”
Reiterating the company’s commitment to expanding the retail industry in Nigeria, Hubertus added, “we are aware of the impact that the closure has had on our supply chain as well as the business at large. As we reopen this store and other outlets in subsequent months, we are prioritizing ensuring a safe shopping environment for our customers while expanding our retail network.”
Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited (RSN) is the operator of the Shoprite franchise in Nigeria. RSNL launched its first Nigerian store in Lagos in December 2005 and has expanded to 25 outlets across 122 states in the country.
