Franchising News South Africa

SA retailer opens full-line branch in Maponya

Less than 12 months after opening its first store in Soweto, Woolworths has opened an even larger, full-line store in Soweto's newest shopping centre, the 65,000m2 Maponya Mall.

The new 3500m2 Woolworths will offer Soweto residents virtually everything they would expect to find at a top-line Woolworths store, from top-of-the-range W Collection men's and women's clothing and homeware to the latest in exclusive international beauty brands. The store will also carry Woolworths exclusive SA Designers Collection womenswear as well as Apple digital electronics.

In addition, there will be a café where shoppers can take a break and enjoy a cup of organically grown coffee, teas and light meals. The 500m2 food market will stock the full range of Woolworths foods, from the freshest fruit and vegetables to the latest in delicious ready-to-heat and ready-to-eat meals.

For the convenience of shoppers, Woolworths Maponya Mall will be open seven days a week. Trading hours are from 9am - 7pm Monday through Friday, Saturday 8am - 6pm, and Sunday from 9am - 5pm.

In keeping with Woolworths' commitment to community involvement, they've already 'adopted' a local school Welizibuko Primary as their special project. The school will receive R5,000 to spend on upliftment projects and will also benefit on an ongoing basis as part of the MySchool and Making the Difference initiatives.

Says Osafo Gyimah, Senior Real Estates Manager of Woolworths responsible for Johannesburg, "Soweto is an important market for Woolworths and Maponya Mall is an important development for Soweto. We are excited to be part of this ground-breaking retail development which is bringing international brands and the leading names in South African retail to what is, after all, an integral part of the city of Johannesburg."

He adds, "The success of Maponya Mall will open the gateway for investors to put their money into Soweto and help create the kind of South Africa we all want to live in."

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