CAPTION: Photos of the newly opened Naivas Kingara Road, the outlet which carried the honour of the #RoadTo100 success. Pic By Tum.
BY TUM DAVID
The ambitious dream by the Naivas Supermarket dubbed #RoadTo1OO was achieved on Thursday October 12th, 2023 when the retailer opened its 100th store in Nairobi.
The outlet which carried the great honour of being the 100th store, is the Naivas FoodMarkert Kingara Road in Lavington in Nairobi superbs.
Naivas Supermarket has now hit its triple digits in store count, 100 branches countrywide. This is a historic moment for the Kenyan history, as this is a feat that no other supermarket in Kenya, be it local or international, has managed to achieve.
” But for us, it’s never been about store numbers. It’s been about staying relevant, staying relevant to put customers but also staying relevant as a business because I my that way can we continue to grow and thrive and support all of those stakeholders who walk with us.” Said Andreas Von Paleske the Chief of Strategy of Naivas during the opening ceremony of the 100th store.
Naivas Supermarket has come a long way evolving from a general store founded in the rural town of Rongai in Nakuru County to the leading retailer in the country. For Naivas, this is nothing short of a success story punctuated by commitment and resilience. To the business, the number 100 holds special significance to the retailer and will forever be atched in the annals of its history.
” 100 is just a number, just a milestone. But I would want to say this, it’s just a beginning. This is where now we need to break the next record and make sure that a Kenyan company . . . and I repeat, a Kenyan company’s competing with internationals . . . that’s my target and I think it’s our target with our suppliers with our customers and with our staff.” remarked Naivas Foubder and Managing Director David Kimani.
The Naivas MD said it has taken 33 years 2 months and 12 days to hit the great milestone. This means that the founding family, the Mukuhas had set the right foundation which ensured that the business grew and was able to attract even foreign investments.
The chain’s management gives credit to their committed investors a consortium led by IBL which includes Proparco and DEG who have been instrumental in strengthening the retailer’s corporate governance.