By NewsBits
Shoprite, one of Nigeria’s leading grocery chains, will close its single outlet in Kano State, located at Kano’s famed Ado Bayero Mall, in January 2024.
The supermarket’s closing was notified in a letter to its staff on December 7, 2023.Shoprite, which is owned by Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited, indicated in a letter signed by one of its officials, Mubertus Rick, that the decision was made “after careful evaluation of the store’s financial situation and the current business climate.”
The “Ado Bayero Mall Closing Announcement” letter said that the retail outlet will close on January 14, 2023. Dear Employees, I regret to inform you that our store in Ado Bayero Mall Kano, Kano State will be closing its doors on January 14, 2024.
“This decision was not made lightly, as we understand the impact it may have on our employees and community, however, after careful evaluation of the financial situation of the store and the current business climate we believe in the best course of action for the long-term growth of our organisation,” the letter read.
“We understand that this news may be difficult to digest, and we want to assure you that we are here to support you during this transitional period. Your well being is our top priority and we will do everything we can to assist you in finding new opportunities within our company,” it added.
However, the company urged its staff members to explore opportunities in its other stores across Nigeria. “We encourage you to apply for any existing positions in our existing stores across the country, through the human resources department. Additionally, we will be opening new stores in the coming month, and you are welcome to apply for employment there as well. We deeply appreciate your dedication, hard work and commitment to our company through out the years.
“Your contributions have been invaluable and we area grateful that the value you have brought to our team. As we navigate this transition, we will ensure that the process is as seamless as possible for everyone involved. In the upcoming days and weeks, we will provide you with more information regarding surveillance packages and other important details.
“Once again, we want to express our gratitude for your contributions to our company’s successes. We hope that you will stay connected with us as we move forward. If you have any questions or require assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me Chief Operating Officer, or our Head of Human Resources,” the letter concluded.
Efforts to reach the Shoprite management for comments were unsuccessful, but some business operators at the Ado Bayero Mall confirmed that the store would close in January.
“Yes, Shoprite will be shutting down its operations in Kano in January. But other businesses around the store are still operating,” an owner of a barbing Saloon in the mall told our reporter.
He declined to be identified. The news comes just days after a number of global corporations, including pharmaceutical behemoth GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and prominent consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G), announced the closing of their Nigerian operations.
GSK and P&G had been present in Nigeria for 51 and 30 years, respectively. In their comments, the companies blamed Nigeria’s unfavourable business environment, which had resulted in massive losses due to the country’s protracted currency crisis.
