Mar 2015 Financial News

Full Speed Ahead! Hi-Lo Renovates Barbican Store! (Jamaica)

Mar 09, 2015

Today's consumers have more shopping location choices than ever before. With increased locations for grocery items comes more competition, and this means keeping stores relevant and modern is of paramount importance. With that in mind, the GraceKennedy-owned Hi-Lo Food Stores chain has begun to rethink ways to maintain current shoppers' business while keeping abreast of the shifts in shopping behaviour.

Hi-Lo intends to renovate its 14 supermarkets islandwide with the objective of meeting its customers expectations and enabling them to improve their overall shopping experience.

Work was recently completed at the Hi-Lo supermarket at Manor Park in upper St Andrew and, currently, the construction team is in the process of remodelling the Barbican store. Retailers are finding that loyalty can be fickle and they have to work twice as hard to connect with shoppers and maintain their business.

The Barbican store in now undergoing full remodelling on the outside, including the parking lot. Inside, there will be expanded shelf space, new floors, new ceilings, better lighting, more cash registers and, where necessary, new refrigeration units.

According to Renee Nathan, general manager, Hi-Lo Food Stores division, the renovations commenced at the end of last year and is expected to be completed by April 30.

"The completed Barbican store will share the same look and feel of the recently renovated Manor Park store. We have committed J$1billion to the renovation of six stores over a two-year period. The aim is to improve the shopping experience for our customers and to standardise the look and feel of our stores," Nathan said.

More Modern Look

"The interior and exterior of the store will be renovated and it will boast a more modern look. We will also expand our product offerings. We have one store in Montego Bay to be renovated later this year, and additional stores will follow in 2016," she added.

Working with their mantra, 'Making Life Easier', Hi-Lo locations offer a wide range of grocery and non-grocery items at competitive prices and a shopping experience that exceeds the expectations of their customers. Selected locations are open daily and some public holidays for the convenience of customers.

Part of the GraceKennedy Group since 1984, Hi-Lo Food Stores is the second largest supermarket chain in Jamaica. Hi-Lo locations include: Cross Roads; Half-Way Tree; Barbican; Manor Park; the University of the West Indies, Mona campus; Port Maria in St Mary; Negril; two in Montego Bay, St James; one in Mandeville, Manchester; two in St Catherine; one in Spanish Town; and the other in Portmore.

- K.H.

Source:
Jamaica Gleaner
Monday March 9, 2015

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150309/full-speed-ahead-hi-lo-renovates-barbican-store