Less than 12 months after opening the successful launch of Woolworths inaugural store in Soweto, South Africa’s premier retailer is set to open an even larger, full-line store in Soweto’s newest shopping centre, the 65000m2 Maponya Mall. Woolworths has been a supporter of the Maponya Mall project for a number of years. Woolworths believes that there is an increasingly aspirant black customer in South Africa that has an affinity with the business. Woolworths is encouraged by this market and is actively pursuing real estate opportunities which make shopping at Woolworths more convenient for this aspirational shopper. The new 3500 m2 Woolworths, which opens today, 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 and Woolworths exclusive SA Designers Collection to the latest in exclusive international beauty brands and Apple digital electronics. There will also be a café where shoppers can take a break and enjoy a cup of organically grown coffee, refreshing teas and light meals. The spacious new Woolworths Maponya Mall will offer shoppers a wide range of formal and casual clothing, footwear and accessories for women, men and children, including re_jeans, as well as just about everything they could wish for in terms of beautiful and useful things for the home. The 500 m2 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 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The new Woolworths is not only convenient for shoppers – it’s also convenient for staff, many of whom are Soweto residents. 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 from 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.” Ends.

Less than 12 months after the successful launch of Woolworths inaugural store in Soweto, South Africa’s premier retailer is set to open an even larger, full-line store in Soweto’s newest shopping centre, the 65000m2 Maponya Mall.