Food Lover’s Market opened its R100 million flagship store in Bothasig last week.
The store is partially powered by solar panels that will generate renewable energy, said the Food Lover’s Market group, calling it their “best stand-alone store to date”.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis was at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday October 19, and Premier Alan Winde visited the store the following evening.
Mr Hill-Lewis said he was intrigued by the store’s focus on energy efficiencies, including the use of ice-storage systems for air conditioning and solar panels to generate renewable energy.
The development was part of the Western Cape government’s efforts to make it easier and cheaper to do business in the province, he said.
“Our dedicated red tape reduction unit helped to unblock delays and ensure this impressive flagship store could open on time, ensuring that the 150 people from the nearby areas, could start work as well.”
Brian Coppin, CEO and co-founder of the Food Lover’s Market group, said he was overwhelmed by the “positive response” from the community before the opening of the store.
Bothasig Ratepayers’ Association chairman Derek Serra said the civic was excited about the store opening in the area because residents could access all supermarket chains within a 5km radius of the centre of the suburb.
There had been some concerns about increased traffic in the area, but those had apparently been addressed in the planning phase, he said, adding: “We trust that it will not be an issue in the future.”
Construction at the 3000m² plot at 1 Link Road began in January after the Food Lover’s Market group bought the land in 2020, according to the group’s spokeswoman Jean Harkett.
Concerns about traffic congestion in the area had been addressed, she said, adding that the City had imposed certain requirements for the management of the traffic flow and residents had been informed.
