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Tinashe Makichi Harare Bureau
OK Zimbabwe will invest $6 million in refurbishing six stores across the country this year, a senior official has said.
The group will also spend an additional $2 million on the establishment of bakeries within its stores.
In an interview, OK Zimbabwe chief executive Willard Zireva said the company is currently focusing on growing its market share through making investments.
“In the short time since its opening, the OK Mart stores have gradually changed shopping habits as customers have realised that there is no need to cross our borders anymore as everything is available locally at competitive prices.

“The two stores have been likened to other mega-stores on the international market. Three new branches have been opened,” said Zireva.
He said all capital investments are aimed at boosting the revenue base and inflows.

OK Zimbabwe will refurbish OK Gweru, OK Mutare, OK Mbuya Nehanda, OK Houghton Park, Bon Marche Chisipite and OK Rusape.
“At OK Rusape there would be partial refurbishments. We want to reinforce our position as a retail giant in the country by offering and expanding services by leveraging on good information technology skills,” he said.

Zireva said the group was looking at establishing its own internal bakeries to offer convenience and flexibility to their customers.
The bakery sections were being run by Innscor Zimbabwe under a contract, which was terminated by mutual consent between the two parties.

“We previously budgeted for 12 bakeries but after seeing positive prospects we are going to budget for 25 more.
“I can confidently say that we have earmarked about $2 million for the project and we hope this will play a bigger role in developing the company,” he said.
Zireva said regional expansion is still within the company’s plans.

On the local front, he said OK Kwame Nkrumah, one of the new look OK stores that was opened in 2012, had shown potential in its infancy.