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Food Lover's Market is a South African supermarket chain that operates franchised grocery stores and convenience stores in Southern Africa.[5] The company is a member of the Franchise Association of South Africa.[1] As of 2022, there are over 300 stores in South Africa, two in Botswana, three in Zimbabwe , and three, in Namibia.[6]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1993[1] |
| Founder | Brian Coppin Mike Coppin[2] |
| Headquarters | Brackenfell, Western Cape, South Africa[3] |
Number of locations | 320 (120 grocery stores and 200 convenience stores)[4] |
Area served | Southern Africa |
Key people | Brian Coppin (CEO)[2] |
| Website | https://foodloversmarket.co.za |
History
editThe company was established in 1993 as a single Fruit & Veg City store in Access Park, a factory outlet complex in the Kenilworth suburb of Cape Town.[1] The initial store was converted from an existing business, The Carrot King, into a Fruit & Veg City store.[7]
Food Lover's Market was founded by brothers Brian and Mike Coppin, whose father had been the Director of OK Bazaars,[7] a retail chain that was acquired by the Shoprite Group in 1997.[8] When it opened, the company sourced its products directly from farmers and municipal markets and priced them aggressively to grow in the market whilst competing with existing large retail chains.[7]
In 1995, the brothers were approached by someone wanting to operate a store in Port Elizabeth, and the first franchise store opened. Franchises in East London, Durban, Bloemfontein, and Pretoria followed.[7] The company opened its first store in Johannesburg in 1999.[7]
In 2012, Food Lover's Market expanded its offering to include non-food items and announced that it would be converting all Fruit & Veg City outlets to its Food Lover's Market brand.[9] In 2014, the company announced it would begin stocking items in a number of grocery categories from British retailer Waitrose.[9]
In 2015, the firm received an R760 million investment from emerging market investor Actis.[4] The firm's CEO, Brian Coppin, stated that the company was attracted to Actis' history of working with family-owned businesses.[4]
Brands
editThe company also operates 24-hour convenience stores under the FreshStop brand at over 200 Caltex gas stations across South Africa.[5] It also sells liquor at Market Liquor stores next to select Food Lover's outlets[5] and operates cafeteria-style restaurants at Food Lover's Eatery locations.[10]
Partnerships
editFood Lover's Market receives some of its products from South African company Cape Roasters and supplies its stores through FVC International, a South African import and export company.[5]
South African coffee chain Seattle Coffee Company has outlets at Food Lover's Market and FreshStop stores across the country.[11]
Food Lover's Market has a partnership with South African bank ABSA, whereby ABSA customers can earn cash back by using their debit and credit cards at Food Lover's stores.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Food Lover`s Market". The Franchise Association of South Africa. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ a b "Food Lover's Market". SA Franchise Brands. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ "Contact". Food Lover's Market. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ a b c "R760m investment boost for Food Lover's Market". Fin24. 2015-12-05. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ a b c d "Out Story". Food Lover's Market. Archived from the original on 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ "Food Lover's Market: Find a Store Near you!". Food Lover's Market. Retrieved 2022-09-11.
- ^ a b c d e Pitman, J (2009-11-10). "Fruit & Veg City: Michael And Brian Coppin". Entrepreneur Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ "Our Story". The Shoprite Group. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ a b Magwaza, N (2014-02-27). "Fruit & Veg City brings in Waitrose foods". IOL. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ Roxy. "The Newest Food Lover's Eatery in Braamfontein". Food Lover's Market. Archived from the original on 2019-08-12. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ "Who we are". Seattle Coffee Company. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- ^ "Food Lover's Market". ABSA. Retrieved 2019-05-19.