Panda Mart Opens Second Kenyan Branch, Eyes Further Expansion

By Dennis Muritu

Panda Mart, a general merchandise retailer originating from South Africa, has officially opened its second store in Kenya, located at the Galleria Mall.

The grand opening marks a significant step in the company’s expansion across the African continent.

Speaking at the launch, Nellious Ng’endo, General Manager of Panda Mart, expressed gratitude to the Kenyan people for their warm reception and hardworking nature.

“We are grateful to open our second store here in Kenya,” Ng’endo stated. “The people of Kenya have been receptive and are very hardworking. We hope to create job opportunities and to collaborate with local businesses.”

Panda Mart first established operations six years ago in South Africa and has since grown to include 20 branches across various countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, and the USA.

The Galleria Mall branch signifies the company’s continued confidence in the Kenyan market.

The new store boasts a wide array of products, ranging from gym equipment and furniture to beauty supplies, utensils, and hardware.

Notably, Panda Mart differentiates itself from local supermarkets by focusing on a broad spectrum of general merchandise rather than primarily food items.

“If you do like a lap around, you’ll see that the things that you have is, for example, there is furniture, here there’s furniture, there’s gym equipment, there’s electronics, and then we go down there’s beauty, then there’s utensils and home therefore things like this are planned,” Ng’endo explained.

Looking ahead, Panda Mart has ambitious plans for further expansion within Kenya.

“By 31st December this year, I think we are planning to open other stores all across Kenya. So we are hoping that depending on how good this does, then we could open another store. But these are absolutely plans that are in the works right now to open the third store here in Nairobi,” Ng’endo revealed.

Addressing the location of the new store in Galleria Mall, Ng’endo positioned it as a central point accessible to a wide range of customers.

“I wouldn’t say a high-end location or whatever it is called, a low-end location. I think we are in the middle because we are currently bordering Kibera, and then there’s Karen here behind, and then there’s Rongai just behind us. So I think we are in the middle. We hope to target all customers, and we also hope to make sure that every middle-earning Kenyan can be able to afford the product. The prices are very friendly.”

To attract customers, Panda Mart emphasizes its competitive pricing and offers regular discounts. To celebrate the grand opening, the Galleria Mall branch is offering a 20% discount on all products for the first four days.

“Generally, the prices are very decent. They are very customer-friendly. But over time, we usually have offers, we usually have discounts, even in the 50s, 100 discounts. One week ago, when we have holidays, we do offers,” Ng’endo elaborated.

When asked about the rationale for entering the Kenyan market, Ng’endo highlighted the strong demand for their products and the positive reception from Kenyans.

“Because there is a demand for these products, and we’ve seen how Kenyans are receptive to the things that we are offering, then we decided to come to the Kenyan market,” she noted.

Currently, Panda Mart employs approximately 400 people across its two Kenyan stores.

While the exact size of the new Galleria Mall branch was not disclosed, Ng’endo confirmed it is significantly larger than their initial store in Nairobi.

Panda Mart aims to cater to a broad customer base, including middle-class and even low-income earners, with products available at various price points.

When asked to compare Panda Mart to other retailers, Ng’endo preferred to emphasize the company’s unique offerings and customer service.

“I think we are just unique based on what we offer, based on our services, based on customer service, based on the product, everything. We are just different.”

The opening of the Panda Mart Galleria Mall branch is expected to create new employment opportunities and contribute to the local economy through partnerships with local businesses.

The company’s commitment to offering a diverse range of products at friendly prices positions it as a potential key player in the Kenyan retail market.