BP`s new global branded retail "connect" concept is being rolled out to SA`s townships, offering 24-hour convenience stores with coffee shops and Internet caf'es.
The first of BP`s new wave of Express convenience stores offering Internet kiosks opened in SA late last year. However, the first few shops were not opened in township areas. This has changed with the opening of a new global branded 24-hour shop, coffee shop and Internet caf'e in Rabie Ridge, Tembisa.
The opening follows a BP empowerment deal last year, which saw the Mineworkers` Investment Company and WDB Investment Holdings taking a 25% stake in its local operations.
BP`s global head of retail Richard Griffin, in SA for the opening of the Tembisa shop, said: "The Tembisa outlet looks and feels exactly like those we have opened in New York and London, with minor regional tweaks in terms of grocery products."
Griffin says BP sees Africa as an important market, and envisages at least 20 similar new age outlets - an investment of around R200 million.
The convenience offering is part of the roll-out of the petroleum giant`s hallmark retail "connect" concept, which has been rolled out to over 250 outlets open in the US, UK and Australia in the past year.
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