Opening day at Makro Cape Gate.
A whole new world of shopping is in store for customers in Cape Town’s Tygerberg suburbs after Makro opened its doors on the corner of Okavango and Belami Roads in Brackenfell.
With a trading area of 16 513 m² and 811 parking bays, Makro Cape Gate is a new “urban design store” with aesthetic features that help the store to blend into its urban surroundings.
Nedbank has provided finance for this new Makro store, and holds a significant equity stake through its Property Partners division.
Richard Thomas, regional executive of Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, Cape, says Nedbank has provided the finance for completion of the project to Cape Gate Crescent Developments (Pty) Ltd. Nedbank Property Partners holds an 85 percent stake in the development, with Eris Property Group (Pty) Ltd holding the remaining 15 percent. Nedbank also owns 100 percent of the remainder of the 4 ha site on which Makro Cape Gate is built.
“Demand for a Makro trading store in the area is strong, following a very successful opening in Montague Gardens last October which resulted in record sales for the mass merchant,” says Thomas.
Makro is owned by Massmart, a JSE listed company which is in turn 51 percent owned by Walmart. Makro now has 16 stores countrywide including two stores in the Western Cape.
The Makro store layout consists of retail warehousing space, an open floor or trading area, a separate liquor store next to the main store, and a butchery. Stock includes groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables, and various other speciality items such as technology, multi-media, outdoor and office supplies.
The store has been built with the environment in mind which reduces its carbon footprint dramatically. Green aspects include abundant natural light to reduce the amount of electricity required; motion sensors in all the offices and storage rooms that reduce consumption and start-up current; environmentally friendly air-conditioning and refrigeration systems; water-wise landscaping solutions and a green plant buffer between adjoining residents and the store. These green aspects go hand-in-hand with Nedbank’s philosophy of ensuring a sustainable environment, says Thomas.
“Although retail foot traffic has increased significantly over the past decade, Makro is still very much a stockist for commercial and reseller customers, including spaza shop owners, corporates, small businesses, convenience stores and even franchisees of other retail chains,” says Chris Nezar, marketing director for Makro SA.
The layout of Makro Cape Gate also makes it easier for larger commercial customers to shop, as it has a dedicated check out area separate from the retail side, metal cages to hold stock overnight if necessary and a wide overhanging roof to make collection even easier, especially when it rains.
“This partnership underscores Nedbank Corporate Property Finance’s commitment to invest in platforms for uplifting and empowering stakeholders,” says Thomas. “Eris is a well-respected property development and services group which provides a range of commercial property skills in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Eris has R5.2 billion in developments under construction, which includes offices, retail and specialist developments.”
