STC Hypermarket marks first anniversary tomorrow |01 October 2016

The Seychelles Trading Company (STC) Hypermarket situated in the Bois de Rose Shopping Complex on Bois de Rose Avenue will be celebrating its first year anniversary tomorrow Sunday October 2.

The hypermarket has been described as a new and fruitful experience by the company which it says has many customers and businesses. But it has also been a challenging journey to meet the expectations of its customers.

Talking to the press yesterday, chief executive Veronique Laporte described the one year operation of the hypermarket as positive, both in terms of performance and on the country itself and commended her staff for making it happen.

She remarked now people has a place where they have a more variety of produce.

But Ms Laporte also cautioned that one year is a bit too short for a full-fledged prediction but the institution is on the right path.

“I am over 100% confident that we will close the year on a positive note. Already the result is very positive. The hypermarket, including all the shops that we have, the whole shopping complex have provided people with a location to go and shop affordable products, quality products at their convenience,” she said mentioning such facilities as parking, variety products available including health food, services like banking just to name a few.

Ms Laporte said the hypermarket has plans to move to more health food while paying attention to where it draws the line.

She added the hypermarket has provided the people of Seychelles a place where they can come shop at their own leisure. She highlighted the opening hours where everyday the hypermarket is opened at 8am and closes at 8pm.

She described as a good thing being opened more late than other shops as on a Saturday everywhere is closed at twelve and people had to rush through things to make it to shops. The hypermarket also opens on Sundays where it closes at 4pm, except the two middle Sundays of the month where it closes at 2pm.

“So, people has got more time on their hands to come do their shopping, after working hours, on the way home as we close at 8 o’clock,” she noted.

“I also find the hypermarket has given people a place they can socialize a little bit. They meet in the aisle people they haven’t seen for a long time. There are also social places like a café where they can meet over a coffee, a nice lunch as the café is improving every day, checking the menu to ensure healthy foods every day,” she said.

Regarding the perception of some people that cost of products at STC hypermarket are more expensive than in other shops, Ms Laporte said it depends what exactly the product is.

“I think this kind of comment can be valid from the perspective of the customer but not necessarily correct. It depends what the product is. At the hypermarket for example if you take the yoghurt, you can have a yoghurt for R5, R7, R10 or a yoghurt for R33 or R40. So it all depends what type of product you want,” she said.

Ms Laporte also said something people have to be very clear about is STC does not import everything. There are many brands in the hypermarket that are purchased locally.

“So it depends also on the purchase price. By the time we put our margin and it comes on the shelves. Why do we do that is maybe because people want that particular brand. We are talking things like milk, baby diapers- people are so used to certain brands that they would like to continue with the brand,” she said, adding their role at the hypermarket is to ensure they have a variety of brands.

Ms Laporte advises clients to use their STC Customer Care office, telephone, website and give STC the feedback. And if really there is a problem and it comes to her attention STC will deal with it.

Ms Laporte also talked  on the STC bread section where she said the company will stop distribution in the districts so as to allow private bakeries to do so as there were complaints their bread were not being bought due to people buying those of STC. She also mentioned the plan of a new bakery by latest the end of next month.

Talking a bit on STC’s plans for the future, Ms Laporte said between now and December they will work towards putting costs under control. An overview will be done in the import section to determine fast and slow moving products and also those that are staying on shelves. And the company will appoint an external auditor.

Ms Laporte is proud to say among the 185 STC hypermarket staff, only five are expatriates. But she cautioned there could be more in future considering the various challenges faced or to be faced.

“Your biggest plan is to control operating cost,” said Ms Laporte. She also stressed on the various challenges like staffing, logistics, source markets, suppliers.