T-Mall: Tuskys Out, Quickmart In

QuickMart has confirmed that it will occupy the T-Mall space along Lang’ata Road in Nairobi previously occupied by struggling retailer Tuskys.

It expects to move into the space in May 2022. In addition to a wide range of electronics and consumer goods, the Quickmart T-Mall outlet will also have a bakery, butchery, fresh fruits and vegetables to offer.

Once Kenya’s biggest retail chain, Tuskys has seen its branch network shrink from over 60 to less than 10 at the moment. It continues to battle suits from creditors and disputes with landlords over non-payment of rent.

QuickMart, on the other hand, has been on a massive expansion drive that has seen it expand branches around the country to 50. The drive was supported by Sokoni Retail Kenya’s acquisition of a controlling stake in QuickMart.

Sokoni merged its existing Tumaini Self Service Stores with Quickmart. T-Mall will be Quickmart’s 51st store  in the country.

“We are taking over the (T-Mall) outlet in May from Tuskys Supermarket who exited it a few months ago,” Quickmart’s Sales and Marketing Manager Betty Wamaitha confirmed.

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Tuskys had to move to Court to block the planned auction of its biggest store by Equity Bank earlier this year – Imara building in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) at the junction of Tom Mboya Road and Accra Road in Nairobi.

Tuskys’ total debts are in excess of Ksh10 billion, with the figure including loans from local banks. Equity Bank is looking to auction the property to recover a Ksh650 million debt.

The fallen retail giant has in the past year been vacating several spaces it once occupied as it struggles under the weight of debt to suppliers, lenders and landlords. Naivas, Carrefour and Quickmart have been the supermarkets taking over many of the vacated spaces.

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