Mercure International, through subsidiary Score Congo, has opened the Republic of Congo’s first hypermarket in the capital, Brazzaville. The new store, which will open under the Géant Casino banner, replaces the old Score supermarket which burnt down in 2014.
The hypermarket itself is has 2,500m² and anchors a 10,000m² mall that features many of Mercure’s own and licensed retail brands including Aldo, Lewis, New Port, Celio, Kiabi, City Sport. Electricals retailer FNAC Darty is due to open a store in the mall by the end of June 2017.
Most of the products in the new hypermarket will be imported from France, with the exception of some beer, mineral water, yogurts, sugar, eggs, and fish. The store will have an in-store bakery and offer cooked food including local Congolese specialties and international dishes such as pizza and rotisserie chicken.
Customers will also be able to pay using a Visa card, a relatively uncommon feature even in modern grocery retailing in the country. The management of the store insist that it is a Congolese store for Congolese people, although high prices are likely to disqualify many from shopping there regularly.
