Hi-Lo adding traditional and express stores

GraceKennedy Limited is adding seven new Hi-Lo stores by 2030, the next of which will open in Mandeville, Manchester.

The Mandeville store will mark the supermarket chain’s return to the central Jamaican town after a decade-long hiatus.

Hi-Lo currently comprises 13 stores spread across Jamaica, the majority of which are based in Kingston.

Its most recent investment was the new Negril supermarket, on which the grocery chain spent $400 million.

“Hi-Lo had a fantastic year last year,” said GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Wehby. “Hi-Lo Negril is doing really well, we’re about 50 per cent higher than expectation,” he added during a report to the group’s shareholders at the annual meeting on May 31.

The new store is now the largest supermarket in Jamaica’s western region, and offers modern conveniences, more room to shop and a world-class shopping experience, the company has said.

The plan is to grow the chain to 20 stores and further to increase the number of express stores to four within the same time frame. The sole Hi-Lo Express store operates from GraceKennedy’s Harbour Street headquarters in downtown Kingston.

The Mandeville store is projected for year 2025. It would mark a return one decade after Hi-Lo’s 2015 exit due to inadequate sales.

karena.bennett@gleanerjm.com