Giant hypermarket refurbishes 28 of its outlets for RM2.5mil each

New look: (From left) Lee, Giant Shah Alam Hypermarket store manager Jeffrey Shim and Potgieter at the refurbished outlet in Shah Alam. Giant serves 2.3 million customers every week.

SHAH ALAM: The Giant hypermarket chain is refurbishing 28 of its existing stores nationwide next year.

The hypermarket chain operator GCH Retail (M) Sdn Bhd’s operations director Ernest Potgieter said that a maximum cost of RM2.5mil had been earmarked for the refurbishment and relaunch of each Giant store, depending on its size.

“The 28 stores we are going to refurbish do not include six more stores that will open next year nationwide,” he said at the relaunch of Giant Seksyen 13 here on Wednesday.

Potgieter said that the refurbishment project was implemented following feedback from customers and workers.

Giant serves 2.3 million customers every week.

The relaunched outlets will be in Bukit Antarabangsa, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang Plaza in Penang, while the Plentong, Johor, outlet is expected to be refurbished by March.

Two new outlets had opened their doors to shoppers this month, namely, the Petra Jaya store in Kuching, Sarawak, and Star Avenue in Subang.

Potgieter also pointed out that that more outlets would be opened in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Kangar, Kota Baru and Jerteh next year.

GCH Retail’s general merchandising manager Lee Siew Mei said the refurbishment included merchandise arrangements that were done by reviewing product ranges based on competitor studies, market trend and customer request.

“For instance, more than 40% of arrangements have been changed in this Shah Alam store,” she said, adding that the store’s refurbishment was completed within two months since late November.

Lee also said that GCH Retail would be undergoing a rebranding excercise next year, with more products to be introduced at affordable prices.