Investor confidence in the Mangaung township is set to grow with the opening of Lemo Mall, where established franchises, businesses and banks are open for business. A few businesses in supermarkets with a bakery and butchery, opened last Thursday (27/10).

The multi-million rand mall is home to established supermarket chain store, Pick n Pay, the second largest supermarket chain store in South Africa, which traditionally does business in more affluent areas.

Cambridge Food, South Africa’s freshest food chain, also opened its franchise store, occupying 2 800 square metres of Lemo Mall. According to André Stein, marketing director, the store is the fourth in the Free State, but the first in the greater Bloemfontein, including Mangaung.

“This store increases our footprint in the Free State and we are looking forward to servicing customers in the greater Mangaung and providing quality products, such as meat, groceries and baked goods.

“Another exciting aspect is the fact that we have only employed local people, 131 in total, to work with branch manager Jacques Botha.

“Job creation has been one of the key factors which influenced our decision to open a store in Bloemfontein and we have found an ideal place.

“The mall will also save our customers time, because of the accessibility of transport. It is a positive sign of investment for us to do business within Mangaung,” says Stein.

No less than 2 000 customers reportedly flocked to buy at Cambridge on day one of the opening.

One of the anchors of the mall is Capitec Bank, one of the commercial banks in the country licensed by the Reserve Bank of South Africa.

These businesses have paved the way for the influx of established franchises set to find their way to Lemo Mall.