Hi-Lo Food Stores on Saturday opened its new supermarket in Portmore, St Catherine.

Some 47 persons are employed to the 24,000 square-foot shopping facility, which represents a $94 million investment by parent company GraceKennedy (GK). The supermarket is the largest among the 16-store Hi-Lo chain.

“We have been hoping for a long time to become more deeply engrained in this dynamic community,” said GK Group chief operating officer Don Wehby at the opening ceremony. “We went to great lengths to ensure that Portmore was getting a store that is suited to the needs of that community. The store is centrally located with ample parking space, a great assortment of products and wide aisles for an enhanced shopping experience. Most of the 47 employees are from Portmore. This shows that we are committed to forming a deep bond with the community that can only grow from here,” added Wehby.

The municipality of Portmore, with a population over 200,000 persons, is the fastest growing urban centre in the Caribbean.

GK announced that because the majority of Portmore’s population work outside of the community, the store has extended opening hours for the convenience of late shoppers throughout the year.

GK also announced that Hi-Lo Portmore will include a number of features which will result in instant savings at the cash register, such as a Western Union discount, a Senior Citizens’ discount and participation in the Magna Rewards card plan.

GK chairman and CEO Douglas Orane and GK Foods CEO Erwin Burton were also on hand to partake in the opening day festivities.

Reverend Dr WA Blair blessed the proceedings and the Portmore Chorale provided entertainment.