Previously slated to open in April 2014, Progressive Supermarket – the centrepiece of a new development named Sovereign Village in Braeton, Portmore – has finally opened for business.

Sovereign Village is a commercial complex developed by the Loshusan family. The food retail outlet, which serves as a complement to around 40 other shops, opened under the Progressive Foods brand in February.

The supermarket brand is owned by the Progressive Grocers of Jamaica Limited, a consortium in which the Loshusans have membership. Gladstone Loshusan is a director within the group. The group has more than 30 stores, some group operated, the others individually run but affiliated.

The store will provide competition for Hi-Lo Supermarket, which is next door in Pines Plaza. Empire Supermarket, once a contender, has since shuttered its operations in the area.

The Sovereign Village complex cost in the ballpark of about $1.4 billion to develop, Loshusan said last year.

The shopping centre, in which Dominoes and Wendy’s were the first stores to open, is constructed in a style similar to Sovereign Centre in Liguanea, Kingston, which was also developed by the Loshusans through Vincent Loshusan & Sons Limited.

Gladstone Loshusan said last year, as the complex neared completion, that the board was considering another development on adjacent land but was reviewing design options at the time.