Progressive Grocers is expanding its footprint with new commercial projects planned for St James and Kingston, aiming to bring fresh retail and office space options to the bustling communities.

The company recently submitted planning documents to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), seeking approval for a 5,000-square-metre office and commercial complex at Harbour View in Kingston 17, along with a new commercial development at Catherine Hall Estate in Westgate, St James.

Progressive Grocers, a consortium managing popular supermarket brands such as Shopper’s Fair, Super Shoppers Fair, Progressive Foods, JR’s Bargain World Food Stores, and D & Y Supermarket Wholesale, already has a presence in these areas. The expansion further reflects the group’s ongoing strategy to diversify its operations, moving beyond its 20 supermarkets into substantial commercial real estate investments.

The new submissions, which are yet to receive final approval, follow recent planning approvals for a new supermarket in Negril’s White Hall.

The developments are part of a broader strategy by Progressive Grocers to modernise and rebrand its outlets. This shift was recently demonstrated through the closure of its Shopper’s Fair supermarket on Caledonia Road, Mandeville, which has since been replaced with a Progressive Foods store. Progressive Foods outlets are known for offering a wider range of products than Shopper’s Fair, which is typically geared towards more value-conscious shoppers.

Incorporated in 1999, Progressive Grocers employs around 1,800 people and collaborates with approximately 600 vendors. The company operates from its Twickenham Park Estate headquarters in Spanish Town, St Catherine, where its distribution hub supplies goods to member stores.

In recent years, Progressive has increased its focus on commercial real estate development, opening the Progressive Shopping Centre on Barbican Road, Kingston, in 2021. The company plans to build at least three more shopping centres across Jamaica by 2026, targeting Westmoreland, St Ann, and St Catherine. It already has part ownership in the Duhaney Park Shopping Centre, Harbour View Shopping Centre, and Westgate Shopping Centre in Montego Bay.

— Karena Bennett