New supermarket opens for business in Walu Bay
Mrs Kumar employs 30 staff across her businesses, including nine new employees at the supermarket and cafe. She invested close to $200,000 in this venture.
Friday 28 February 2025 | 22:18
Family Choice Supermarket & Cafe PTE Limited owner Laleena Kumar (second from left} and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manca Kamikamica (wearing garland} with others at the opening of the supermarket on February 28, 2025. Photo: Jernese Macanawai
A new family-run supermarket and cafe has opened in the heart of Walu Bay in Suva.
Family Choice Supermarket & Cafe PTE Limited, located at Lot 37 Matua Street, announced its opening on Friday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica was the chief guest.
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This is owner Laleena Kumar's third business. The 40-year-old runs Dispatch and Delivery Pte Ltd, a hardware store and Custombilt Sheetmetal Co. Pte Limited, a sheet metal shop, all in the same area.
"I never had the intention to open a supermarket, but because my customers requested it, they want to shop under one roof where they get everything, and they don't have to run around ... here they get all their needs and requirements," she told this masthead.
Family Choice Supermarket & Cafe would be competing for customers with another supermarket on the same block. Family Choice is small by normal supermarket standards but houses a wide range of products like that found in bigger retail food stores.
Mrs Kumar said that this was a differentiating factor for her business that benefits customers, most of whom are industrial workers and maritime islanders.
However, that will come at a cost.
"This is a small supermarket. The bigger supermarkets buy large quantities and get good deals, so they can lower their prices," she said.
"But for me, you can expect slightly higher prices because I'm not buying in large quantities, and I'm not getting those deals."
Mrs Kumar employs 30 staff across her businesses, including nine new employees at the supermarket and cafe. She invested close to $200,000 in this venture.
Deputy Prime Minister Mr Kamikamica told reporters after the opening that he was "more than happy" to attend the event. He said it highlighted people's willingness to do business because "they can see that the Government is stable".
"The SME (small and medium enterprise) and co-operative market are the backbone of the Fijian economy. That's where the bulk of employment comes from. We will do all we can to assist, and it's very exciting to see entrepreneurs grow from a hardware shop to a supermarket and cafe."
Family Choice Supermarket & Cafe's opening hours are 7am to 8pm Monday through Saturday.
They are closed on Sundays.
Feedback: jernese.macanawai@fijisun.com.fj
