Engineer swaps circuits for supermarket to serve Tamavua community

Residents of Sakoca and Khalsa Road in Tamavua now have a new reason to celebrate as 29-year-old entrepreneur and professional engineer, Vishal Vikash Raj, officially opened the doors to Grow Mart Fiji.

The new supermarket marks a significant milestone for the community, promising to provide affordable groceries and essential services to an area that has long struggled with limited retail options.

For Mr Raj, the venture is the culmination of a lifelong dream that began in the aisles of a supermarket decades ago.

Mr Raj’s journey is far from a typical business success story. Growing up in Navua, his retail education started at the age of nine.

While his peers spent their school holidays playing, Mr Raj was already "learning the ropes" of the grocery business, working weekends and holidays from the time he was in Class 4.

“Those early experiences taught me the importance of hard work and serving people,” he said during the opening ceremony.

Despite his early start in retail, Raj pursued a technical path, eventually earning a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

He spent years working as a professional engineer, but even while navigating complex electrical grids, his mind remained on the retail sector.

The decision to set up shop in Tamavua was born out of observation. Mr Raj noted that the growing population in Sakoca was often forced to travel long distances for basic household necessities.

“I noticed that residents had to travel far for groceries. I saw an opportunity to make life easier for my community,” he explained.

Turning that observation into a reality was no easy feat. The planning phase for Grow Mart Fiji spanned over a year, involving rigorous logistical planning and a complex funding structure.

To launch the business, Mr Raj utilised a mix of personal savings and financial support from the Fiji Development Bank (FDB), alongside contributions from family and friends.

Grow Mart Fiji is already making an impact on the local economy.

The supermarket currently employs five full-time staff members and has prioritized partnerships with local suppliers to ensure fresh produce and goods are readily available to customers.

On the store's opening day, a large crowd from the Sakoca and Khalsa Road areas gathered to celebrate. For the residents, it is a matter of convenience; for Mr Raj, it is a matter of fulfilling a promise.

“This shop is not just for me,” Mr Raj said. “It’s for the community.”

As he looks to the future, Mr. Raj hopes his story inspires other young professionals to bridge the gap between their technical careers and their entrepreneurial dreams.