The busiest shopping mall in South Africa is opening a new R54 million store
Attacq, the owner of the Mall of Africa, announced that the construction of a new Pantry location at the shopping centre is well underway, with the development projected to cost R54.3 million.
Upon completion, the Pantry store will cover a gross lettable area (GLA) of 1,411 square metres and will be street-facing at the busiest mall in the country.
This update was shared in Attacq’s results for the financial year ending June 2026, which showed a mixed performance for the real estate investment trust (REIT).
Attacq holds a 100% interest in the Pantry development, which it said aligns with the company’s strategy to enhance the Mall of Africa.
The company stated that the project is on track in its 2026 financial year presentation.
Attacq expects that the addition of the Pantry will activate the centre’s street edge, improving the precinct’s walkability.
Attacq explained that the development will make use of existing infrastructure to support the new offering while enhancing the area’s “mixed-use vibrancy”.
The new Pantry is anticipated to be completed in the third quarter of the 2027 financial year.
Pantry by Marble is known for its “restaurant experience made for you and your slippers,” offering grab-and-go meals, wine, salads, bowls, local produce, baked goods, and coffee.
The Pantry is built on a luxury convenience-store concept that offers a variety of ready-made gourmet foods prepared by chefs and offered until late at night.
The group describes itself as a hybrid model of a supermarket, deli, take-away and retail store.
“It’s a speciality grocery store which offers consumers an elevated selection of items, including quality fresh produce, ready-to-go meals, bakery items, flowers, wine and everyday essentials, along with a bespoke retail selection.”
The first Pantry store was launched in 2022, next to a petrol station in Rosebank, by the co-founders of the Marble Hospitality Group, David Higgs and Gary Kyriacou.
The Pantry co-founders have also opened fine-dining restaurants across South Africa, which include Marble, Zioux, and Saint.
The idea behind the Pantry came about during the Covid-19 pandemic, when Higgs and Kyriacou were looking for fresh ideas to restructure their business as restaurants took a major hit from lockdowns and restrictions.
The Pantry continues to expand its presence
There are currently three permanent Pantry stores in South Africa, with one pop-up store in Sandton.
All the stores are located in Gauteng, one in Hazelwood, Bassonia, and Rosebank, with one new store scheduled to open this month in Fourways.
The group is also planning to open a Pantry store in the new R2 billion Olympus Sandton development.
This development is backed by Tricolt and Growthpoint, and will feature two towers – The Athena and The Apollo.
The new Pantry will take the form of a convenience store, which will be located on the ground floor of the 24-storey Athena Tower.
This is one of the group’s most ambitious projects to date, as it will also open a brand-new restaurant and hotel.
The restaurant, Jellyfish, will be located on the 18th floor of The Athena, while the hotel, Maison Marble, will take up two floors within the 16-storey Apollo tower.
All of the Pantry stores operate at different times: Pantry Bassonia is open every day from 6 am to 10 pm, while the Hazelwood store is open from 7 am to 10 pm from Sundays to Thursdays and from 7 am to midnight from Fridays to Sundays.
The Pantry in Rosebank is open 24 hours a day, Monday to Sunday, while the pop-up store in Sandton is open from 7 am to 5 pm every weekday.
Pantry co-founder Gary Kyriacou told Daily Investor that he thinks the Pantry stores can grow to around 30 stores over the next three to four years.
“But I don’t want to open 30 stores just so we can say we have 30 stores. Every site has to make sense, and every Pantry still has to feel like Pantry,” he said.
The Pantry stores are deliberately curated, from music to design, as the brand has a reputation as a convenience store that offers a great hospitality experience.
Photos of the Pantry
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