Popular grocery retailer in hot water in South Africa
A Food Lover’s Market store in Boksburg is in hot water after being accused of having an illegal electricity connection that allegedly allowed it to use power without being billed.
The allegations concern the Food Lover’s Market outlet at Northrand Square, whose landlord, Summit Property Company, commissioned a technical report into the store’s electricity installation and metering arrangements.
According to the report, the investigation identified potentially non-compliant electrical connections, cable routing concerns, and operational risks at the store.
Summit’s senior counsel, Ian Small-Smith, has written several letters of complaint to the store’s owner, FLM Retailers North Rand (Pty) Ltd, regarding the alleged illegal connection and metering arrangements.
Small-Smith said calculations were being conducted to establish the amount of excess electricity costs that the landlord may have covered.
It found that three cables were supplied from a breaker located in the mini-substation, while a fourth was connected directly to the mini-substation’s busbars without a breaker installed inside the substation.
“This cable is unmetered and not captured by the billing meter 219632203 for FLM,” the report said.
The report also warned that interference with electrical cables could pose safety risks, including electric shock.
However, the franchise owner has denied that the allegations have been independently verified and has called for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
George Lambrakis, operational director of the Boksburg store, told the Mail & Guardian that the company had not yet had an opportunity to independently verify the technical findings.
This included the allegation that a fourth cable bypassed the sub-meter.
“Food Lover’s Market welcomes a comprehensive, independent investigation into the entire electrical installation, historical alterations, metering arrangements and electricity billing,” Lambrakis said.
“Should any genuine discrepancy be established, we remain committed to resolving it fairly and transparently,” he added.
Food Lover’s distances itself from the franchise Boksburg store
Food Lover’s Market’s national spokesperson said the business was unaware of the allegations regarding the store’s electrical installation and, therefore, is unable to comment on the technical findings.
“Food Lover’s Market has no knowledge of the allegations regarding the electrical installation at the store in question and is therefore unable to comment,” the spokesperson said.
“The store is owned and operated by a franchisee, namely FLM Retailers North Rand (Pty) Ltd. We recommend that any enquiries regarding this matter be directed to the company for comment.”
Brothers Brian and Mike Coppin established the business in 1993 after taking over a small store in Access Park, Kenilworth, which they converted into the first Fruit & Veg City outlet.
The business initially focused on sourcing fruit and vegetables directly from farmers and municipal markets, allowing it to compete on price while offering customers a market-style shopping experience.
Its first franchise opened in Port Elizabeth in 1995, followed by expansion into other cities. The business eventually broadened its offering to include bakeries, butcheries, delis, fish counters and sushi departments.
In 2012, its Fruit & Veg City outlets were rebranded as Food Lover’s Market as the business expanded beyond its original fresh-produce focus.
The group has since diversified into other retail ventures, which include Seattle Coffee Company and FreshStop convenience stores at Astron Energy filling stations.
Headquartered in Cape Town, Food Lover’s Market operates more than 300 stores in South Africa and has expanded into other African markets, including Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Loading ...