Dairy Farm to open eight Giant hypermarkets

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KUCHING: Jardine Matheson Group (Jardine Matheson), the owner of Giant Hypermarket chain in Malaysia through its subsidiary company, Dairy Farm International (Dairy Farm), will be opening eight hypermarkets in Malaysia this year, with a total estimated investment of RM650 million this year.

SYMBOLIC HANDPRINTS: Sir Henry (second left) and Lady Keswick (third left) imprinting their handprints in conjunction with their visit to Tabuan Jaya Giant Hypermarket yesterday. Also seen are Wee (fi rst left) and Chew (fi fth left).

According to Dairy Farm Internat ional regional director for East Asia, Datuk John Coyle, out of the eight hypermarkets, four hypermarkets would be opened in Sarawak with total investment of RM250 million.

“We will be opening Giant Hypermarket in Sibu and Miri before Christmas this year. Out of all our new openings, Tabuan Jaya Giant Hypermarket, located at Tabuan Tranquility will be the biggest hypermarket with an occupation of 63,000 square feet,” said Coyle at the sideline of a ceremony to welcome the visit of Sir Henry Keswick, the group chairman of Jardine Matheson and wife, Lady Keswick.

Giant Hypermarket in Tabuan Jaya was scheduled to open by the third quarter of this year and would be stocking over 100,000 items of fresh food, daily essentials and consumer goods to fulfi ll its commitment to offer everyday low prices, big variety and great value to customers.

T h e RM2 6 -million investment by Gi ant including stocks in Tabuan Jay a reflect edits commitment to create an environment that is not only attractive to consumers and viable for traders, but also to set standards which can be use as a benchmark by other retailers throughout the country.

Giant Hypermarket ’ s investments in Kuching would al so create an additional 600 jobs this year and generate opportunities for traders as well as small and medium enterprises to supply goods and services, especially good and fresh produce.

“Currently, Giant has 67 hyper markets and superstores and 69 supermarkets located throughout Malaysia, ” John said. When asked on the expected growt h i n Malaysia, Coyle revealed that Giant was projected sales growth of 15 to 18 per cent per year on average.

Tabuan Tranquility, sited on an unencumbered area of 162 acres, will be developed over f ive phases. It is strategically located within the Greater Tabuan Jaya and adjacent to Stutong Forest Park.

The gross development value for the development of Tabuan Tranquility was estimated at RM500 million upon completion.

The ceremony to welcome Sir Keswick and wife was also attended by the group managing director (MD) of Jardine Cycle and Carriage, Ben Keswick; MD of Jardine Matheson , Anthony Nightingale ; Jardine Matheson Singapore chai rman, Boon Yoon Chiang; Jardine Matheson Malaysia chairman, Datuk Syed Tamim Mohamed; deputy chairman of Ibraco Bhd (Ibraco), Datuk Dr Philip Ting; Ibraco MD and chief executive officer; Chiew Chiaw Han; Ibraco senior directors Datuk Wee Song Ching and Paul Ravelli; as well as Ibraco group finance director Liu Tow Hua.