The Frankie Supermarket Group yesterday opened a shop at Tanumalala to further expand their business footprint in a $2.5 million investment.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi was on hand during the official opening of the supermarket to congratulate and thank the business owners, Frankie Cai and his wife Mayday, for their continued support to the country through their increasing business investments.

The opening of the Tanumalala supermarket yesterday brings the total number of retail outlets in Samoa to 11, and adds to Mr. Cai’s record of opening a new shop every year for the past eight years. 

Speaking during the official opening, Mr. Cai said the original plan was to build a poultry and hydroponic farm—to be built by the company’s Homemaker Construction team—but they ended up building a supermarket. 

The new supermarket will serve communities in Lefaga, Safata, Siuu and Falealili and also offer wholesale shopping, on top of providing families’ basic needs, he added.

The $2.5 million investment includes a supermarket, a butchery, a bakery, and restaurant. The company’s hydroponic farm is located behind the new shop and has been supplying vegetables to their retail outlets since September this year. 

 The company has also gone into a partnership with telecommunications company Digicel, through the provision of a “study corner” in the shop, which makes available free internet services to children in the district. 

The opening of the supermarket at Tanumalala also provides job opportunities for the local community, according to the businessman. 

“This is a good opportunity for the school leavers to join the work force,” he said. 

But the project would not have been completed without the support of the various government departments, with Mr. Cai paying tribute to the Electric Power Corporation, Fire and Emergency Services and the Ministries of Health, Labour, Customs, Inland Revenue and his wife Mayday.