OK Zimbabwe is set to shut down its premium Food Lover’s Market outlets located in Borrowdale and Avondale in Harare.
These two branches, along with the Bulawayo outlet, were acquired by OK Zimbabwe in 2023.
However, the Food Lover’s Market store in Greendale operates under a separate franchise arrangement.
The closures were confirmed by Food Lover’s Market Zimbabwe in social media posts shared on Tuesday:
Your local favourite daily fresh stop is saying goodbye.
We want to let you know that Food Lovers Market Borrowdale will be closing shop on June 8, 2025.
Until then, look out for daily, wonderful specials in-store as our thanks to you for your generous support.
To our beloved Avondale community, a heartfelt thank you for your loyalty over the years.
Food Lovers Market Avondale will be wrapping up trading on June 22, 2025.
As we prepare to finalise trading, as a mark of our gratitude, we have daily exciting specials in-store for you, designed to serve you fresh value.
The closure of the two Food Lover’s Market outlets is part of a broader trend, as several supermarkets in Zimbabwe have been shutting down branches due to economic challenges.
Zimbabwe operates under a multi-currency system, with the US dollar being the dominant currency.
However, supermarkets are required to accept the local currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), at a fixed exchange rate.
This often results in financial losses for retailers, especially when the official rate does not reflect market realities.
OK Zimbabwe has recently closed multiple stores in Harare, while Botswana-based retail giant Choppies exited the Zimbabwean market altogether, citing the difficult operating environment.
The rise of informal traders, who often deal exclusively in US dollars and operate with lower overheads, has also added pressure on formal retail chains, making it harder for them to compete.
Back to top