Food Lover’s Market Celebrates 30 Years As South Africa’s Largest Privately Owned Retailer
Food Lover’s Market Celebrates 30 Years As South Africa’s Largest Privately Owned Retailer. From a single fruit and vegetable store in Access Park to a business that includes one-stop-shop Food Lover’s Market stores, c-store juggernaut FreshStop at Caltex, FVC International, Diamond’s Discount Liquor, Market Liquors, Food Lover’s Eatery and the most exciting artisan coffee brand in South Africa – Seattle Coffee Company, this March Food Lover’s Market celebrates 30 years as South Africa’s largest privately owned retailer.
“This 30-year milestone offers us a great opportunity to reflect on our history as a business and recognise the many people who have been part of our success over the past 30 years,” said Brian Coppin, CEO of the Food Lover’s Market Group. “Few people remember the first steps of starting a business, but it feels like yesterday to us. We remember the thrill of working alongside family, new friends and partners to open that first store in Access Park in Cape Town. We held onto our dream, often wondering if we would achieve what we set out to do, but we never gave up.”
From the onset, it was a family affair. Brian and Mike Coppin opened Fruit & Veg City in Access Park in 1993, stripping, painting and merchandising the store themselves, with the help of friends and family. From opening a single store with a team of six colleagues, the Food Lover’s Market Group now boasts 17 000 team members across the entire business. Some early team members are still working in the business, having grown into other roles as the company expanded. “Our children grew up in the business, and it is truly gratifying seeing the next generation working in the business, creating their own legacies,” says Coppin.
While Fruit & Veg City is the origin of the business, today, Food Lover’s Market has evolved into a modern retail store with all the experiential elements of a theatre-of-food – which includes gourmet butcheries, delis, grocery and health and wellness departments. The business continues to expand, and in the latter part of 2022, the brand opened its highly-anticipated Bothasig store to a positive response from the local community. This was closely followed by the refurbishments of Food Lover’s Market Weskus Mall and KZN stores in La Lucia, Ballito and Crescent. A significant national expansion is on the cards in the next few years.
