Chandarana Foodplus to close Nakuru branch by end of March

By Daisy Okiring

Nakuru, Kenya – March 21, 2025

Chandarana Foodplus has announced the permanent closure of its Nakuru branch at Golden Life Mall on March 31, 2025, after four years of operation.

In a statement, the supermarket expressed gratitude to its customers, saying, “We sincerely appreciate your support and loyalty… From April 1, 2025, the store will no longer be open.” The company also thanked the Nakuru community for its trust over the years.

While Chandarana has not officially disclosed the reason for the closure, a source familiar with the matter cited a dispute with the building’s landlord. “We were supposed to start paying rent once the mall reached 70 percent occupancy, but the terms were suddenly changed. That’s not sustainable,” the source said.

Location point of concern

The store’s location, away from Nakuru’s city center, has also been a point of concern. Since its opening, Chandarana served as the anchor tenant for Golden Life Mall, Nakuru’s largest shopping complex, developed by the Egerton University Retirement Benefits Scheme and situated opposite ACK Imani Mall.

Chandarana’s exit follows the recent closure of a Stagematt Chap Chap outlet in Nakuru, which was quickly replaced by a clothing retailer.

Meanwhile, established supermarket chains like Naivas, Cleanshelf, and WoolMatt continue to expand. Naivas alone operates four stores in the city’s CBD, while WoolMatt runs two.

Despite Chandarana’s departure, Nakuru remains a key battleground for retailers looking to tap into its growing urban population and expanding economy.

In 2018, Chandarana Foodplus faced backlash over a leaked internal email suggesting a marketing strategy targeting white customers. The email, which sparked accusations of racism, led to public outrage and calls for boycotts. The supermarket chain later issued an apology, citing a miscommunication and reaffirming its commitment to diversity.