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In case you haven’t heard (it’s the talk of the ‘burbs, darling), Constantia has a new and improved Checkers.

Let’s make this clear – it’s not just any Checkers. In fact, there’s so much buzz in Constantia that we sent our roving reporter down to investigate.

OK, it was Seth heading to the shops after a few toots, in search of Pampers Premium care nappies and cotton wool balls, but he did take us on a full HD tour of the premises.

Clearly, the Constantia Village Pick n Pay was feeling the pinch. Their half-price sushi reigns supreme (for now), but steps would have to be taken in order to stop the activewear-donning, midday-Chardonnay sipping, ‘can I speak to the manager’ customers from taking their business elsewhere.

Enter the ‘no packaging’ zone, which the retailer is piloting at the Constantia Village outlet. More here from BusinessTech:

The retailer says that the zone will provide customers with the opportunity to purchase a wide range of products without packaging.

The new zone includes 88 dry grocery products across 15 different categories including dry baking goods, cereals, dried fruit, flour, grains, ground coffee beans, nuts, pasta, pulses and beans, rice, seeds, spices, superfoods, olive oil and vinegar. Each category will have a range of products, including gluten-free options.

Customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable container, but for those who forget, the store will offer free paper bags and a range of reusable containers that can be purchased.

Astounding.

Furthermore, according to Paula Disberry, a retail executive at PnP, the products are delivered to the store in large, reusable containers, so the same good work is going on behind the scenes before the product is available to the public.

Do you want packaging-free veg? Coming at you:

I assume this comes with a ‘you touch it, you buy it’ rule, because we can’t have people wandering the aisles fondling eggplants and then not taking them home.

Disberry says this is just the start:

“We will closely monitor customer appetite for this offering and based on their feedback, will decide how to expand this offering.

While all items are non-perishable with a naturally long shelf life, food waste is still a concern because without packaging, products will have a shorter shelf life,” she said.

I love it when two retail giants go toe to toe.

Shots have been fired, and now it’s over to Checkers to hit back.

We suggest targeting Pick n Pay’s half-price Wednesday sushi special – why not go 75% off, or give it away for free?

Treat the people, and the people will treat you back.

[source:businesstech]