Advertorial
BUSINESS NEWS - A welcoming sight for locals and visitors alike, KWIKSPAR Beacon Isle has grown from a neighbourhood convenience store into a distinctive retail destination, building a reputation for its premium offering, exceptional coffee and strong community ties over the past 25 years.
Since opening its doors in November 2001, the store has continually evolved, with the owner, Duncan Brown, taking over the business in 2004 and guiding its growth into one of the country's distinctive KWIKSPAR outlets.
A major milestone came in 2015 when the store underwent an extensive renovation, redesigning its layout and expanding its footprint through acquiring four adjoining shops.
This allowed the business to broaden its offering and develop a retail experience beyond the traditional convenience store model. One of its biggest success stories has been its coffee programme. Today, KWIKSPAR Beacon Isle serves about 400 cups of coffee daily, rising to as many as 800 in peak holiday seasons.
The store has established itself as a leading coffee and chocolate retailer by volume countrywide, using 4.2 tonnes of coffee beans last year alone. Its commitment to excellence has earned significant industry recognition.
Achievements include being named Eastern Cape KWIKSPAR of the Year in 2017, winning the national KWIKSPAR of the Year title in 2019 and 2020, and receiving the prestigious overall store of the year award in 2025.
This year, the store was again nominated for national KWIKSPAR of the Year, with the winner expected to be announced in April 2027.
Brown explained that the store's upmarket approach sets it apart from conventional convenience stores. Its wine selection comprises more than 1 000 stock-keeping units, while its prepared food offering includes sushi, poke bowls, ramen, burgers and ready-made meals. It also pioneered the Frozen for You in-store concept, now rolled out to 50 to 60 other stores.
Community involvement remains central to the business. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, the store provided local restaurants, bakers and food businesses with opportunities to trade.
Several partnerships have endured, with local suppliers continuing to form part of its offering. Supported by about 65 employees, more than half of whom have worked there for over a decade, KWIKSPAR Beacon Isle celebrated its 25th birthday from 26 October to 1 November with a week of promotions, competitions, entertainment, R25 specials and customer appreciation activities, culminating in sharing a birthday cake with customers on Sunday 1 November.
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