Khetia’s is one of the leading supermarkets in the country.
However, its road to the top has not been simple, as it began by hawking on the streets of Trans Nzoia town.
The store chain began operations in 1982 with two employees.
Determined to bring its products to communities in Bungoma’s interior and surrounding towns, the corporation constructed go downs to store supplies and purchased canters to aid transportation.
Focusing on the western region of the country, the retail chain established a consistent client base in the region before opening wholesale outlets in Kitale, Bungoma and Webuye.
In the early 1990s, Khetia’s achieved a significant milestone by signing distribution agreements with many companies, including leading mattress makers Lion Brand and Kaluworks, among others.
After integrating items from numerous top corporations, Khetia’s began negotiating export deals to adjacent countries.
The partnerships drove the retail company to build its own multi-story stores, the first of which opened in Bungoma.
In the early 2000s, Khetia’s established a gigamart in Kitale, which was Kenya’s largest shopping supermarket at the time.
The move was followed by the purchase of Kabarnet Mineral Water Company.
The success of the Kitale gigamart inspired the business to buy sites in Eldoret, Kakamega, Kisii and Kericho.
In 2012, the company launched a multi-story branch in Eldoret, followed by other locations in Busia, Kisumu, Kakamega, Naivasha and Nairobi.
The supermarket is a household name in Kenya’s retail sector. It is owned by the Kitale-based Khetia’s family and managed by Ashok Khetia.
