Luxury petrol station brand to open 30 new stores in South Africa

The minds behind the Pantry luxury petrol station brand plan to open 30 more premium convenience stores across South Africa.

The Pantry is an upmarket convenience store attached to a Sasol forecourt in Rosebank, Gauteng, which has proven to be an enormous success since it opened its doors in 2022.

It was created by chef David Higgs and businessman Gary Kyriacou, the same individuals who have opened multiple high-end restaurants in South Africa, including Marble, Saint, and Zioux.

Marble was opened in 2016, and the pair later decided to grow their brand to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, venturing into new business opportunities.

They settled on the idea of creating a luxury forecourt that offered goods not found at your typical fuel stop, such as wine, ready-made meals, fresh coffee, and baked bread.

This led to the creation of the Pantry by Marble, which has since become one of the most popular fuel stations in the country.

The success of the original Pantry in Rosebank has since led to the creation of two more convenience stores in Gauteng, one in Bassonia and another in Hazelwood.

There is also a pop-up Pantry found on the upper floor of the MARC shopping centre in Sandton. However, there are now plans to open at least 30 locations across South Africa.

Big plans for the Pantry

One of the locations earmarked for expansion is a 1,300-square-metre standalone convenience store next to the Mall of Africa in Midrand. Another is opening across from Fourways Mall this September.

Additionally, the group plans to open a Pantry store in the R2-billion Olympus Sandton development, which will feature two towers – The Athena and The Apollo.

The new convenience store will be located in the 24-storey Athena Tower, which will also feature a restaurant and hotel.

Kyriacou told our sister publication Daily Investor that the Marble Hospitality group plans to greatly expand its coverage over the next four years.

“I think Pantry can get to around 30 stores over the next three to four years,” he said.

“But I don’t want to open 30 stores just so we can say we have 30 stores. Every site has to make sense, and every Pantry still has to feel like Pantry.”

The Pantry in Rosebank has a rustic design that sets it apart from your typical urban forecourt, with a wooden ceiling, plants, and lamps with wicker shades.

Everything from the station’s aesthetic to the food and music was curated to provide a welcoming hospitality experience.

“The whole idea from the beginning was to take a convenience store and ask why it couldn’t be a great hospitality experience as well,” Kyriacou said.

“You might be stopping for fuel, buying milk, grabbing a coffee or taking dinner home, but why should any of those things have to be ordinary?”

He explained that the company wants to maintain the brand’s identity as it expands to new locations.

The Pantry petrol station