By Staff Reporter

Vice - president Lucia Witbooi on Wednesday launched the Model Auas Valley store in Windhoek, the new flagship store of Olhthaver & List (O&L) Group, signalling the company’s return to its Model brand after 27 years of operating under the Pick n Pay franchise.
Witbooi commended O&L’s contribution to national development, saying the transformation aligned with government priorities of job creation and local value addition. She echoed President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s call for every Namibian to be a catalyst for change. 
“The success of our country does not depend on one singular person, but on each and every citizen, each and every son and daughter of our soil must become a catalyst for development and change,” Witbooi said.
Witbooi described the transformation as one which plays a crucial role in job creation. “The transformation we witness today with Model embodies this principle by creating jobs, supporting local suppliers and strengthening the value chain,” she added.
The relaunch introduced new retail features, including self-checkout stations, a robotic shopping assistant, a dedicated Golden Ambassador for customer service and specialised sections for wine, wellness and ready-made meals.
O&L Executive Chairman Sven Thieme said the Model transformation is in line with Namibia’s Vision 2030 and the NDP6, noting that the group employs 1,634 people nationwide. “Everything we do serves a higher purpose, deliberately aligned not only to our own Vision 2029, but also to our Government’s Vision 2030 and National Development Plan 6,” he said.
The group currently employs 1 634 people countrywide and aims to expand further as the Model rollout continues. The company’s Managing Director, Graeme Mouton said the retailer is built on four pillars: value, expanded ranges, customer service and quality assurance. “We are presenting a new standard of retail excellence to Namibia,” he said.
The Auas Valley branch is the first to undergo the full transformation in Namibia, with Swakopmund and Oshakati stores next in line as all Model outlets will be upgraded in phases, supporting the growth at home strategy while boosting opportunities for local suppliers.