The Marble Group – the team behind two of Johannesburg’s top restaurants, Marble and Saint – is expanding with a new concept convenience store. Called The Pantry by Marble, it will be a combination of a supermarket, deli, takeaway and retail offering. 

It will operate as a specialty grocery store with selected quality fresh produce, ready-to-go meals, baked goodies, flowers, wine, everyday essentials and other customised items. 

The team, made up of the celebrated Chef David Higgs; his partner, Gary Kyriacou; project manager Irene Kyriacou; and operations director Dino Constantinou, partnered with Sasol to take over the management of one of their flagship petrol stations on Jan Smuts Avenue, located just below Marble Restaurant.  

Chef David Higgs is working with the former head chef of Saint, Tyler Clayton, to develop the deli and ready-made food. On the process, he says: “From a convenience side, there is a massive push towards a healthier offering.”  

 

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“We’re putting together a number of really nice, diverse, different and ever-changing grab-and-go and cooked options. The type of thing you can pick up for dinner the next day or school lunch. There will be various offerings – frozen meals, ready-made meals, salads and bowls, with salads sold by weight, and the option of adding protein.” 

An app for local deliveries is also in the works. 

The hospitality industry continues to take strain due to the unpredictable effects of the pandemic, but its resilience shines through in endeavours such as these which seek out new opportunities.

While convenience is at the heart of this new project, it is the quality and the promise of an elevated forecourt shopping experience that are the added bonus. 

The Pantry will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, from mid-October.