Vukani

Operating a convenience store in Johannesburg means stocking what moves in your specific neighbourhood — understanding which areas run on cash, which customers shop twice daily, and what products sit on shelves in summer versus winter. Vukani navigates the daily realities of a city where load shedding affects stock (frozen items, refrigerated goods), where transport costs shape pricing, and where foot traffic patterns vary wildly between residential zones, business districts, and transport hubs. The work involves managing suppliers across a sprawling metro, keeping shelves stocked despite delivery delays, and reading what your local community actually buys rather than what national chains assume they want. Cold storage during outages, managing perishables in a city with unpredictable infrastructure, and tailoring inventory to your specific corner of Johannesburg — these are the operational realities that separate a convenience store that thrives from one that struggles.