Afresh Marketplace Limited, the Montego Bay outfit that reshaped grocery shopping for western Jamaica, has locked in its first Kingston address. Effective 7 August, the retailer will assume full control of the Worthington Avenue supermarket now operated by S Foods, after finalising a long-term lease arrangement.
For Afresh’s managing director Zhiqiang Lu, the move is equal parts logistics and brand statement. “Kingston represents a critical bridge in our island-wide growth map. We’re not just opening a store—we’re transplanting an ethos of quality, service, and neighbourhood pride,” he said.
The Worthington site has history. Three years ago, hotelier Christopher Issa spun the dormant conference centre into S Foods, a quick-thinking response to the pandemic collapse of events tourism. Well-priced deli offerings and a “Shop. Save. Smile.” tagline won over New Kingston residents, but Issa now plans to re-focus on hospitality—and, ultimately, to re-imagine the property as a 50-storey mixed-use tower.
“Afresh’s Harbour City flagship convinced us the brand could elevate what we started,” Issa noted. “Handing them the keys lets us pursue our hotel pipeline while keeping the neighbourhood in capable hands.”
Afresh inherits a loyal customer base and an address with strategic reach into Kingston’s corporate belt. The company intends to refresh the in-store experience without abandoning local favourites, promising sharpened product curation, streamlined checkout, and community-driven programmes.
“Afresh isn’t arriving to erase S Foods’ legacy,” Lu stressed. “We’re here to compound it—expanding ranges, tightening supply chains, and setting a new convenience benchmark for urban shoppers.”
Shoppers can expect a brief hand-over period with minimal disruption. Staff retention, price integrity, and an upgraded loyalty programme headline Afresh’s immediate priorities. Behind the scenes, the retailer will integrate its island-wide sourcing network to widen fresh-produce availability and expand private-label value lines.
The Kingston debut marks the first step in Afresh’s central-parish rollout. Additional locations are already under negotiation, positioning the company to challenge entrenched supermarket brands on their home turf and to redefine what a modern Jamaican grocery looks like—north coast polish meeting capital-city scale.
