Peter Obi’s ‘Next Cash & Carry’ fails to pay suppliers after fire incident

Some vendors have alleged that Next Cash and Carry, a supermarket chain, have refused to pay them for goods supplied to it on credit since last year.

Peter Obi, a presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra state, is believed to own the expansive retail outlet. But, Obi insists it is his family business.

TheCornet recalls that a mysterious fire gutted the Abuja branch of the supermarket last December. Since the incident, the management of the outlet is yet to recompense their suppliers for their goods burnt under its custody.

This medium gathered that the outlet’s management, in its January 4, 2022 letter, requested affected vendors to supply insurance information for their supplies.

“We humbly solicit your cooperation to enable us bounce back better and stronger by providing us with insurance information of your goods or property and equipment burnt in the fire incident,” an excerpt from the letter read.

The vendors said that despite their meeting the request, the outlet has not fulfilled its obligation to them.

The affected suppliers said the company’s management, in another letter dated September 7, invited them to a meeting holding at the Port Harcourt branch of the supermarket chain.

“How could Next Cash and Carry have asked suppliers from different locations to assemble at Port Harcourt to address an incident that took place in Abuja? There was no travel provision or whatsoever. I have never seen such insensitivity,” said a client officer to one of the suppliers who preferred anonymity because she was not authorised to speak on the matter.

The retail outlet’s management failed to return our request for comment on the allegation.