To the tune of its growing popularity, Pencil Supercenter is now expanding its business in Phnom Penh, with a new store set to open next year.

Construction workers are already laying the foundations for the supermarket, which is earmarked for completion in four to six months.

“We’ve seen there are large numbers of customers, mostly teenagers, who enjoy shopping in our supermarket,” Svay Sovannratana, general manager of Pencil Supercenter, told Post Property.

“The earlier we can finish, the faster we will have our bigger store open to the public.”

The new shop is located at heavily foot-trafficked Preah Sisowath Quay, just a block away from an existing Pencil Supercenter, due to overwhelming customer demand.

“We are opening another shopping centre next to the old one because we see the potential in today’s needs, and we want to offer our customers an easy and modern way of shopping,” Sovannratana said.

The new one-storey shop is in addition to three existing Pencil Supercenter stores in the capital city.

“Pencil Supercenter is among the most popular supermarkets in Phnom Penh which can offer customers modern shopping, fashionable clothing and make-up products. Everyone can enjoy the reasonable prices of items in this shopping mall,” she said.

According to Hout Sokheng, a staff member at Riverside’s Pencil Supercenter branch, customers are increasing at a fast rate, which is underpinning the expansion move.

However, Sovannratana said further growth has been stymied by a lack of human resources.

“We still need more time and more staff and people to help us in our expansion endeavour to have more outlets.”