Khula Retail — Implementation Roadmap & Milestones
The phased implementation roadmap and key milestones from financial close and store fit-out to launch and steady-state trading.
Section 10 · Business Plan
Implementation Roadmap & Milestones
The phased implementation roadmap and key milestones from financial close and store fit-out to launch and steady-state trading.
10.1 Roadmap Overview
The implementation roadmap presented in this section translates the
strategic intent of preceding sections into a sequenced, time-bounded
execution plan. The plan covers 24 months from project kick-off, taking
the business from incorporation through store opening and into the early
phase of multi-store expansion. Critical-path activities are identified
and tracked, dependencies are mapped, and each major milestone has been
assigned an owner and a measurable completion criterion.
10.2 Phase 1 — Foundations (Months 1–4)
Phase 1 establishes the legal, financial and physical foundations of
the business. Key activities include incorporation completion, opening
of business banking, finalisation of the funding round, signing of the
lease, and selection of the architectural and fit-out partner. Phase 1
is the lowest-cost but highest-leverage period: a poorly-chosen lease or
fit-out partner can constrain the entire business for years.
| Milestone | Target Month | Owner | Critical? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding round closed | Month 2 | MD/CEO | Yes |
| Lease executed and rent-free fit-out period commenced | Month 3 | MD/CEO | Yes |
| Architectural drawings approved by landlord and municipality | Month 4 | Ops Director | Yes |
| Buying-group affiliation activated | Month 4 | Ops Director | No |
| Insurance package in place (public liability, stock, BI) | Month 4 | MD/CEO | Yes |
Table 21. Phase 1 milestones (Months 1–4)
10.3 Phase 2 — Construction & Stocking (Months 5–10)
Phase 2 is the most capital- and execution-intensive phase.
Activities run partly in parallel: store construction and fit-out, POS
and IT installation, security and CCTV deployment, recruitment and
training of staff, supplier onboarding and contract execution, opening
inventory procurement and stocking, and pre-launch marketing
campaign.
| Milestone | Target Month | Owner | Critical? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store fit-out completed and signed off | Month 9 | Ops Director | Yes |
| POS, IT, CCTV and solar-battery installations live | Month 9 | Ops Director | Yes |
| 80% of opening inventory received and merchandised | Month 10 | Merch Manager | Yes |
| All staff recruited, inducted and shift-trained | Month 10 | Ops Director | Yes |
| Pre-launch marketing campaign launched | Month 8 | Merch Manager | No |
Table 22. Phase 2 milestones (Months 5–10)
10.4 Phase 3 — Launch & Stabilisation (Months 11–18)
Phase 3 covers the critical first eight months of trading, during
which the Company will progressively dial up trading hours, refine the
assortment based on observed sell-through, and embed the operating
disciplines that will support long-term profitability. The loyalty
programme will be launched in Month 14 and the e-commerce channel
activated in Month 16.
10.5 Phase 4 — Scaling Preparation (Months 19–24)
Phase 4 prepares for replication. Activities include site scouting
for Store 2 (typically requires 4–6 months of search before
identification), refinement of the operating manuals based on Year 1
learnings, and the formal opening of conversations with capital
providers regarding the Year-3 funding round.
10.6 Critical Dependencies & Risks to Schedule
| Dependency | Risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Lease execution | Landlord delays / counter-offer escalation | Two parallel sites under negotiation; legal review pre-completed |
| Municipal approvals | Drawing approvals can take 6–8 weeks | Drawings developed in parallel with lease negotiation; expediter retained |
| POS hardware delivery | Imported components subject to FX and shipping | Order placed Month 4 with 90-day lead time; alternate vendor identified |
| Staff recruitment | Specialist (bakery, deli) roles harder to fill | Specialist roles recruited first; agency back-up retained |
| Initial inventory funding | Working capital must be in place before stocking | Funding round timed to close Month 2; supplier credit lines as buffer |
Table 23. Critical dependencies and schedule mitigations
Confidential — this business plan is provided to prospective investors and lenders for evaluation purposes only and may not be reproduced or distributed without the written consent of Khula Retail (Pty) Ltd.