The OL Group announces the permanent closure of the Hartlief Shop & Bistro in Windhoek's Northern Industrial Area, effective 15 July 2026. This decision follows a comprehensive review of Hartlief's operations over the past twelve months, undertaken to ensure the business remains competitive, financially responsible and focused on its core meat processing and distribution capabilities.
The review confirmed that the Shop & Bistro operates outside Hartlief's core competency and has not achieved the financial sustainability required to support the broader business strategy. Despite the dedication of the team and sustained efforts to improve performance, closing the Shop & Bistro is the right decision. This will allow Hartlief to consolidate resources and direct investment where it delivers the greatest long-term impact. Hartlief’s full range of world-class products remains available at retail stores nationwide and customers can continue to enjoy Hartlief favourites at the Hilltop deli in Windhoek’s Kleine Kuppe suburb.
“The OL Persona - Authentic, Caring and Passionate - guides every decision we make, including the difficult ones. Over the past two years, we have undertaken a deliberate review of all our operating companies, assessing performance, alignment and long-term viability as we build towards Vision 2029. That work requires discipline and courage. Closing the Shop & Bistro allows us to simplify operations, reduce overheads and redirect resources to where they will have the greatest impact, thereby strengthening Hartlief’s core capabilities and ensuring we remain on the right path to deliver industry-standard returns and build a business our people and our country can be proud of,” advised Sven Thieme, OL Group Executive Chairman and Hartlief Managing Director.
The closure will not impact the permanent employment status of affected employees. Engagement has already commenced with Shop & Bistro staff to explain the reasons for the decision and to present available options. “Where vacancies exist and skills align, we will prioritise redeployment within the Hartlief business. Where feasible, we will also consider reasonable short-term training or upskilling to support placement into available roles,” Thieme added.
Hartlief expressed their gratitude to every employee of the Shop & Bistro for their contribution, dedication and care for customers over the years. The difficult decision of closure is not a reflection of individual performance but was driven entirely by the need to operate more efficiently and sustainably for the long term.
