Dorpstraat Property Investments: Why Convenience Retail is the Ultimate Defensive Play
In the world of property, bigger isn't always better. While massive regional malls have faced headwinds from how e-commerce is changing consumer habits, the "Convenience Centre" has emerged as the hero of the retail sector.
Dorpstraat Property Investments (DPI) is a curated portfolio of 17 convenience retail centres located in affluent, high-growth nodes. These centres, typically between 5,000m² and 15,000m², are the backbone of the “daily needs” economy. They are where people stop for milk, pick up a prescription, or grab a quick coffee.
The Power of the Portfolio
Unlike a single-property investment, DPI offers built-in diversification. With 9 centres already trading and 8 in the construction phase, the DPI property portfolio balances immediate cash flows with future capital growth.
Mornay Visser of 27four explains the “Brownfield” strategy that makes this asset unique: “You take a great location which has a non-functional or not optimised asset… then you take the expertise and skills of the DPI management team and you redesign that property… you will get a re-rating on that property. That’s quite a low-risk strategy and it’s quite defensive.”
Why “Alternative” Assets Belong in Your Portfolio
Global research shows that institutional investors are increasingly moving away from the volatility of the stock market toward “Alternatives.” Why? Because assets like DPI are non-correlated. When the JSE is swinging wildly due to global politics, the person in Stellenbosch or Sandton still needs to buy groceries at the Woolies Food or the Checkers, conveniently located close to home in a Dorpstraat Centre.
Transparent and Liquid
Historically, the downside of this asset class was illiquidity. You were “locked in” for years. But by issuing this equity on Mesh in a tokenised format, we’ve created the possibility for liquidity.
“The secondary market rails are built into Mesh and the potential for sustained demand for an asset of this quality is high. Investors don’t necessarily want to use the liquidity but they want to know it’s there,” says Mornay.
With Mesh, the process of investing is really simple. You get a clear view of your portfolio, quarterly reporting, and the ability to trade your tokenised equity on the secondary market.
It is the defensive power of convenience retail, modernised for the digital investor.
This article is for information and education only and does not constitute (and should not be construed as) an offer, invitation, or solicitation to buy or subscribe for any securities or other financial products. Any opportunity referenced will only be made available (if at all) under the full investor documentation, and only to investors who meet eligibility requirements and are accepted in terms of those documents. Where a tokenised security is used, the investor holds a token that represents the underlying security, with rights as set out in the investor documentation.
Disclaimer:
- Participation during this Private Placement phase is limited to Qualified Investors; with minimum investment subject to investor documentation.
- “Low-risk” is relative, not absolute, and subject to your financial circumstances.
- Private investments involve risk and may be illiquid. Scenario returns are not guaranteed.
- Secondary market availability is not assured.
- This communication is informational and not financial advice. Review full documentation and consult your advisor.
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For more press information, please contact:
Connie Bloem, Product owner of Mesh:
hello@meshtrade.co / +1 604 671 4515