Massmart preparing to enter Kenyan retail market

Increasing Consumerism in Kenya  

Massmart Group’s brand Game in South Africa

Image courtesy of supermarket.co.za  

South African retailer Massmart Holdings Ltd is planning to enter the competitive and fast-growing Kenyan retail market by 2014.  

The supermarket, which was recently acquired by global retail giant WalMart, has already reserved some space in the Garden City shopping mall along Thika Road in Nairobi and construction is expected to start on December and be completed by May 2014.

According to a report by Citigroup earlier this year, East Africa has been identified as the next growth frontier for big South Africa retailers as well as some of the world’s biggest retailers keen to cash in on a growing middle-class and rising consumer demand in the region.

The Kenyan retail industry is also on the radar of three global chains. The chains, which include Games Stores, Jet, and Edgars, are also planning to open shop in 2014.   

Currently, six major supermarkets namely Nakumatt, Tuskys, Uchumi, Naivas, Ukwala, and Chandarana dominate the Kenyan retail sector.

“What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?” – Robert Schuller