Retailing

Having plunged by almost a fifth during 2020, retail constant value sales (2021 prices) of apparel and footwear specialist retailers rebounded in 2021 but remained well below their pre-pandemic level. The number of outlets continued to decline during…

During 2020, e-commerce retail constant value sales (2021 prices) plunged by almost three quarters. The departure of Jumia Technologies AG from Cameroon in late 2019 left a hole that no remaining player has the capacity to fill. However, it has not…

Health and beauty specialist retailers were a big beneficiary from the pandemic during 2020, with their retail constant value sales (2021 prices) rising at their fastest rate in well over a decade. This strong performance was particularly notable…

Mobile e-commerce had been expanding rapidly during the early part of the review period, albeit from a very low base. During 2020, mobile e-commerce retail constant value sales (2021 prices) plunged by more than two thirds. The departure of Jumia…

Grocery shopping continues to be dominated by traditional grocery retailers, but prior to the onset of the pandemic, the retail constant value sales (2021 prices) of modern grocery retailers had been expanding rapidly in Cameroon. The Carrefour…

Traditional grocery retailers still dominate grocery shopping in Cameroon, but they are coming under increased pressure from the growing number of modern grocery retail outlets, which have a strong appeal for middle- and high-income local consumers.…

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, health protocols had to be implemented altering the shopping experience of Ethiopians. The use of masks and social distancing among consumers and staff were strictly enforced in stores. The pandemic and the war in Tigray…

Direct selling retail current value sales exhibited a steep decline during 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions on movement, most notably a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the major cities, made it difficult for salespeople to move around,…

Brick and mortar grocery stores remain extremely popular in Kenya, despite ongoing strong growth in e-commerce. The number of grocery stores outlets continued to increase in Kenya in 2022 as operators looked to expand as the country continued its…

Faced with rising costs, some major non-grocery retailers were forced to close their doors towards the end of the review period. Following a general pattern of South African retailers exiting Kenya, Massmart Holdings Ltd announced in early 2023 its…