THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The South African-based supermarket chain Shoprite has announced its plan to exit Nigeria while reporting its business report on Monday (3 August) in Johannesburg.
Shoprite said the decision was made after “approaches from various potential investors, and in line with our re-evaluation of the Group’s operating model in Nigeria.”
The company, Africa’s largest supermarket chain, said its business in Nigeria “may be classified as a discontinued operation”.
The company’s Nigerian business posted a -6.3% decline in sales for the year ending June 2020, according to its Monday update.
The company entered the Nigerian market in 2005 and went on to spread its tentacles across most of Nigeria’s largest cities.
Its exit continues a trend of South African retail business struggling in Africa’s most populated nation.
Mr Price, another South African retailer, announced plans to close its Nigerian business in June.
In 2014, South African retailer, Woolworths, also pulled out of Nigeria, citing high rents and duties, as well as marketing difficulties.
Shoprite’s expected closure in Nigeria comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced economies across the world into a slump and devastated entire industries.
Kola Tella
