Coca-Cola, Technoserve and Gates Foundation partner to boost incomes of 50,000 small-scale fruit farmers in East Africa

billv — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:20:29 +0000

KAMPALA, UGANDA, January 20, 2010 - The Coca-Cola Company, nonprofit TechnoServe, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today launched a partnership to enable over 50,000 small fruit farmers in Uganda and Kenya to increase their productivity and double their incomes by 2014.

NAKUMATT enters Uganda

billv — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:28:40 +0000

Planet Retail 27 Apr 2009

Kenya-based Nakumatt has opened its first store in Uganda, its second foreign market after entering Rwanda in August 2008. Speaking at the inauguration event, Nakumatt COO Thiagarajan Ramamurthy said: "The opening of the new trend setting outlet is in line with the firm's regional expansion plans", adding that the retailer was actively preparing to enter Tanzania. By the end of 2010, Nakumatt plans to operate 40 outlets, including 30 in Kenya, four in Tanzania, three in Uganda and three in Rwanda.

A successful public/private partnership: vegetable oil production in Uganda

billv — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:30:59 +0000

IFAD, Rome

It is quite a challenge to develop a major domestic industry that brings public and private investors together and also nurtures the interests of small-scale producers. An IFAD-funded project in Uganda is rising to that challenge by helping to forge a highly innovative partnership between small-scale producers of palm oil and a private sector operator.

Retailer ventures into convenience stores market

billv — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:00:02 +0000

BizCommunity.com, 11 Dec 08

Kenya's Nakumatt Holdings will soon unveil its plans to launch convenience stores (c-stores) as part of its expansion plans following a viability study showing a gap in the Kenyan market.

Nakumatt will launch pilot outlets across Nairobi where the lower middle class and upper lower class are concentrated. The branded c-stores will be called Nakumatt Express.

Nakumatt enters market dominated by small scale entrepreneurs operating kiosks that are a common feature in many residential areas. The kiosks sell goods in small quantities and are known to work on credit paid at month-end.

Nakumatt Venturing into c-stores is way of spreading and reaching the lower end of the market at a time when the global economy is experiencing reduced consumer spending.

The retailer might reduce the prices to compete with other small scale stores because it enjoys economies of scale as it operates several outlets in Kenya and a mega store in Rwanda's capital - Kigali.

NAKUMATT launches era of East African expansion

billv — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:15:30 +0000

Planet Retail 25 Aug 2008

Kenya's largest retailer Nakumatt has finally launched its first foreign market operation, in Rwanda, opening its first store in the capital city Kigali. Speaking at the formal store opening presided over by Rwanda's Minister of Commerce, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Nakumatt COO Thiagarajan Ramamurthy described the opening of the new store as a milestone for the Nakumatt group. He disclosed plans to invest more than USD20 million in further expansion projects in East Africa, including one more store in Rwanda, three in Uganda, and four in Tanzania.

UCHUMI courted by foreign investors

billv — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:58:50 +0000

Planet Retail 19 Jun 2008

Kenyan-based hypermarket and supermarket operator Uchumi has revealed that eight investors have placed bids for a piece of the retail group. The group of eight is thought to include two foreign retailers, two domestic retailers, and a total of four institutional investors from both Kenya and abroad. Uchumi's interim CEO Jonathan Ciano did not disclose the identities of the investors, but according to speculation in the local media, fellow retailer Tuskys is one of them. Meanwhile, foreign parties interested in Uchumi are thought to include South African Shoprite.

NAKUMATT plans to enter Tanzania

billv — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:53:12 +0000

Planet Retail 20 Mar 2008

Kenyan market leader Nakumatt has announced that it is planning to spend USD5 million to set up four stores in Tanzania this year, with the money used as a startup package to construct outlets in Dar es Salaam, Moshi and Arusha. However, Nakumatt COO Thiagarajan Ramamurthy said that additional money would be needed for stocking the outlets. The four stores will employ about 300 locals with some support from Kenyan workers experienced in the retail sector. Apart from Tanzania, Nakumatt is also considering market entries into Uganda and Rwanda, probably also in 2008.

UCHUMI set for ambitious expansion outside Kenya

billv — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:53:57 +0000

Planet Retail 8 Jan 2008

Kenyan retailer Uchumi is working on a turnaround that will see the debt ridden retailer open nine more branches with an additional five branches in Uganda, Tanzania and Southern Sudan. This is in an attempt to regain its lost glory and market share. The aggressive growth plan is expected to push the retailer to second position, currently held by Ukwala in the Kenyan market. According to the local press, details of the fresh turnaround are contained in Uchumi's five year plan and the local expansion is expected to lift the loss-making retailer's profits to KES635 million (USD9.8 million) by 2010. Uchumi is also set to break its long stretch of losses in June 2008.

NAKUMATT expands outside Kenya

billv — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:45:21 +0000

Planet Retail 4 Jan 2008

Kenyan chain Nakumatt is to open its first stores outside the country this year. The company expects to return a profit of KES847 million (USD12.5 million) this financial year ending February 2008. Overall expansion is expected to see the chain's profits rise to KES1.2 billion (USD17.7 million) by 2010. By then, the retailer expects to have three stores in Uganda, two in Rwanda and four in Tanzania.

NAKUMATT to open 11 new stores in 2008

billv — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:36:40 +0000

Planet Retail 4 Dec 07

The operations director of Kenyan chain Nakumatt, Thiagarajan Ramamurthy, has announced that the retailer will open 11 new stores next year to meet rising demand. Under the expansion plan, Nakumatt plans to extend its chain to Nakuru and Kakamega where it does not have stores, besides building a second bigger store in Eldoret. Mr Ramamurthy said that the additional branches would bring the total number of outlets to 30.