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AFRICA's
retail industry's potential is significant
with key countries ripe for expansion including
Rwanda, Nigeria, Namibia, Tanzania and Gabon,
supported by IMF's forecast of GDP growth
at six per cent.
The
demand for retail goods is led by the explosion
in Africa's middle class over the last 30
years, according to the Deloitte accountancy
and is set to grow to 1.1 billion by 2060.
The
launch of AT Kearney African Retail Development
Index, details the country's retailers like
South Africa's Shoprite operating in more
than 16 African countries.
Kenya's
Nakumatt has a store network in neighbouring
Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Wal-Mart acquired
South Africa's Massmat in 2011 and has plans
to open 90 supermarkets in Africa by 2017.
Seeing
a promising market in Africa, top courier
companies have determined to seize opportunities
and deepen their business penetration.
DHL
Express Africa plans to continue to build
on its aggressive expansion in 2014 to add
to a retail presence of over 2,400 outlets
in key markets of Nigeria, South Africa,
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Senegal,
Cote d'Ivoire, DRC, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Its
head of marketing for Sub Saharan Africa
Sumesh Rahavendra says despite supply chain
challenges, understanding risk can be profitable.
"This
knowledge will allow retailers to service
markets with a supply chain that is agile
enough to respond quickly to sudden or unexpected
changes, flexible enough to customise products
and efficient enough to protect margins."
Additionally,
the US second largest package shipping giant
FedEx has acquired South Africa's Supaswift,
which will allow it direct access to 40
facilities and 1,000 employees based across
Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland
and Zambia.
The
southern African based courier will gain
FedEx's suite of export, import and domestic
solutions across southern Africa, a rapidly
developing region that represents a fifth
of Africa's total GDP, said David Binks,
regional president of FedEx Express EMEA
and Indian Subcontinent in a statement.
FedEx
chairman, president and CEO Fredrick Smith
highlighted the importance of southern Africa
as a region. "The region offers tremendous
opportunities for both local and international
customers to access new markets and increase
market share."
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