Markets/Africa and Middle East/News

Africa & Middle East news & analysis

24 February 2020
UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim (MAF), which operates the Carrefour banner in 16 countries as of February 2020, has reported full year results for its 2019 financial year. The company said revenue at its retail division rose by 1% to AED28.1 bn (US$7.6 bn), while EBITDA rose by 2% to AED1.4 bn (US$381.1m). Expansion underpinning growth… MAF said the results came ‘ despite a reduction in discreti...
12 February 2020
Governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are encouraging retailers to increase the number of sustainability schemes they implement. Single-use plastic reduction has been a common environmental initiative and many retailers have implemented schemes that aim to reduce, recycle or reuse single-use plastic whenever possible. What is the South Africa plastic pact? The Worldwide F...
10 February 2020
INTERSPAR Austria has announced its trialling refill stations for organic detergents, which highlights its environmental commitments. Meanwhile, SPAR Hungary is improving its sustainability initiatives by introducing new concepts. Finally, SPAR Zimbabwe reflects on its 2019 expansion projects. INTERSPAR Austria trials refillable detergent units SPAR Austria has launched a plastic reduction ...
29 January 2020
Majid Al Futtaim has signed a partnership deal with Takeoff Technologies, which will see the latter’s micro-fulfilment centres added to Carrefour stores in the UAE and Saudi Arabia by 2021. ‘Several’ micro-fulfilment centres to be built Announcing the partnership, Majid Al Futtaim said it build ‘ several ’ micro-fulfilment centres, without giving a firm number. Takeoff Technologies’s automa...
15 January 2020
South Africa-based Woolworths has appointed a new chief executive, Roy Enzo Bagattini. He will take charge of the company from February 2020. New chief executive joins from Levi Strauss Bagattini is presently executive vice president and president for Levi Strauss Americas. He oversees operations that generate about US$3.0 bn in revenues, which is about half of what Woolworths Holdings does...
13 January 2020
As Saudi Arabia enables shops to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and Al Meera rolls out a range of initiatives, we round up news from the region. Saudi Arabia to allow shops to open 24/7 Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Ministry of Interior has said commercial activities will now be able to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The acting Minister of Municipa...
10 January 2020
As UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim expands into Uganda and online specialist Vuba Vuba launches in Rwanda and Kenya-based Nakumatt takes a further step towards liquidation, we round up news from the region. Majid Al Futtaim opens first Carrefour in Uganda Majid Al Futtaim has opened its first Carrefour hypermarket in Uganda, in the Oasis Mall in Kampala. The store, which is about 2,800 sq. m, st...
19 December 2019
As Choppies announces further market exits and Jumia says it is closing its operations in Rwanda and the latter investigates opportunities in other revenue streams, we round up news from the region. Choppies to exit three further countries Choppies will exit Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania, an announcement that follows its recent decision to sell its operations in South Africa . The compa...
19 December 2019
Majid Al Futtaim, which operates the Carrefour brand across the Middle East and other countries, has looked to build online solutions for its operations in Qatar and Pakistan. Carrefour Qatar launches ecommerce site As it looks to build out its omnichannel strategy across the countries where it operates, Majid Al Futtaim operated Carrefour has launched an ecommerce site in Qatar. The initia...
05 December 2019
As the UAE implements new taxes, Majid Al Futtaim commits to further expansion and Al Meera looks to spotlight its locally sourced ranges, we round up news from the region. UAE expands tax coverage on certain products The UAE has implemented tax changes on certain products as it looks to improve the nation’s health. The country said it had implemented a 50% tax on non-fizzy drinks that have...