KENYA – Khetia’s Supermarket, a local Kenyan retailer majorly operating in the Western region of the East Africa country, has expanded its footprints and opened its first outlet in the country’s capital Nairobi, joining the big boys in the market.

The supermarket chain operator commenced operations in Kitale town and has over the years expanded into new jurisdictions, amassing for itself a faithful following of clientele in the Western Kenya towns of Eldoret, Bungoma and Webuye towns. It has since also expanded to Kisumu as well.

The company stocks a wide range of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods and operates a wholesale unit supported by its distribution business.

In addition, Khetias is well known for its in-house bakery offering a wide range of fresh baked goods and Giga Bite, its fast-food restaurant.

Established since 1982, the company has been strategically expanding its operations, undertaking adequate market research before venturing into new territories in a bid to ensure the longevity of business.

Now in Nairobi, Khetia’s will be operating alongside supermarket giants like Quick Mart, its immediate neighbour in Roysambu constituency, at the Mirema Junction Mall, which was meant to be home to troubled Tuskys Supermarket.

Quickmart supermarkets, majority owned by Mauritius-based private equity firm Adenia Partners has also expanded its branch count opening a new outlet along Mombasa road at the District Mall, South B.

Khetia’s was established in 1982 and has been focused in Western region of Kenya. The retailer’s entry into Nairobi heightens the competition in Kenya’s capital and brings it into direct competition with other leading retailers Carrefour, Naivas and Quickmart.

The new store will feature a fully-fledged deli, bakery, butchery, liquor store and a fruits and vegetables section, alongside its other FMCG offerings.

With the new outlet, Quickmart is stepping up competition for retailers such as Naivas, Quickmart and Carrefour who also operate within the vicinity.

The other retailer Quickmart is also set to take up space formerly taken up by the cash-strapped retailer Tuskys at the Central Business District (CBD) along Moi Avenue.

This will be its second store at the city center, after taking up the space previously occupied by Botswana-based Choppies supermarket, which plans to exit the Kenyan market following a cash flow hitch.

Carrefour expands at the Coast

Meanwhile, Carrefour Kenya, operated by Dubai-based conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim has opened its 11th store in Kenya and 2nd at the country’s coastal region in Kwale County.

The new store is located at the Centrepoint Mall in Diani, becoming the anchor tenant at the outlet that was vacated by former retail giant Nakumatt in 2017.

The outlet sits on a 1,000 square metres of selling area as part of the initial first phase opening, which will be expanded to 1,800 square metres in the final phase.

Upon completion, it will offer over 20,000 assorted goods that include fresh fruits and vegetable section, a butchery counter as well as a home-made bakery section.

With formerly established businesses such as Nakumatt collapsing, the likes of Uchumi and Tusky’s struggling to stay afloat and retailers such as Choppies and Shoprite exiting the market, Kenya’s seemingly thriving retail sector has finally shown its true colours as a treacherous road to success.

The sector is currently dominated by Quickmart and Naivas, which are both backed by private equity investors and foreign owned Carrefour. This clearly shows, the industry requires both financial and management muscle.

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