Airline body urges African governments to act on opening market access
‘Strategies don’t move people. Now it is time to make the difficult decisions and execute them,’ senior executive stresses.
RETAIL STRATEGY
Spar supermarket brand has opened its first Rwandan store in Kigali
By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2025
Local retail brand Sawa Citi has converted an existing outlet into a Spar store. More are expected to follow.
Spar, the international supermarket group based in the Netherlands, has opened its first outlet in Rwanda via a partnership with a local Rwandan supermarket chain.
Sawa Citi has converted an existing store from its Sawa Citi brand into a Spar store. It is in Nyarutarama, an upmarket suburb of the capital, Kigali.
The new Spar store in Kigali. Photo: Sawa Citi
Spar has a brand presence in 49 countries and operates a franchise model where local partners run stores independently but follow Spar’s guidelines and brand strategy. It has a presence in multiple African countries – mostly through Spar South Africa, which has stores in Namibia, Zambia and Botswana, among others.
According to a report published in Food Business Africa, Sawa Citi plans to roll out more Spar outlets in the coming months using both full-sized supermarkets and smaller shops at fuel stations. Online ordering and home delivery services are also in the pipeline.
Other local chains could be pushed to improve
“The entry of Spar is likely to change how supermarkets operate in Rwanda. The company’s pricing strategy and customer service standards could push local chains to improve,” Food Business Africa comments.
“Spar’s presence is also expected to help local producers. Digital shopping is another area set to improve. Once Spar’s delivery and e-commerce services go live, Rwandan consumers will enjoy new levels of convenience.
“Spar’s entry into Rwanda comes as the country sees rising urban populations and a growing middle class. The company’s focus on ease of access and strong local ties fits well with this trend.”
Trendtype, the emerging markets consultancy, says Sawa Citi is the second largest supermarket operator in Rwanda with nine stores. Trendtype expects that Sawa Citi will continue to rebrand existing Sawa Citi stores to Spar and smaller Spar Express outlets.
Uganda Tourism Board partners with major European ice hockey league
UTB says its ambition is to turn the visibility into interest, bookings and more visitors choosing to explore Uganda.
Researchers explain why 10-second micro ads outperform longer spots
Short ads shown on TV increased website visits within five minutes of airing by 10-40% compared with longer advertisements.
Competition continues to grow in the Moroccan supermarket sector
Supeco’s rapid expansion shows how the discount model is becoming a bigger part of grocery retail in the North African country.
Study identifies harmful paradox behind well-meaning green efforts
Consumers reward visible eco-friendly additions such as reusable bottles, but give little credit to businesses that reduce or remove products.
President Mahama commissions expanded evaporated milk facility in Ghana
Nestlé believes Ghana will continue to play a leading role in the future of Central and West Africa.
Momentum beginning to build for 2027 ACCS gathering in Addis Ababa
Ethiopia’s marketers gather to celebrate hosting next year’s conference – but with an eye on the hard work ahead.
PwC report examines the future of African entertainment and media
Tech is creating more ways for audiences to connect, but lasting value will come from understanding the people behind those connections.
Unilever investment expands its Vaseline production capacity in Africa
The new production line at the historic Maydon Wharf facility in Durban will address growing international demand.
World MICE Awards in Jamaica honour best African and global achievers
Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and South Africa all feature in the African meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions awards.
AI won’t replace market research. But it will expose weak strategy
Much of the broader conversation around AI in market research assumes conditions that do not consistently exist across many African markets, writes Soyinka Witness.