Yesterday saw Deloitte release their inaugural African Powers of Retailing 2015 report, and it’s good news for South Africans who enjoy seeing familiar brands in shopping malls and high streets across the continent.

Of the top 25 African retailers 15 are from our shores, including positions one through 10. So who’s the top ranked of all? IOL reports:

Shoprite was named the number one retailer in Africa, followed by Massmart Holdings and Pick n Pay, with Spar Group claiming fourth place and Woolworths coming in at number five…

Speaking at the launch of the report, Dylan Piatti, Deloitte’s chief of staff for consumer business in Africa, said: “The more mature South African retail market has performed strongly from a continental perspective, which is one of the reasons international retailers eager to establish a footprint on the African continent have tended to enter via South Africa.

“However, there is an emerging shift in the regional focus of entry, as well as key players looking beyond African borders for expansion opportunities in Asia and the UK.”

Recent reports suggest that as many as 90 percent of transactions in the African retail market still occur through informal channels, although that number drops to 40 percent in South Africa – hence our strong performance across the continent in the retail division.

I’m sure Christo Wiese will be happy with that report, although with a net worth of around $7 billion (R96 billion) I think he’s sitting on a comfortable nest egg already.

[source:iol]