Market Forecast by Countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Rest of Africa), By Product (Food and Beverages, Personal and Household Care, Apparel, Footwear and Accessories, Furniture, Toys, Electronic and Household Appliances, Other Products), By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Department Stores, Specialty Stores, Online, Other Distribution Channels) And Competitive Landscape
Product Code: ETC390581 | Publication Date: Aug 2022 | Updated Date: Sep 2025 | Product Type: Market Research Report | |
Publisher: 6Wresearch | No. of Pages: 250 | No. of Figures: 50 | No. of Tables: 25 | |
According to 6Wresearch internal database and industry insights, the Africa retail market was valued at USD 845.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1,276.3 billion by 2031, indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.0% during the forecast period 2025-2031.
Report Name | Africa Retail Market |
Forecast Period | 2025-2031 |
Market Size | USD 1,276.3 billion by 2031 |
CAGR | 6.0% |
Growing Sector | Food and Beverages |
The Africa retail market report thoroughly covers the market by product, distribution channel, and countries. The market report provides an unbiased and detailed analysis of the ongoing market trends, opportunities/high growth areas, and market drivers, which would help stakeholders to devise and align their market strategies according to the current and future market dynamics.
Africa retail market is witnessing steady growth in the region. Factors like an increasing middle-class population and growing disposable incomes across major economies are propelling the strong demand. Additionally, the ongoing expansion of supermarkets, shopping malls, and e-commerce platforms is supporting the Africa retail market growth. Moreover, the active integration of mobile payments and fintech solutions is fueling the market penetration. Moreover, the rising demand for food and personal care products further fuels the robust growth of the market across the region.
Africa Retail Market is projected to grow steadily, growing at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period 2025-2031. Several major drivers are driving the steady growth of the Africa retail market. Major drivers such as the increasing youth-driven consumption trends, smartphone penetration, and multinational retailers entering African markets are supporting the steady growth of the market in the region. Moreover, rising interest in branded apparel and household appliances is another key driver, further propelling the strong demand. Moreover, increasing investments in digital platforms and omnichannel strategies to expand the customer base are shaping the market dynamics.
The Africa retail market is facing various critical challenges, even with the steady growth across the region. Issues such as underdeveloped logistics infrastructure, high operating costs, and inconsistent electricity supply are posing a major challenge by affecting the retail operations. Additionally, fragmented regulatory environments across countries create complexity for international players. Furthermore, weak supply chain networks in rural regions and limited access to credit are also hampering the market expansion. Moreover, counterfeit goods and unorganised trade also create major barriers by impacting consumer trust and revenue generation.
Africa retail industry has been evolving due to various major trends. Key trends include the growth of organised supermarkets, the rapid rise of online retail platforms, and the rising adoption of digital wallets for retail transactions, which are supporting the market growth in the region. Additionally, consumers are increasingly preferring branded products, leading to growth in apparel, footwear, and electronics. Moreover, sustainable retail initiatives such as eco-friendly packaging and renewable energy-based retail outlets are boosting the market expansion. Moreover, Mobile commerce is another major trend, with fintech-driven solutions accelerating online retail share.
Africa retail market offers various strong and promising investment opportunities for investors seeking long-term growth. Growth of the digital commerce, logistics infrastructure, and speciality retail offers strong market potential across the region. Additionally, investors investing in expanding retail malls in secondary cities, developing hyper-local e-commerce platforms, and creating food-focused supermarket chains are likely to witness stable growth in the market. Government initiatives such as South Africa’s “Retail Sector Charter” and Nigeria’s “Digital Economy Policy and Strategy” are providing incentives to strengthen the retail sector and also encourage steady growth for small investors.
Leading companies in the Africa retail market include Shoprite Holdings, Pick n Pay, Massmart Holdings, Carrefour, and Jumia. These companies dominate the market by focusing on regional expansions, omnichannel strategies, and affordable product offerings. International players are entering partnerships with African retailers to strengthen market penetration and industry share.
The governments around the region have been launching various strict regulations in the Africa retail market. These policies aim to support consumer safety, retail growth, and digital commerce, supporting the responsible growth of the market. Additionally, South Africa implemented the “Retail Sector Charter” to promote fair competition and inclusivity. Nigeria introduced its “Digital Economy Policy and Strategy” to support e-commerce growth and fintech integration in retail. Egypt has introduced consumer protection laws mandating transparent labelling and fair pricing in supermarkets. Overall, these regulations aim to maintain consumer confidence and boost market growth.
The Africa retail market is expected to experience steady growth in the future. Emerging factors such as strong demographic trends and growing consumer demand for convenience will likely propel the strong demand. Additionally, emerging trends such as the rising adoption of artificial intelligence in retail, smart stores with automated checkout, and the development of cross-border e-commerce will be shaping the market dynamics in the coming years. Overall, the increasing consumer preference for organic food, branded apparel, and digital-first shopping is anticipated to boost the market growth in the region.
The report offers a comprehensive study of the subsequent market segments and their leading categories.
According to Mansi Kaushik, Senior Research Analyst, 6Wresearch, South Africa leads the Africa retail market owing to its advanced retail infrastructure, strong supermarket chains, and government-backed initiatives like the “Retail Sector Charter.” The country’s mature retail ecosystem supports both online and offline growth.
Food and beverages hold the largest Africa retail market share, due to increasing consumer spending and high-frequency purchases. Rapid urbanization, increasing population, and growing demand for packaged and ready-to-eat meals are driving this segment.
The market report provides a detailed analysis of the following market segments:
1 Executive Summary |
2 Introduction |
2.1 Key Highlights of the Report |
2.2 Report Description |
2.3 Market Scope & Segmentation |
2.4 Research Methodology |
2.5 Assumptions |
3 Africa Retail Market Overview |
3.1 Africa Regional Macro Economic Indicators |
3.2 Africa Retail Market Revenues & Volume, 2021 & 2031F |
3.3 Africa Retail Market - Industry Life Cycle |
3.4 Africa Retail Market - Porter's Five Forces |
3.5 Africa Retail Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Countries, 2021 & 2031F |
3.6 Africa Retail Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Product, 2021 & 2031F |
3.7 Africa Retail Market Revenues & Volume Share, By Distribution Channel, 2021 & 2031F |
4 Africa Retail Market Dynamics |
4.1 Impact Analysis |
4.2 Market Drivers |
4.3 Market Restraints |
5 Africa Retail Market Trends |
6 Africa Retail Market, 2021 - 2031 |
6.1 Africa Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Product, 2021 - 2031 |
6.2 Africa Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Distribution Channel, 2021 - 2031 |
7 South Africa Retail Market, 2021 - 2031 |
7.1 South Africa Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Product, 2021 - 2031 |
7.2 South Africa Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Distribution Channel, 2021 - 2031 |
8 Nigeria Retail Market, 2021 - 2031 |
8.1 Nigeria Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Product, 2021 - 2031 |
8.2 Nigeria Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Distribution Channel, 2021 - 2031 |
9 Kenya Retail Market, 2021 - 2031 |
9.1 Kenya Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Product, 2021 - 2031 |
9.2 Kenya Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Distribution Channel, 2021 - 2031 |
10 Rest of Africa Retail Market, 2021 - 2031 |
10.1 Rest of Africa Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Product, 2021 - 2031 |
10.2 Rest of Africa Retail Market, Revenues & Volume, By Distribution Channel, 2021 - 2031 |
11 Africa Retail Market Key Performance Indicators |
12 Africa Retail Market - Opportunity Assessment |
12.1 Africa Retail Market Opportunity Assessment, By Countries, 2021 & 2031F |
12.2 Africa Retail Market Opportunity Assessment, By Product, 2021 & 2031F |
12.3 Africa Retail Market Opportunity Assessment, By Distribution Channel, 2021 & 2031F |
13 Africa Retail Market - Competitive Landscape |
13.1 Africa Retail Market Revenue Share, By Companies, 2024 |
13.2 Africa Retail Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Operating and Technical Parameters |
14 Company Profiles |
15 Recommendations |
16 Disclaimer |