Nakumatt supermarket opens doors in Arusha

Regional giant retailer, Nakumatt Holdings of Kenya, has opened a branch in Arusha.

Nakumatt celebrates its golden milestone with the opening its 50th branch in the East African region which will employ 50 people in  Arusha.

Nakumatt owners say that the opening of $2 million Arusha branch at the Tanganyika farmers Association (TFA)’s shopping complex, opposite Kilombero market, now sets the pace for retailer’s renewed growth plans in EA region and beyond. Nakumatt is located at the former premises occupied by Shoprite which has now closed shop in Arusha.

Nakumatt Holdings Ltd Managing Director, Atul Shah leading EAC's Secretary General,
Dr. Richard Sezibera to officially open the company's shop in Arusha. 

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“Having opened our first branch 22 years ago in Nairobi, I’m excited yet humbled by this achievement. By all means I recognize that the opening of 50 branches by a homegrown retailer in East Africa is no mean achievement” says Nakumatt holdings Managing Director, Mr. Atul Shah.

Mr Shah unveiled his long-term dream to ensure that Nakumatt double the formal retail penetration in East African from the current less than 14 percent to at least 30 percent in the next ten years.

He, however, says such growth for formal retail sector will require concerted efforts, amongst all stakeholders and will in turn inspire the regional growth.

“My dream is to see thousands of farmers and other cottage industries accessing formal retail markets such as Nakumatt” Mr. Shah noted, adding: “For this, we have committed to play a mentorship role to raise the capacity of organized groups to deliver suitably packaged and market ready retail products”.

Alongside this dream, Mr Shah harbors even more ambitious wish to see the East African countries host the 2030 football world cup perhaps in Arusha, Kigali, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala.

“As East Africans, we must embrace a common vision to inspire regional development and foster social cohesion. In my view, nothing does this better than a common dream to host a global soccer bonanza” he noted.

Gracing the official opening of the Nakumatt Arusha branch, the EAC secretary General, Dr. Richard Sezibera said the treaty says that the EAC is private sector driven and people centred, meaning that East Africans have the opportunity to grow.

“We should think East African for us to grow, unfortunate there are some people who think very local and therefore miss opportunities” Dr. Sezibera stressed.

The EAC boss commended the Nakumatt holdings for its regional spirit and plans to operate 24-hours seven days a week.

Arusha City Mayor, Gaudence Lyimo thanked the Nakumatt management for choosing Arusha as the best place to invest.

“For us, Nakumatt supermarket will add value to our city which is famous as Geneva of Africa” Lyimo said, imploring other investors to borrow a leaf from Nakumatt.

Currently enjoying a more than $650million turnover for its regional operations, Shah confirmed that Nakumatt’s future looks bright with its  expansion plans now trained on such markets as, South Sudan and Burundi among others.

With the opening of Nakumatt Mlimani, Pugu road and Nakumatt Arusha Shah, pointed it out that Nakumatt now has four running stores in Tanzania. The three new stores are the latest additions to the existing Nakumatt Moshi store which opened its doors in 2011.