{"id":3942,"date":"2021-09-05T13:39:09","date_gmt":"2021-09-05T13:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=3942"},"modified":"2021-09-05T13:39:16","modified_gmt":"2021-09-05T13:39:16","slug":"south-african-retail-giants-game-store-and-shoprite-to-exit-ugandan-market-due-to-covid-19-and-competition-from-local-supermarkets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/south-african-retail-giants-game-store-and-shoprite-to-exit-ugandan-market-due-to-covid-19-and-competition-from-local-supermarkets\/","title":{"rendered":"SOUTH AFRICAN RETAIL GIANTS GAME STORE AND SHOPRITE TO EXIT UGANDAN MARKET DUE TO COVID 19 AND COMPETITION FROM LOCAL SUPERMARKETS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/td>By Our Business Reporter <\/strong>

Due to growing competition from local supermarkets owners , South African retail giants Massmart, who own Game Stores at the popular shopping center Forest Mall Lugogo have announced plans to exit the Ugandan market.

The South African franchise will join others like Shoprite Holdings SHPJ.J that has also announced its exit plans citing the impact of the novel -global -Covid-19 pandemic that has led to the collapse of many businesses across the world .

The Massmart Chief Executive, Mitchell Slape attributed the company’s woes to a ” difficult business environment” -that has pushed the supermarket chain to close at least 14 of its poorly performing stores outside South Africa. Uganda has not been spared either .

\u201cThe performance and the complexity in running those businesses is something that frankly we needed to address. We\u2019ve commenced a formal sales process, we\u2019re currently in discussions with potential purchasers to take on those stores,\u201d Slape told the media .

\u201cBut that is not enough. Achieving break-even performance isn\u2019t going to be sufficient for us to be satisfied, we\u2019ve got to really get Game back to a healthy level of profitability and performance,\u201d he added.
Market experts said that big stores like game faced fierce competition from the many local supermarkets dotted across Kampala . “The local supermarkets like capital Shoppers have the same goods ,which are cheaper and closer to the people . With the wanton jams in the central district -shoppers no-longer find it necessarily to travel long distances for shopping purposes . They get much of what they need from supermarkets near their homes ,” a business executive who declined to be named explained .

And because of a significant drop in business revenues – Slape said the company has put on the market five Game Stores in Nigeria, four in Ghana, three in Kenya, one in Uganda and one in Tanzania for sale to potential buyers.

The Johannesburg Security Exchange-listed company expects its move to result into an annual profit before interest and tax improvement of 750 million rand ($50.24\u00a0million).

Game is a promotionally driven discount retailer of predominantly general merchandise and non-perishable groceries for home, leisure and business use. Some Game Stores also stock a select range of fresh food, including fruit and vegetables, pre-packed meats and pre-baked goods.

Game, which opened in Uganda in 2004, operates in 12 African countries including: South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.<\/a><\/td>		<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Our Business Reporter Due to growing competition from local supermarkets owners , South African retail giants Massmart, who own<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3943,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[24,65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/E6MnyPrWEAIWDGq.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13440,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/standard-chartered-bank-exit-from-retail-banking-uganda-what-bond-and-account-holders-need-to-know\/","url_meta":{"origin":3942,"position":0},"title":"Standard Chartered Bank Exit From Retail Banking Uganda : What Bond And Account Holders Need To Know","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"December 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alex Kakande Standard Chartered Group has announced its intention to sell its Wealth and Retail Banking Businesses in Uganda, Botswana, and Zambia. The Wealth and Retail Banking arm of their business serves both corporate and personal accounts. In the announcement, the Bank indicated it will use the proceeds to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Banking Sector"","block_context":{"text":"Banking Sector","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/banking-sector\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/OIP-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15017,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/tanzania-bans-non-citizens-from-running-retail-businesses-as-eac-economic-integration-hangs-in-balance\/","url_meta":{"origin":3942,"position":1},"title":"Tanzania bans non-citizens from running retail businesses as EAC economic integration hangs in balance","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Tanzanian government has issued a sweeping ban on foreigners operating in at least 15 business sectors traditionally reserved for locals, in a move aimed at protecting indigenous entrepreneurs. The directive, officially titled\u00a0The Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025, was signed by Minister of Industry and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SMEs-in-Tanzania.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SMEs-in-Tanzania.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SMEs-in-Tanzania.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SMEs-in-Tanzania.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SMEs-in-Tanzania.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16331,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/kiira-motor-corporation-trans-african-electric-expedition-successful-as-orders-for-buses-are-made-in-south-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":3942,"position":2},"title":"Kiira Motor Corporation Trans-African Electric Expedition Successful As Orders For Buses Are Made In South Africa","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"January 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Kiira Motor's Trans-African Electric Expedition team has returned to Uganda and was officially welcomed home after completing a historic 13,700-kilometre journey across East and Southern Africa, traversing Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa. The journey culminated in a warm reception at Metroplex Naalya, marking the successful return of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767341939757.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767341939757.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767341939757.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767341939757.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8632,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/khosi-crowned-the-winner-of-big-brother-titans-takes-home-100000-prize-money\/","url_meta":{"origin":3942,"position":3},"title":"Khosi crowned the winner of Big Brother Titans takes home $100,000 prize money","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 3, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"South African Khosi Twala has emerged as the winner of the maiden reality show, Big Brother Titans. Khosi, who is a journalist, has won $100,000 worth of prizes. The 25-year-old defeated Tsatsii Kanaga Jr to become the ultimate winner of the maiden edition of the Big Brother Titans tagged \u2018Ziyakhala\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Entertainment"","block_context":{"text":"Entertainment","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/entertainment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/FB_IMG_1680465777495.png","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/FB_IMG_1680465777495.png 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/FB_IMG_1680465777495.png 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3610,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/envious-american-social-media-giants-you-tube-bans-media-content-about-ugandan-prof-ogwangs-covidex-herbal-medicine\/","url_meta":{"origin":3942,"position":4},"title":"ENVIOUS AMERICAN SOCIAL MEDIA GIANTS YOU TUBE BANS MEDIA CONTENT ABOUT UGANDAN PROF OGWANG\u2019S COVIDEX HERBAL MEDICINE","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"America\u2019s giant Video Streaming and sharing platform You Tube has deleted a media content video which was posted by Ugandan Prof Patrick Ogwang\u2019s to explain how his \u201cmagic\u201d Covidex herbal medicined is applied to fight the effects of the deadly Covid-19 virus in the human body . The Social Media\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/home07pix.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/home07pix.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/home07pix.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/home07pix.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/home07pix.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1507,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/ugandas-wekesa-scores-against-bullying-sa-immigration\/","url_meta":{"origin":3942,"position":5},"title":"UGANDA\u2019S WEKESA SCORES AGAINST BULLYING SA IMMIGRATION","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"May 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"It was a David vs Goliath encounter in the 21st century. The brief but furious battle fought on social media by Ugandan economic warriors against the bullying South African giant that had collected a heap of dollars from scores of tour operators and then denied them visas ahead of an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Tourism & Travel"","block_context":{"text":"Tourism & Travel","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/tourism-travel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Uganda's Wekesa","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/wekesa.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/wekesa.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/wekesa.jpg 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-11A","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3942"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3944,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3942\/revisions\/3944"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}