Nigeria’s retail giant Shoprite is facing tough times, with several of its outlets either shut or running on near-empty shelves, raising fresh concerns about its future in the country.
Daily Trust can confirm that Shoprite stores in Ibadan and Ilorin have closed their doors, while branches in Lagos and Abuja show half-empty shelves and dwindling patronage.
At the once-bustling Ikeja City Mall in Lagos, shelves for groceries, frozen foods, and wines are largely bare, with staff blaming ongoing negotiations between the new management and suppliers. “Once discussions are concluded, we’ll restock,” an administrator assured, denying rumours of a full exit.
In Abuja’s Jabi Lake Mall, customers were surprised to meet scanty shelves after a power outage temporarily closed the store. Staff admitted supplies had stalled for over two months, creating anxiety among employees. “We are paid, but we don’t know the company’s plan,” one worker said.
The situation comes four years after Shoprite’s South African parent company sold its Nigerian operations to local investors, citing high operating costs, inflation, and harsh market conditions. Since then, supply chain disruptions, rising rent, and competition from local supermarkets and online retailers have weakened its hold on the market.
The retail chain has already shut outlets in Kano, and staff confirm that Ibadan and Ilorin branches are no longer operational. At the Ilorin outlet, empty aisles and near-abandonment replaced its once-vibrant atmosphere, with insiders linking the decline to management changes.
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Despite speculation, management insists Shoprite is not leaving Nigeria and promised that stores will be restocked by the end of September.
Shoprite, which entered Nigeria in 2005, once dominated the retail space with over 25 outlets nationwide and employed more than 2,000 workers. But its struggles mirror a broader trend, as other multinationals like GSK, Procter & Gamble, Bolt Food, and Sanofi have exited Nigeria in the last two years, citing an unfriendly business environment.