Shoprite to exit Ghana after two decades

South Africa’s leading grocery retailer, Shoprite Holdings, has announced its intention to divest from Ghana, continuing its strategy to step back from various African markets and concentrate on its home operations.

In a trading statement for the 52 weeks ending June 29, 2025, the company revealed that it had received a binding offer in June for the sale of its Ghanaian assets, which include seven trading stores and a warehouse.

Shoprite indicated that this transaction is “highly probable,” noting that its Ghana operations have already been classified as discontinued.

“The Group received a binding offer during June 2025 to dispose of the assets and liabilities in relation to the operations in Ghana, which consists of seven trading stores and one warehouse. The sale is deemed highly probable,” the retailer said.

This announcement marks yet another retreat by the retail giant from the broader African market, following its previous exits from Nigeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Madagascar.

Additionally, Shoprite revealed in the same update that it had signed an agreement on June 6 to sell five trading stores in Malawi, pending the approval of the Competition and Fair Trading Commission and the Reserve Bank of Malawi.

Shoprite’s departure from these markets highlights a significant shift in its pan-African strategy.

Once the foremost food retailer on the continent with operations in around 15 countries, the company has been systematically reducing its regional presence due to ongoing economic challenges, such as currency fluctuations, high import tariffs, inflationary pressures, and dollar-denominated rents.

Although no buyer has been officially named yet, the binding offer suggests that a formal transfer could happen soon, subject to regulatory approval.

Shoprite entered the Ghanaian market in 2003, and its exit would conclude more than two decades of operations in the country.