The opening of a new Carrefour store in Nairobi's bustling Eastleigh area marks a significant move by the retail giant to tap into the region's growing population and thriving business community. Spanning an impressive 3,000 square meters, this store stands as one of the largest retail outlets launched in Kenya in 2019.
With a strategic focus on attracting the high footfall of customers visiting Eastleigh for clothing and household shopping, Carrefour now operates a total of 20 stores nationwide. Out of these, 16 are conveniently located in Nairobi and Kisumu, while Mombasa hosts two stores.
Christophe Orcet, the East Africa Carrefour Regional Director, expressed the company's commitment to delivering exceptional services to customers through this new store. As Carrefour expands its presence in the Kenyan market, the goal remains clear: to offer affordable and high-quality products that provide real value and address the rising cost of living.
Since its initial entry into Kenya in 2016, Carrefour has been proactively expanding its online shopping segment, capitalizing on the thriving e-commerce landscape. Notably, the multinational retailer has strategically positioned its stores in various Nairobi suburbs, including the Hub, Garden City, Two Rivers, Southfield Mall, Thika Road Mall (TRM), Sarit, Nairobi Mega Mall, Village Market, Next Gen Mall, and Galleria Mall.
Carrefour takes pride in being the first retail chain in Kenya to introduce self-checkout services, initially implemented at its Nairobi Westgate Mall store. This technology empowers customers to shop and complete purchases independently, eliminating the need for cashier assistance and minimizing waiting times.
To avail of this service, customers simply approach the self-checkout counter, activate the digital screen, scan items using the barcode reader, and finalize the transaction by tapping "Finish & Pay." The self-checkout lane accepts various cashless payment methods, including Mpesa, debit or credit cards, and MyCLUB loyalty points.
Following a successful pilot, Carrefour plans to extend the self-checkout service to all its stores nationwide, revolutionizing the shopping experience for customers purchasing fewer than 15 items.
With Kenya's retail sector ranked as the second-most developed in Africa, dominated by supermarket chains capturing 30 to 40 percent of the market share, there is significant potential for local small and medium-sized businesses to benefit from its growth. Carrefour faces fierce competition from rivals like Naivas and Quickmart, particularly in Nairobi, where its retail franchise stores are concentrated.
